Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 15, Number 304, Decatur, Adams County, 26 December 1917 — Page 1

Volume XV. Number 30-1.

ITALIANS HOLD WITH FIRM GRIP Fighting to Retain Position Against Assault After Assault by Enemy. POSTPONE PEACE MEET Until January 24 to Talk it Over With the Higher Ups of Germany. (Lin I tod I’me* Service) (By Henry Wood, United Press staff correspondent.) With the French Armies in Italy, Dec. 26 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —The Teutons are making their last supreme effort to reach the Venetian plains today, before winter irrevocably checks all operations. Since- Saturday General Conrad’s Austrians have been battering unceasingly against the Italian lines, it is confidently expected his assault, west of the Brenta will be followed quickly by new assaults by Generals Krau.-s I and Below, east of the same riverparticularly around Monte Grappa where the Austro-Germans are now freshly concentrating. The battle as thus developing will decide whether the Italians will be able to maintain their present position until spring. Snow and ice are already checking offensive possibilities through all the mountain region. The fighting today is the culminating decisive stroke of the past two months' operations. The credit to date is with the Italians in the struggle. Enemy prisoners unanimously declare the vigorous Italian resistance has already forced the Teutonic staff to abandon their original plan to establish a military and political front from Trent to Venice. They are con tenting themselves now with the mere hope of reaching the Venetian plains before a defeat—and by defeat they; mean the necessity of a winter cam paign in the ice and snow covered summits of the Alps. The allies are determined not to permit the Austro-Germans even io. reach the dominating summits of Asia go and Grappa. The Austro-German , decision to accept their present front for the whole winter has been further indicated by their feverish ratification of the Piave into a permanent front , while all offensive efforts are concentrated against Grappa, to improve petmanent positions there. With the Italian Armies. Dec. 26— (Special to Daily Democrat)— Fierce fighting between Btiso and Monte Valbella was in progress today. Despite violent Italian attacks, the enemy at fearful cost, still held to the thirds of a mile gain achieved Mon I day. The enemy’s advance was made . possible by an immense concentration of enemy artillery of all calibres < which smashed the Italian front line The Austrians managed to pinch oil ' a tiny saliant, the apex of which was at Monte Valbella. On the next at | tack the enemy consolidated this post • tion. J Around Monte Grappa the enemy tried an attack timed to coincide wt the Valbella assault, hut. failed to gat' On the lower piave. the AiismM 1

r“n;”Ss>"“ s i I. 1 '“ssgsssesi | some extent divide us, . Wedearhl 1 b ,- g 0 aim. VN’eare apatr ot peop W e demon it.a J. : try. We do n«t onl hp We have c : tion our V elie n We have demon *a gjde we g a the American Red .... P for SER' It E. ' ;„isters and the J |in its purposes- W Cross ranks the (he Re d H have worked in th an d t an d a gal- L h laymen of all J al h ‘’ we re unfur^ art hed through snow ,j H Cross banner of mn • everv step, march d touch- 3 g lant army, recruited at eve a thou Th<?y g | and wintry Masts ~ aJong . )he line » caUght n ew H | ing incidents hat P |j{t!e children a nob | e women u H greybeards a , n(^ l<t! . r o f Bethlehem- n( i the children did .. § not. “Be not w v ea S d ‘ Adams cou” H 7 patrio t s . | £ not ignore today an „ o f fhrr fnMMITTEE- ij | march s‘ eadi * sitxuxnr.:::

