Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 16, Number 116, Decatur, Adams County, 15 May 1918 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT W

Volume VVI. Number 116.

AUSTRIANS FIRE ON AMERICANS At Aviation Depot at Middletown, Pa.—Plan to Take Men With BUT SLIGHT DEFECTS For Special Service—The President Asks for Vote of Confidence. ■■ ■" ■ (Untten rrwi Service) Harrisburg. Pa., May 15—(Specal to Daily Democrat) —Three Austrians today hid behind a screen of bushes and fired upon the United States aviation supply depot at Middletown. Sol-' diets seized them. Washington, May 15—(Special to Daily Democrat) —President Wilson to-! day issued a challenge for an expression of confidence from congress. In a letter to Senator Martin, democratic floor leader, he assailed tne Chamberlain resolution calling for the creation of a powerful investigating committee amounting virtually to a committee on the conduct of the war. The purpose which it undoubtedly expresres. has been expressed time and again during the present session and has always seemed to originate a rooted distrust of those in charge of the executive function of the government. The president declares a vote to favor the resolution would discredit him and called upon those back of the administration in its war work to defeat the proposal. —a) Washington, May 15 —(Special to Daily Democrat) — President Wilson called upon former Justice Chas. E. Hughes to act as a co-investigator in the probe of Gutzon Borglum’s charge against the aircraft production board. Hughes accepted the call. Washington, May 15—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Secretary of War Baker this afternoon announced his approval of a plan for placing men with slight physical defects now rejected, into recruit battalions and using them for military duties other than over seas. Rome, May 15—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Great masses of Austrians are concentrating along the Alpine lines and the Fruili planes, it was announced here today. Austrian aircrafe are fighting desperately to prevent Italian airmen from discovering these troop movements. Zurich. May 15—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The kings of Bavaria and Saxony have gone to German headquarters, according to reports received here today. It is believed here that the monarchs of these two German states will confer with the kaiser along much the same lines as were discussed at the recent meeting of the kaiser and Emperor Karl of Austria. London, May 15— (Special ta. Daily Democrat) —The heaviest assault undertaken by the Germans in several days—an attack on a front of nearly a mile, southwest of Morlancourt, between the Somme and the Ancre, yesterday morning—was a complete failure. Field Marshal Haig's night report declared that after the enemy had succeeded in entering the lines atone point the Australians counter-attack-ed and fully re-established their positions. The enemy's losses were heavy and more than fifty prisoners were taken. The British casualties were light. French troops repulsed a German attack north of Kemmel, on the Flanders front Monday night. The French war office last night reported intermittent bombardments in the Amiens region and east of Mont Didier. Berlin claimed a “successful thrust’’ into the British lines on the Bray-Corbie road —evidently referring to the attacks soutwest of Morlancourt. Counter-attacks failed, the German war office said. BULLETIN. London, May 15—(Special tc Daily Democrat) —German artillery began a bombardment this morning at point, between the Somme and the Ancre ant on the northern portion of the Fland ers front, Field Marshal Haig reports RAiiAkeAaaao* Mnrlancourt and nortF

