Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 16, Number 93, Decatur, Adams County, 18 April 1918 — Page 1

Volume XVI. Number 93.

FRENCH POUND ENEMY ON WIDE FRONT

BELIEVED TO BE START OF COUNTER ATTACK HINDENBURG CONTINUES GREAT SACRIFICE OF MEN TO HAMMER BRITISH -GERMANS BRING UR MORE GUNS FOR FIGHT. (By William P. Simms. United Press Staff Correspondent) With the British Armies/in France. April 18—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Freshly arrived German guns were pounding the villages in the areas back of the British lines today. Throughout last night the region along the Laßasse canal was bombarded with gas shells. North of the Lys the British were constantly under indirect machine gun fire. Ypres is being shelled. The British guns are keeping up an intense fire. On the north flank of the Lys battle field yesterday there was a ceaseless struggle- British fire from the cluster of hills south vest of Ypres raked seven German assaults in the evening besides an attempt to advance into the portion of the Ypres salient which was evacuated by Haig. Here British artillery smashed the German troops which were caught on the battle field.

(United Press Service) London, April 18—(Special to Dai l / Democrat) — Confirmation that the Hungarian cabinet has resigned was received here today. Count Tisza, former premier, has again been appointed to that post, succeeding Cou>.t Wekerle. (United Press service) The French apparently are concentrating the heaviest allied artillery lire since the German drive started, on a 56-mile front extending front a lioint south of the Somme, east es Amiens, to the Oise, in the vicinity of Noyon. This bombardment, reported in a United Press dispatch from Henry , , . , . ■■■ >• . the (’.» rman positions and the rear areas for . miles back of their lines. Prisoners say that the cannonading has caused heavy German losses and has prevented the enemy from digging in. The points of the farthest German penetration in Picardy are included in this bombardment. It also includes the greater part of the southern leg of the Hindenburg triangle in this region—beleived by many military critics to represent the most vulnerable part of the German advance. The next few hours are expected to reveal whether this cannonading is preparatory to a major counter offensive bv the allies On tho Flanders front. Haig claims to be holding his own. His official report today said there was "no change on the British front last night.". He reported the repulse of a determined army assault against Mont Kemmel from the direction of Wulvergh'tn and the complete breakdown of a German attack in the Balleul sector, to the southwest of Mont Kemmel. Haig also reported heavy artillery fighting on the southern edge of the Flanders salient and the repulse of local attacks there. He emphasized the heavy German losses in the fighting around Nieppe wood and Wyt--•chaete yesterday. The British withdrawal east of pres on Tuesday is not clearly out-' ined. Apparently Haig moved nit lines back an average of about three miles. It would appear that they now run from about Zillebeke, a mile and a half west and south of Ypres. northward to a point just west of I.angemarck, which Hindenburg - .aims -o A

occupy. The retirement nuts* 'nave necessitated a similar slight retreat by the Belgians whose lines, according to an official communique Join Haig's at the Ypres-Thorout railway, which runs northeastward through Langemarck. The Belgian report said a German attack between this railway and 1-3-blankaert pond was repulsed. This indicates an extension of the Flandet s fghting to a point eight miles north of Ypres a.nd less than three miles sduth of Dixmude. This city is less th.an ten miles south of the point