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

*♦♦** + **. . * mvisioN mmhl * J • .- *. K * + Z ■ 6 dIS ' ri<t ’ ♦ ’ * for J” thP M "Hvo + * b "« More’ 1 ’!')! 1 "" neW mMn ’ * + were enrolled " m " lln " * enrolled, according to Red 4 * officials here. ™ * + distanced by J * southwestern district, wh eh t N+ comprises Missouri b * 4 mi.i -"ibsouri, Kansas. 4 Texas. Arkansas + ~t h , Close to 4 I ' million members have 4 ‘ . : ***‘ +++ 44 ♦♦♦ + ; •“*•* *S St wore answered by ltaliannii , hinpgun f San FraneiseoTcal., Dec. 26-iSpe. 'tai to Daily Democrat) A woman , M>y. credentialed by Berlin as one of ' he highest agents in the German se- , cret service, directed the movement i of Frank Schulenbery, who was held . by the Federal authorities here, according to announcement. The . announcement followed admision by the authorities that Schulenberg had secret service agents in all parts of the country. BULLETIN I Petrograd, Dec. 26—(Special to | Daily Democrat)—Germany has asked postponment of peace negotiations until January 24, according to semi-offi-cial announcement here today. London, Dec. 26—(Special to Daily Democrat)— Russian-German peace negotiations have been suspended pending consultation by German delegates with their government on Russia's terms, according to a Petrograd dispatch printed by the Tinies today. The Russian delegates, it was stated. are returning from Brest Litovsk to Petrograd. Two commissions to negotiate peace will shortly be formed, the Tinies correspondent asserted, one to meet at Petrograd and the other at Odessa. Both will carry pure military aspects of the situation. A third will shortly he appointed to prepare for a prospective European peace conference. I It was asserted the ixilsheviki will , I convoke the constituent assembly at i the end of the next week. El Paso. Texas. Dec. 26—(Special to .Daily Democrat)- American troops were in pursuit today of Mexican bandits, who according to word reaching i here, crossed the border, looted the American town of (andelaria. Texas, held up the mail stage, killed tlx driver and looted the mail sacks. The American troops were expected to cross into Mexico if they did not catch up with the bandits in the meantime. < jail’ DELIVERY AT MUNCIE (United Service) , Muncie. Indiana, Dec. -6 (■ I t 0 Dailv Democrat (-Three men of the Delaware county jail, all former convicts one of whom was waiting transportation to Michigan City, to -serve a life sentence, sawer their way through two ducts of steel bar, escaped earlv this morning. Detectives are scouring the country for the men u no trace has yet been found. Those who got away are: Fd McCoy-Convicted a few days ag ofor the murder of Frank Butler. Otto Harris-Charge with being nP () f two masked men who held up a drug store Monday night and shot at th e proprietor’s wife„ larceny . John _

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday Evening, December 26. 1917

:HOTEL MAN DEAD i* 4 Adam St ran binder, Pio--4 neer Hotel Man, of * Willshire. k J WAS 77 YEARS OLD k > Died Saturday Night—FuI* > neral Here Thursday • Morning. I Adam Straiibinger, aged 77, pioneer i hotel man of Willshire, 0., where he had been in business for forty-five years or more, died Saturday night and the funeral will be held here tomorrow morning at nine o'clock at the St. Mary's Catholic church. The sons will be pall bearers. Death was due to old age. The deceased was born in Germany in 1840 but had long been a resident of this country. At the time of his death he was still in business, the hotel at Willshire, being managed by his wife and three (laughters. He was one of the best known men of this community. VETERA N~ cTviL WAR? Frank Arnold, prominent farmer of Kirkland township, whose funeral was held this afternoon from the Pleasant Dale church, was a veteran of the civil war. He enlisted in Company C, 142 Indiana regiment, enlisting at Port Wayne. He was sent to the army of the Cumberland and assigned to the fourth army corps. He served during the last year of the war and saw much heavy fighting. WAR WIVES'CLUBS Will be Started in Every Town if Women’s Committee Has Way. WAR SACRIFICE SPIRIT Would Thus he Crystalized and Would Give Them Voice in Affairs. (Unites Preks Service) (By George Martin. United Press Staff Correspondent) Washington, D. (’., Dec. 26—(Special to Daily Democrat)—A war wives’ club in every town is what the woman's committee of <he council of national defense wishes to see. Suggesting the idea through the United Press today, the committee explained that such local, state and national clubs would crystalize the war sacrifice spirit among the women at home just as it is crystallized among the men at the front when they go over the top together. The committee feels that not only is there a natural bond of sympathy and interest among these women, but that very material advantages rest in an organization that would give the women who are giving most—their loved ones —a local, state and national voice in matters affecting them. "But above all good.” said a member of the committee, “would be the good of sharing a common grief, a common anxity. held up by a common patriotism and courage.” ' FofTgall stones. Dallas M. Reed Passes Through Operation Well. Dallas M. Reed was operated upon this morning at eight o’clock at the Decatur hospital for gall stones, Dr. McOscar of Fort Wjayne and Dr. I). I), Clark in charge. A dozen or more gall stones were removed, the exact number being unknown as it was necessary to crush them in removal, they being imbedded in the gall duct. Mr. Reed has been a sufferer from gall stones for eight years and had suffered most severely, having been especially ill in the past few days. He withstood the operation very nicely and is getting along well. —.— o . DID YOU KNOW CLARK BURG? Harper, Kansas, Dec. 22, 1917—We want to find the company and regiment of Clark Burg, who enlisted in the early part of the Civil war, from Adams or Jay county. Some old sett ler please stand up. Address John S. Wells, Harper, Kas.