++++++++++++++ + AS INDIANS SEE IT. ♦ + + b + Washington. I). I'., May 15 + + (Special to Daily Democrat) + * + Republicans ran indulge in a + * great war whoop over the follow + + Ing letterH to Col. Easy-Smith 4- * + assistant to General Crowder, and + + a democrat, received from a + + personal friend, who is a staunch + + republican: + [ + "A drafted Indian came back + + from the training camp to the + + reservation and was asked how + ' j ♦ he liked it. + + “'Not much good; too much + + salute, not much shoot.’ + + “He then was asked if he knew + * what he was lighting for. and + + he replied: + + "’Yeah, me know; me fight to + * make whole damned world dem + + ocratic party.’ ” + +•!«++++♦ + + + + + + + of Kemmel, the enemy's artillery fire increased this morning," the statement said. j “An attempted enemy raid was repulsed north of Lens last night. “We carried out a successful raid nctheast of Robecq. "There was hostile cannonading last night in the Somme and Ancre i valleys, north of Bethune and in the Nieppe forest sector." I Amsterdam. May 15 —(Special to Daily Democrat)—Ciscaucasia has pro-j claimed its independence and has notified the Central Empires and neutral countries, according to a dispatch today from Constantinople. ■ The government of Ciscaucasia embraces the greater portion of European Caucasia, including the provinces of Stavropol. Kuban and Terek, and foimi erly was subject to Russia. Zurich, May 15—(Special to Daily Democrat) — Official confirmation was received in Berlin dispatches today that the Russian dowager empress Maria and the Russian grand dukes Nicholas Nikolaievitch, Peter Nikola'evitch, and Aexander Michaelovski have lieen imprisoned by the Germans in Crimea. BULLETIN Washington. May 15—(Special to Daily Democrat) — Today's casualty list is one of the longest yet reported by General Pershing, containing a tot- | al of 120 names. Thirty-nine of the men are New England soldiers missing in action. The other casualties are: Three killed in action; three dead from wounds; five from disease: one from accident; seven from other causes: six wounded severely and 48 wounded sightly and eight wounded in action. Among the missing in action are ( Captain George G. Freeland. Westville. Conn., and Lieut. James F. Craw- ( ford. Warsaw, N. Y. (By William Phillip Simms. United 1 Press Staff Correspondent) With the British Armies in France, May 14—(Special to Daily Democrat) 1 There is little doubt that Germany 1 has embarked on her last great adventure, in which every man. boy. horse and machine will be used in a ’ desperate endeavor to gain a favorable decision during the present fighting. The German drafts are refitting di- ■ visions which are about half compos- 1 led of returned wounded and recruits. The latter include some boys of 18 years. Few, if any of the youths of this age were in the line at the beginning of the offensive, when Hindenburg depended largely on the class of 1918 which fought with great impetuouaity but lacked the stamina to I win a victory. A captured non-commissioned officer of the 62nd infantry declares that regiment lost 50 per cent of its per- ' sonnel around Meteren (on the Flan- ’ ders front). Its casualties included nine company commanders. Another I prisoner says his battalion lost be- ' tween 60 and 70 per cent of its effectives. A prisoner belonging to the 11.th ' regiment says certain battalions lost ' 40 to 60 per cent. It is clearly estabIHshed that the German losses were "'high in both the Somme and Lys J fights delaying the start of the third I There is every possibility that the I I class of 1919 which is being drafted B ! in large numbers will, with the veter--3 ans be driven to death-fulfilling the '■ kaiser's boast that he will continue * to rule the world, or wil see every man. boy. hors eand dog die. MOVED HIS OFFICE G. F. Kintz, justice of the peace, baa :s moved bls office from the bank buildd ing. to the Spangler building, havius d. the room at the rear of the suite oc , d copied by the Dr. J- Q- Neptune dental :h office.

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday Evening, May 15, 1918.