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

where the west front touches the t North sea. t (By J. W. T. Mason. Written for tiie United Press..) New York, April 18—(Special to ( Daily Democrat) — Further stiffening t of the British front today justifies General Foch's reluctance to use up a large part of his reserves in defea-s-ive fighting to protect Ypres’ and Hazebrouck. ( If von Hindenburg’s bloody effo’t r to reach the channel ports can he j permanently checked without disturb- f ing the allies reserves, the Germans f will have met one of the most serious defeats of the war. It will mean that t Hindenburg has failed to compel Foeh t to accept the German conditions 'or , allied offensive, unquestion- ( ably is the reason why Foeh is show- , ing such persistent refusal to employ j his reserves along the northern end of L the battle front. ] BLLETIN Ixindon. April 18—(Special to Daily * Democrat) —“German infantry attacking in three waves southwest of Fennie! hill pressed us lack slightly ( at one point, but a counter-attack re- . stored the situation.” Field Marshal i Haig reported today. I “Shortly after midday, the attacks 1 had been repulsed at all points.” i “In the Bailleul sector the enemy, at- 1 tacking three times before midday, s was completely repulsed. “Our line yesterday was intact on the whole front. There was no chan. e ( in the British front during the nigh’ ." ( The Hermans again are in posses- t sion of Wytschaete and Meteren, it i admitted in Field Marshal Haig s i night official report. 1 The British recaptured these vil- 1 lages in counter-attackd yesterday ■ morning but were compelled to evac- I uate them aga < in the face of continued enemy aults. The French are co-operating with the British c i ■ this front. Haig said. In the retirement east of Ypres. the i British abandoned Passchendaele, ! Poelcapelle and Langemurck, it iso - claimed by the German war office. | ’ A Belgian communique said that > between L Blankaert and the Ypresf Thourout railway—a front of about 1 five miles just north of the Passchen- - daele salient—a massed German :<t- • tack gained a temporary advantage, o but that a counter-attack restored the position and resulted in the cap-

ture of 600 prisoners. Continued enemy bombardment north of Mont Didier was reported in the French night communique. The French laid down a counter-bombard-ment. There was hostile artillerying on the Lys battle front, from Giverchy i'to eastward of Bobecq. continuing tni til down between I-ocon and Bobecdil "Local attacks in the Merris sector /yesterday evening were repulsed. < “More detailed reports of the fighttj TContinued on Page Two)

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday Evening, April 18, 1918.

A FOURTH CALL | Three or Four Men from Adams County Will be Sent to FORT BENJ. HARRISON Beginning May 6—Laborers Will be Selected — Military Notes. Directly following the call for six men from this county who will be sent to Fort Thomas, Kentucky, beginning May Ist, the local military board received official notice this morning telative to the United Press dispatch printed in last evening s Daily Democrat, that Adams county’s share of Indiana's 500 quota of men would b? one and sixty-seven hundredths per cent of the first gross total, figuring exactly three and sixty-one hundredth, in all probability, the county allotment will be four men. They will be sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. beginning May 6th. the entraiu-

ment covering a two day period. The order reads that the men selected Should be common laborers and that they would be assigned to duties in the signal corps division. Four Calls on Record Including the above call for men, four different contingents of men will he sent to camps beginning with Friday, April 26th and up to May 6th. Ou April 26th. thirty-three men will be sent to Camp Taylor; April 27th four men will be sent to Purdue University where they will be given a course in mechanics; May Ist, six men will be sent to Fort Thomas. Kentucky and beginning May 6th, I four men will be sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. The war department announced yes-’ terday that one hundred and fifty | thousand men. nearly three times the monthly quota as first planned would] be mobilized during the month ■ May. This will necessitate the'vali-J ing of from thirty to thirty-five more men from this county. The war department also announced that by June three hundred thousand men of tnoi second draft would be in training camps. Men Examined. Peter Foreman, formerly of this city, and Charley Barlett, Alpha King and Morris Barshly, foreign registrants were examined by the local medical board yesterday. Foreman and Barlett passed for general military service, King was rejected, while Barsilly was placed in the class for limited service. Entrainment Orders Saturday. The local military board was advised this morning that the entrainment orders relative to the sending of the thirty-three men to Camp Taylor, would be received not later than Saturday As soon as these orders are j received the local board will meet and then revise the preliminary list that was published a week ago. 3he six men who will be sent to Fort Thomas. Kentucky will be selected at that time.