I++*+*++ + + + + + + + + THE YOUNGEST MEMBER. + + John William McCrory, son of + + Mr. and Mrs Ralph McCrory of + ■ + Borno, and grandson of J. S. ♦ + McCrory, of this city, Is the + + youngest member of the Rod + + Cross chapter of Adams county + + and perhaps in the state. Ho + + was born at seven o'clock last + ) + night and an hour infer his + + grandfather had paid Rev. W. + + Paul Marsh his foe and rm-civ + + ed his receipt as a member of + + the chapter. That's starting + + them in at the right age. we + + claim. + +++++++ + 4 + + + + + RAINBOW HEROES Enjoyed Xmas Day Though They Awoke from Their Beds in Hay Lofts. SNOW WAS BLOWING Band Plays and Men Dance While Fliver Even Caught the Reckless Spirit. (United Press Service) (By J. W. Pegler, United Press staff correspondent.) With the American Armies in France, Dec. 26 — (Special to Daily Democrat) —Santa Claus overtook a certain famous division of American militia asleep in hay lofts, with snow sifting through chinks in the wall. (Note: The only militia division which the war department has officially permitted to be announced as now in France, is the Rainbow division.) (The United i’ress asked its corn - pondent at the trent to cable a store on how tiie Rainbow fighters spent their Christmas day.) Christmas day came to the division in the midst of a long and important march. The men pitched their camps in a doz.en villages, transported their own turkey and their own Christmas mail many miles over land in motor trucks and settled down for a real celebration. Every clock was pushed back on Christmas morning. It wa.comfortable to snuggle deep in the blankets and watch the snow whirl through cracks and crevices. But by noon everybody was astir. Stores of dolls and toy ‘7s’8 —miniature models of the famous French field pieces were dug up from coaches in the hay lofts and assembled for the edification of little Garcons around makeshift Christmas trees. The American militiamen played Santa Claus in the places of army French daddies, who may never play that role again. In the afternoon bands gathered under Christmas trees and jagg-tuned until the irresistible syncopation of the tunes sot everyone dancing even including a flivver ambulance. The Festive tin Lizzie butted its nose into a tree and badly needed first aid treatment. In the evening hospital nurses and surgeons marched over a snow covered path under fir trees and stationing themselves outside the hosuital wards, sang Christmas carols and good old American songs. A certain famous major general sent tills Christmas greeting to those training back home: "Christmas makes us the happier because it brings nearer the time and means of upholding the rights of man against German ruthlessness and barbarism." BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY Christmas day was a glad one for Mr. and Mrs. Ralph McCrory at Berne, their present being a son. John William, who arrived last evening at ten minutes before seven. This is their first born. The mother was Miss Evelyn Marshall, of Bluffton. ++444+4+ + + + + + + ‘ + BRICKLAYERS WANTD. + , ♦ * + General Pershing has asked 4 + for a thousand brick layers and 4 +of this number, Indiana has 4 + been asked to furnish fifty. The 4 . + local board of examiners is ask- 4 I + ed to look over their, question- 4 ’ + naires and send in names of 4 1 + those eligible, or volunteers will 4 11 +be accepted. Only white men 4 11 + are wanted. The men must re 4 t- + port at once and their names 4 + should be telegraphed in. 4 ;,+++++++ + + + + + + +