•IN FORT WAYNE , Will be the Funeral of ; Mrs. 11. Tillman Diehl be Held I THURSDAY AFTERNOON » ’I Was Sixty Years of Age —Resided Near Peterson. Funeral services for Mrs. H. Tillman Diehl, aged 60. of near Peterson, mention of whose death was made in I this paper last evening, will be held I I Thursday afternoon at one o'clock | from the home of a daughter, Mrs. Hutchinson, at Fort Wayne. The body was taken there from the St. Joseph hospital where death occurred yesterday. She had been a patient there several weeks. Rev. ('. E. Boyer will officiate and burial will be 111 Lindenwood cemetery. Mrs. Diehl was born in Wells county. March 16. 1858, her maiden name being Duer. She was first married to John Faylor. June 17. 1878. He died May 7. 1910. and on September 9, four 1 yeras later, she became the wife of H. T. Diehl. Those who survive are the husband and the following children: Mrs. Minnie Ball, of Toledo. O.; Miss Helen Faylor. at home; Forest Faylor. .if Bluffton; Mrs. Leia Hutchinson. >f Fort Wayne, and William Faylor, of Toledo, also the following brothers and sisters, Mrs. Edward Duer of Bluffton. Mrs. Minnie Hoover of Ossian. and Mrs. Hutchinson, of Fort Wayne. DOUBLED QUOTA Hoosiers Over-subscribe K. of C. War Camp Fund by Fifty Per Cent. CONVENTION REPORT ■ —ll— — , Local Men Have Returned from Indianapolis—State ( Officers Elected. I Joe Lose. Grand Knight of the local council, ('. S. Niblick and Martin J.. . idylott have returned from Indiana;)- ] olis where they attended the state con- , vention of the Knights of Columbus held there Tuesday at the Claypool hotel. It was reported at the convention that the state’s quota of 1250.01)0 for the Knights of Columbus War Camp Fund had been over-subscribed by fifty per cent and that when the final totals were made the subscriptions of the loyal Hoosiers would reach the half million dollar mark. State officers were elected at the convention and the following men elected: Steve Callahan. Fort Wayne. State Deputy; John J. O'Callahan, Hammond, state secretary; Herb Zahn Huntington. state treasurer; Gus Vanderbush, Kokomo, stale worden; P. O. O'Donald. Bloomington, state advocate. The following men were elected as delegates to the national convention which will be held in New York from August 12th to 14th: Albert Vennan. Evansville;. Father Jausen, Gary; Walter Smith, Lagrottee; John Louden. Tipton: William Neure, Bloomington. Getting Report Ready. The local committee in charge es the Knights of Columbus War Camp Fund are getting together the totals and the results of the drive in this city. The exact figures are not obtainable at this date but it was stated this morning by the chairman of the committee that he was confident, that the subscriptions would exceed the five thousand dollar mark. Excellent contributions have been reported from Wells and Jay counties and Geneva, Indiana, which amounts are placed to lhe local council. A report will probably be given out Thursday. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP A Red Cross meeting for the north part of Washignton township will be ‘ held at the Haines school house. Friday evening at eight o'clock and I I would appreciate a good attendance as important questions must be decided I at this time. Please come. FRANK HETMAN, Captain

, f '+*++++++++++++ 1 + MAIL BY AIR ROUTE. + 1 + + + New York. May 15- (Special + . + Daily Democrat)' The first air- + ■b pinite mail delivery route start- 4> +cd today as per schedule be- + + tween Washington-Philadelphia- + + Yew York. Souvenir hunters + swamped all the offices Post + + master General Burleson bought 4- + the first stamp and President + + Wilson cancelled it by writing his name across. The service + 4- starts with twelve planes, six at + + Philadelphia, three at Washing + + ton and three at New York. The + 4- trip is made in three hours. + + Eighty years ago the first mail + + service began between New York + 4* and Washington, at that time 4* + the trip requiring thirty two + + hours. + +++++■!•+ + + + + + + + BY YOUNG WIFE Was Body of Ray Marquart Identified —In the Evening DID NOT RETURN For Supper—Found the Body in Undertaking Establishment. The funeral of Ray Marquart. mer tion of whose death was made in this paper last evening, was held this afternoon at 2:30 from the United Brethren church at Rivarre. The body was brought to that town last evening from Lima, 0., where death resulted Monday from drowning. Not until the body arrived last night were details of the death known here. He and his bride of two weeks had gone to Lima, 0., last Friday and he had gone to work for an oil company there. While working on a dyke at the reservoir for the oil company, the earth crumbled and he was throw.) backward into tlie water. He probably suffered cramps and was rendere I helpless. It was sometime before he was missed and the body was recovered. As he was newly employed the body was not identified until evening, when his wife, who had gotten supper waited a half hour, and then walked out to meet him when he did not return. She continued walking until she reached the place he was employed, and making inquiry, was informed that they did not know where he. was. is noltody was well acquainted with the ' new employee. However, she was informed that a man had been drowned 1 there in the morning and they advised her to call at the undertaking parlors. ■ which she did. finding that the unideni- 1 itied man was her husband. The shock was very severe, but the 1 people' were extremely kind, and did ' everything in their power to assist her. The birde was formerly Miss Ix>ona Rash and the wedding too): place in the county clerk’s office this city, two weeks ago yesterday, Judge Smith officiating. For the burial, the body was dressed in his naw uniform. SOLDIER'S BURIAL Fully Two Thousand People Pay Tribute to Samuel Huser. ONE OF THE FIRST Os Our Soldiers to Die —Many from Here Attend. It is estimated that there were fully two thousand persons at the funeral of Samuel Huser. the young soldier boy, whose death was one of 1 the first one to occur in the ranks ' from this county. It is said to have ’ been the largest funeral ever held in the county. The Defenseless Mennonite church west of Berne could accommodate only a very small per cent of those who came to thus pay i tribute to one who had gone to give e his life for service for his country, i- but who had been called by death I following pneumonia only two weeks s after leaving here for Camp Taylor. 1 The Berne Liberty Guards attended in a body and each member threw a i (Continued on Page Three)