GIVE THEM THE LOT Indianapolis, April 18 —G. I. Christie of the food production and conservation committee of the State Council of Defense has asked garden committees and supervisors of the state to investigate reports that exorbitant rentals are being charged by lot owners for the use of their lots as patriotic gardens and to take steps to stop this practice. Mr. Christie in his communication states that garden work is seriously handicapped tn some parts of the state by this practice. In some communities, he says, real estate associations are encouraging the practice of charging high rentals for '.acant lots. BACCALAUREATE SERVICE The baccalaureate service of 'he graduating class of the Pleasant Mills high school will be held this coming Sunday evening, April 21, at 7:30 p. m.. at the Pleasant Mills M. E. church The sermon will be delivered by Rev. . Karl Thompson. All interested are invited to attend

++++++++++++++ + LIBERTY BOND SALES. + ♦ | + Quota Sold 4- '♦ Union $ 20,250 $ 10,400 + 4- Root 34.000 17.250 + + Preble 26,250 12.550 + + Kirkland 22,600 14,950 4- + Washington .. 27.600 7.650 + + St. Mary's. No. 10,900 200 + + St. Mary's. So. 9.250 2.500 + ♦ Blue Creek ... 20.000 700 44- Jefferson 19.450 12,400 + !+ Monroe, No. .. 21.200 7.900 + + Monroe, Middle 17.300 SOO 4- + Monroe. Herne 35.800 23.150 + + French 22.200 2.250 + + Hartford 26,200 16,200 + + Wabash 31,000 19,100 + + Decatur. 4- + First Ward A. 9.200 19,100 + + First Whrd B. 9,200 5.500 4- + Second Ward A 9,300 32.400 + + Second Ward B 9,300 3,350 + 4- Third Ward A. 9,200 16,400 + 4- Third Ward B. 9,200 9,450 + + + 4- $400,000 $234,450 + + Women's subscriptions $ 67,650 4> +*+++++ + + + + + + +

OLD BLUE CREEK “OVER THE TOP" Reported at Noon Today With Entire Allotment of $21,000 Subscribed. FIRST IN THE COUNTY Will Receive Honor Flag from U. S. Treasury Department for Work. Blue Creek township went over the top at noon today, reporting their complete quota, $21,000. first township in the county to make this record. Although the reports from that township have been meagre and the total even in today’s official reports shows but S7OO it was known that the township was iteing thorough!) can vassed and that eventually they would meet their quota. However the fact that they were even near the top was a surprise. A committee consisting of Charles Foessel. Bob Davies. George McAlhaney and Jesse Barnett, came in at noon with their applications and the proof that they had made their quota. They were a happy bunch as they had a right to be proud of the wonderful record, and they will be the first outlying township to secure one of the Honor Flogs given by the treasury department. The money was secured largely hy fifty and one hundred dollar subscriptions showing how complete was the canvass. The men and women of that township have worked hard but they have the satisfaction of having heed’d the call of their government and met the request within ten days of work. It’s a record worth while and one that will live for a good while. Several of the other townships are nearing the goal and it is the hope and belief that by Saturday several of them will have reported a perfect record. The Blue Creek township workers will of course continue to accept applications during the balance of the two weeks and their total is now assured a most satisfactory one.

MEN IN DEFERRED CLASSES. Official notices are being sent out today by the local military board summoning every registered man in Adams county, who has a deferred classification on account, of agricultural pursuit, including those in class one who have been skipped or who are engaged in farming and those who were placed in deferred classes on the grounds of having dependents to appear and attend a very important meeting at the court house on Monday evening at seven-thirty oclock- It is compulsory that every man who receives this notice to appear at the meeting, as a roll call will be made and those absent will be liable to other measures. L. C. Crawford of the district board will address the meeting. Be there.