►ILL SHORT TIME ► 4 Illness of Less Than a Week from Pneumonia k ► Proves Fatal to k k ► CATHERINE EITING k h Funeral Will be Friday k Morning at 9:00 from St. Mary's Church. 11l less than a week of pneumonia, the death of Mrs. Catherine Eiting, aged 61 years, which occurred Christmas morning at 1:15 o'clock comes i 1 a severe shock to all of her many | friends. Death occurred at the homo a mile and a half west of this city. The deceased was the widow of Cornelius Biting. She was born January 7, 1856, making her at death six-ty-one years, eleven months and eighteen days of age. Her maidi n name was Catherine Gross. Tlte funeral will be Friday morning nt 9 o'clock from the St. Marys Catholic church, of which she was a faithful member. There are five daughters: Lena, wife of John Reitz, of Merrill, Mich.: Elizabeth, wife of Albert I-attgermami. of Decatur; Sister Aneta, of Bond du Lac, Wis.; Margaret, wife of Brel Geimer, of Decatur; Jo: erhine, wife of Andrew Schiraek, Elyria. O. Six grandsons are among the immediate members of her family, two others being deceased. Two sisters tire dead and two brothers living. Tltqy are John Gross, of Georgie. Indiana: and Peter Gross, of Lansing. Mich. FOR THE ORPHANS Congregation of St. Mary’s Church Responded Nobly to Worthy Cause. CHRISMAS COLLECTION For the Orphans Amounted to $1.000.00 —Beautiful Services Held. The saying, "There is more pleasute in giving than receiving" was clearly exemplified by a sincere people on Christmas day at the St. Mary’s Catholic church in this city when the members of the congregation responded so nobly to one of the most worthy causes brought before them during this great age, when they loosened wide the latch on their purses and . brought (he grand total of the special j Christmas collection for the orphans up to $967. 50. The collection was taken at the three regular masses on Christmas day and far exceeds any other collection of former years. Jjast year's collection of $730.00 held the record until yesterday. An effort is being made today by Father Seimtz and Father Kroeger to increase the offering to an even one thousand dollars before they send it to the Rt. Rev. Bishop Herman J. Alerding for distribution among the Orphans’ homes in this dioecese. it * was a. most worthy showing, especially when so many calls have been made within the last six months for 1 financial aid. The services at the St. Mary's church on Christmas were beautiful and very impressive. A solemn high - mass was held at five o’clock in the morjting, and from then on a mass . was said almost continually until nine- ! thirty o'clock when they were brought r to a close with another high mass. 3 Over nine hundred received communion on Christmas. - Bather Knapke of Cliilllcotthe. ().. k assisted at the services. I- "Over The Top.” S” Contributions and additional donab tions continued to pour in towards the orphan fund today and this afternoon * Bather Kroeger stated that they were * “over the top”-- the desired Otte Thou- * sand Dollar mark having been reached with a few cents to spare. This col- * lecticn will no doubt lead any of those * taken up in tlte churches in the Bort * Wayne diocese. + . — 4 Pliny Lyon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed + Lyon is a member of (lie newsboys’ 4 band at Findlay, O.

WILL DANCE FRIDAY NIGHT i The dunce at the Masonic rooms Friday ev< tiing promises to lie a very happy event as there will bo special music and because of the fact (hat so many of the young people tire home from college. Tlte admission is but fifty cents and every effort will be made to make the event a most enjoyable one, suited to the season. B A N DI (United Cress Servfee) Marsa. Tex., Dec 26 (Special to Daily Democrat) The bandits who raided the town of Cadelalia have been located ' today camped twenty miles south <>f the border, five hundred strong, according to reports. MR. JAHN IS DEAD W ell Known Resident of Kirkland Township Dies After Long Illness. CANCER OF STOMACH Survived by Widow and Six Children—Two Sons Are Members of Army. Marcus Jahn. 58, died at eight o'clock this morning at his home in Kirkland township, after an illness of several months with cancer of the stomach. He was one of the best known men of his community and had many friends and acquaintances lit this city. Shortly after becoming ill lie was operated upon and for a time showed improvement but recently became worse again. Last week he was taken to Fort Wayne for an examination and his case was pronounce I hopeless. The widow and six children survive. They are Roy, soldier, at Camp Taylor, who arrived home last night: Ralph, a member of the medical corps, now stationed at Day-1 ton. Ohio; Mrs. Bren Bentz of Berne; ( Mrs. Merle Ratliff of Bluffton; Clark 1 and Vivian at home. Mrs. Bontoff ,a sister front Fort Wayne arriced here this afternoon on her way to the Jahn home. The funeral arrangements have not been learned. o OFFER FROM KRYLL Milton Yager, commercial teacher at Bluffton, is flutist in an orchestra playing there at the Methodist Sunday school, and which lias been organized into what will be known as the Bluffton city orchestra. In giving public entertainments Milton will be featur ed as flute soloist. The Bluffton Ban-. ner says: "Mr. Yager lias had much chautauqua experience and has an offer with the Kryll band for the coming season.”

HOW YOU ARE CLASSIFIED

Tlte local military board this morning mailed out seventy-five more questionnaires to men holding the numbers between 691 and 768. The board adjourned over Christmas and this morning again resumed the work of classification. Those classified late Monday afternon and today are: Albert Steiner, Berne. Class 4 Clarence A. Hunter, Decatur. Class 4. Homer Hanni. Berne. Class 4. Joseph S. Kendall, Fort Wayne. Class 4 Wm. J. Hunt, Pleadhnt Mills. Class 4. Elmer R. Teeple, Geneva. Class 4 James Ray Duff. Berne. Class 4. Milton W. Chronister, Bobo. Class 4. Fred Alonzo Wilson, Geneva. Class 4. David N. Whitacre, New Corydon. f Class 4. Emil Steffen. Bluffton. Class 1. Wilbert Luginbill. Berne. Class 4 Lewis N. Springer. Berne. Class 4 Arthur Farlow. Berne. Class 4. John Albert Ritter. Decatur. Class 4. Rudolph A. Worthman. Plymouth. ■ Wis. Class 4. > Fred M. Engle. Decatur. Class 4. i Ira C. Martz. Geneva. Class 4. . Harvey E. Butler. Decatur. Class 4. Fred E. Wagoner. Decatur. Class 4. Emanuel Stauffer. Fort Wayne. . Class 5. Adrian Buckmaster, Decatur. Class 4. James Leland Fogle. Augusta. Kansas. Class 4. Earl Haskill. Geneva. Class 1. David Stauffer, Berne. Class 4. Lewis E. Schodt. Geneva. Class 4.

Price, Two Cents

IT'S GOING GOOD I > Red Cross Campaign in Adams County Will be Most plete Success. CHURCHES ARE BUSY Presbyterian First to Go Over Top—The Catholic r Has Large Number. | Though a complete report of tho I recent Red Cross drive in Adams county can not be made until next week, it is known that It wa a glorious sue- ’ I < ess and that instead of falling down on the 3375, which was our quota, wo will come through with double that amount. The totals now In show over 6,000 witli many districts still unreported. The Decatur. Monroe and Geneva districts are now double their quota or nearly so and Herne is coming. Tho , report Christmas morning showed a total of 702 members, while their quota was 750. It is believed certain that this district will go far over tho amount asked of them before tlte end of the week. The Presbyterian church in this 1 city was the first to report a one hundred per cent result of tlte canva<. With 213 resident members of that church they reported this morning every member a Red Cross Itooster i The St. Marys Catholic church has I reported between 600 and 700 members. a great record, the work being done almost entirely by Rev. Kroeger, as the other members of his committee were busy with tlte holiday rush. Many of the churches in tlte country districts report that they are just get- , ting a good start and they will make 1 dandy report by the end of this week. GARY IS THREATENED (United ’'r»M Service) ' Gary, Ind. Dec. 26 (Special to Daily Democrat) The business section of Gary was threatened today with destruction, when the Gary Paper Mill was totally destroyed. Loosa paper and matches helped to spreail the flames. Two firemen were overcome. The loss is estimated at about $200,001). The fire was nearly under control late this afternoon. BOARD OF GUARDIANS The board of guardians will hold their regular meeting at the library at two o'clock Thursday afternoon. ' All members are requested to be present as the report will be read for the year and plans made for closing the business of 1917. Please be present. 1 By order of president.

Benjamin R. Farlow. Berne. Clans 4 Clem J. Steigmeyer. Decatur. Class 5. Robert W. Eddington. Decatur. Class 4. Herschel A. Whitman. Berne. Class 4. Homer Winteregg, Berne. Class 4. Daniel Schreck, Decatur. Class 1. Albert Voorhees. Geneva. Class 4. Wm I). Teeter. Geneva. Class 4. Vilas Huser, Berne. Class 1. H F.< Sprunger. Berne. Class 4 Anton W. F. Thieme, Decatur, Class 4. Frank Nussbaum. Berne. Class 4. John Hisey, Berne. Class 1. ' Daniel Morand. Berne. Class 1; non-combatant. Alva F. Smith. Berne. Class 1. Gilbert Stucky. Berne. Class 4; ■ non-cornbatant. Clinton Hart, Decatur. Class 4 Ira C. Sprunger, Berne. Class 1; non-combatant. John A. Feasel, Berne. Class 4. Adolph Reinhart. Berne. Class 1, Laban Otis Fogle. Rockford. Class 4 Dick Boch. Decatur. Class 4. Merl Forest Lee. Geneva. Class 1. Roman N. LaFountain, Geneva. Class 4. The following were placed in Class 1 by the local board and referred to the district board on account of the registrants claiming deferred classitieation on account of occupational or agricultural rights: Otto W. Weidler. Decatur; Homer Otis Miller. Geneva; John Kipfer, Bluffton; Joe Teeple. Geneva; Silven Sprunger, Berne; Floyd K. StonebiL ter, Magley; Adolph Hanni, De- , catur.