FOR PROTECTION Co-operation of Employees and Officers of the Railroads HAS BEEN ASKED To Protect Against Thefts and Losses —The Appeal. New York. April 3. 1918 To All Officers and Employes: Your attention is directed to the following communication from the Director General of Railroads, dat 'd Washington. March 26th: “A section for the protection < f railroad property ami property of shippers in transit has been established in the Division of Law by the Director General to enforce rigorously the Federal Law against theft from cars, stations, sidings and wharves, and to take all necessary measures in co-operation with carriers to prevent loss from this cause, which in past years has been enormous. “Philip J. Doherty is hereby appointed manager of such section. “Full co-operation with this section is required from all officers and employes of the railroads, and special agents or secret service men employ 'd by the carriers are especially required to co-operate with this section, both in preventing and investigating thefts, making arrests, or prosecuting offenders, and railroad attorneys and all other officials are required to give all possible aid. “Anyone having knowledge of any such offense should report that same to the nearest railroad official or to this section in order that indictment of the guilty parties may be had under the Federal Law which carries a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment. < Communications should be addressed to Philip J Doherty. Manager. Section for Protection of Railroad Prop- , ertv. United States Railroad Administration. Washington m. v Officers and employes must understand that all property being trar.sported by the railroads is in the cus tody of the -United States and they owe an especial duty to guard and protect the same and to report promptly any person who tampers therewith, and the United States looks to the officers, and employes to do their utmost in this behalf." F. D. UNDERWOOD. President. n — A BIRTHDAY SURPRISE The birthday anniversary of Rev. .1. A. Seimetz. pastor of the St. Mary s church in this city, did not slip by unnoticed yesterday by his many friends and members of his congregation. When he returned home at about eight o’clock in the evening, after attending a committee meeting of the Liberty Loan workers at the Old Adams County Bank, he was surprised when he entered the house to find that a number of his friends had come to spend the evening. The St. Joseph s sodality presented him with a beautiful double desk, which gift was mu-h appreciated.

IS DOING NICELY Chalmer Everett, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Everett of south of the city who was operated upon yesterday for the removal of the appendix is getting along very nicely. The operation was quite a serious one. the rppendix being inflamed to quite an extent. Drs. D. D. and C. S. Clark and J. C. Grandstaff of Preble performed the operation. Miss Mangold is the nurse in charge. Charlotte Everett, 'their daughter, who suffered from a j severe attack of the grip is improving. HAND IS CUT The two year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs Louis Koldewey fell with a glass bottle in her hand, which broke and cut the hand very badly in a circle around the palm, necessitating the taking of many stitches to close the wound.

HAND IS CUT

BAKER TELLS PERSHING HE WILL RUSH TROOPS FRENCH REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE ON FLANDERS FRONT AND WILL HELP HAIG'S MEN TO COMBAT THE GERMAN HORDES, (United Press Service) With the American Army in France. April 18—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Secretary Baker, in a letter to the American expeditionary force, made public here today, promises to “speed up the transport of the remainder of the great army, of which you are the vanguard.” General Pershing issued the following: statement, in connection with the secretary's letter. Adding “my own high appreciation of the splendid spirit of the army, your commander-in-chief wishes to impress the officers and men with a keen sense of the fierce obligation resting upon them, while giving fresh assurances of my complete confidence in your loyalty and courage and sincere faith in your duty.”

I +++++++ + + + + + + + + WEEKLY WAR MAP SERVICE. + + ♦ + The Daily Democrat, in addi- + + tion to giving the war news. will. 44- beginning today, furnish the pub- 44- lie with a weekly war map serv- 44- ice. which will he posted in the 44- bulletin window at this office. 44- New maps will be posted every 44- week, showing the battle lines, 44" the sectors where the fighting is 4-, 4- taking place, the positions won + 4- ihe week before either by our 44- armies or the enemy, together 44- with a key to the situation and 44- pictures depicting the horrible 44- conflict. You are welcome to 44- this service and information. 4-1 4- Post yourself as to where the 4-; 4- fighting is going on and where 44- the enemy is. Take a look at it 4- I 4- Remember a new map will be 44- posted each week for the next 44- twenty weeks. + ' 4.4-4*4 , 4 , 4-4 , 4 , 4 > 4-4-4' 4-4-

INDIANA IS CLIMBING. (United Press Service) Indianapolis. Ind., April IS —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Indiana counties in the seventh federal reserve district expected to cross the $40,000,000 mark in the liberty Insn campaign today. The latest report last night gave the state $38:406.000. Campaigners would like to put the state quota of $53,000,000 across this week, but it is scarcely possible now unless greatly renewed efforts are madei| Mobile the county districts are making a showing greater than ever before the cities are not responding as expected. Twenty-nine counities have made their quotas. The latest ones to go over are Clay. Parke and Marshall. Marion county has raised about $7,000,000 of its quota of $12,500,000. Os this amount, the: county, outside of Indianapolis, has j fully raised the amount set for it but the city has not yet made the grade. — CLIP OFF MILLION MILES (United Press Service) Washington, April 18—(Special toi Daily Democrat.)—Director General McAdoo is about to dip one million miles a month from the total mileage, traveled by passenger trains west of the Mississippi river. Details of the remodeled train schedules are practically complete and an official announcement of the (change is expected within ten days, it j was learned at the office of the railJ road administration here today. o delivered two cars I , The Kalver-Noble Garage Co., made delivery today of two more Ford car t. A Ford Sedan was delivered to Cost - *Cook, and a 1-ton truck delivered to Herman I* Conter. These 1-ton trucks are becoming quite popular, as eight have been delivered this month. MRS. MART GILSON LOW l ■ Mrs. Mart Gilson who has been ill i for several days has been suffering ; from pneumonia for the past two days ■ and is said to be very low. She is a sister of Sheriff Ed Green.

Price, Two Cents.

I (United Press Service) (Bv Carl I) Groat. United Press Staff I I Correspondent) Washington. D. ('., April 18—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Military men here today looked for important developments following arrival of the French reinforcements on the Flanders battlefield. That it might be the forerunner of a vast strengthening o: the British, as mentioned by Haig several days ago. was the thought here. Army men recalled that Haig then ( said the French were coming up j “ranidi? and in great force" to aid (the hard-pressed Britishers." j It is asumed here that Foeh is 1 plaving a game that will not permit jthe situation to get out of hand. The Flanders battle is admittedly lan unpleasant stage for the British, i hut armv men thus far are thoroughly cons dent that the Germans will i not achieve their objective of breaki: i -• ... ♦ through Io the channel ports. Tlte bloody fighting for Meteren and Wyteehaete. the British retirement neat Ypres. and the German claim of capture of Poelcapelle and Langemarck aJI formed a situation which may compel further British retirement. ’ The German apparently wishes to reach Cassell and his strokes have aided him materially. However, the arrival of the French may cheat him of the strageic advantage thus far gained, and it is deemed quite likely the next few days will see the tide turning against him. The batle situation daily hammers home the need of American troops an the battle line. Secretary Baker has given President Wilson a comprehensive view of the man power problem and every effort is now turned to making i existing tonnage available for troop J transport and to turning out new tonnage. The non-esseitials are falling before the demand for the vitals —men. Director McAdoo will soon order a great traffic cut west of the Mississippi to aid the transportation problem and the whole tendency is to cram every possible foot of space , with troops. (United Press Service) Amsterdam. April IS (Special to t Daily Democrat) “What haven't 1 1 done to | reserve the world from then ■ horrors," the kaiser is quoted as sayt'ing during a visit to the Armer.tieres - battle front, in a dispatch to a Berlin paper. (United Press Service) Washington. April 18 —(Special to 8 Daily Democrat)—Revealation of F.m- --; peror Charles’ peace letter and the t subsequent effort to turn the situation ’ to Austrian advantage were behind s Austrian Count Czernin’s resignation, t according to Teuton press comment, received here today. One paper declared Czernin did not know of tho peace letter and that as a result made I no effort to explain the Austrian po?'sition to Clemenceau's disadvantage, s That paper believed the emperor did t'not warn Czernin in time to prevent I his blundering.