{■ELECT OFFICERS • I - ' M<4lroe Branch of the Red Cross Held Annual MeetI ' ing Last Evening. I PLANNING FOR DRIVE Twenty Captains Named— Meet Monday Night—Geneva Getting Ready. The Monroe branch of the Red Cross a(e again ready for business and the splendid record made by them will be continued. At the annual meeting last night Jim A. Hendricks was reelected president. John Nelson, secretary, and Glen Glancy. (treasurer. The president appointed twenty captains of solicitors who will meet at the Monroe State bank next Monday evening te plan for the big drive. Those named are: For Kirkland township. Oswald Parrish. Melvin Babcock and Will Yager; Washington. E. W. Busche, Albert Spuller and Charles McKean; St. Mary's. Mr. Crownovcr and J. D. Winans; Blue Creek. Samuel Shackley. Joel Hahnert. Dye Ferguson and John Parrish; Monroe. James V. Hendricks, William Mitchell and William Libby; French, John Tonner. Sim Smith and Isaac Bowman; Monroe corporation. John Nelson and John F. Hocker. County Chairman Vance. D. N. Erwin and Thomas Baltzell attended the meeting. A meeting was also held during the day at Geneva where plans for the drive are being made Indications are that it will be a great success. HOW TO KNOW IT Ear-marks of the Common Barberry, a Foe to Wheat Are HEREWITH DESCRIBED ! By W. E. Leer, of U. S. De- < 1 partment of Agriculture, , Here This Week. , In the office of County Agent M. H. Overton this week is a very pretty a))- ( pearing shrub in a pot. But, in spite . of its prettiness, it is a foe to wheat — j the common barberry—and W. E. 1-eer - special agent of the U. S. Department , of Agriculture who is in Decatur this | week helping out on the state eradi- s cation campaign, says in the secoiid ; of his daily series of articles: t “How may 1 know whether the < barberry In my yard is the harmless Japasese dwarf variety or whether It is the tall. European variety, that has been ordered eradicated as a patriot- I ic measure? is the question that has i been bothering a good many property owners in Decatur since the announce- t ment of the campaign ngai'.si the bar- I berry was made. ' “If the edgbs of the leaves are like the teeth of a saw and the spines underneath the leaves are. for the most part, three pointed, with the flowers or berries growing in currant-like clusters, then you have the common, tall. European variety that produces t the black stem rust of wheat." “Get rid of this kind at once. This bush is a menace to our wheat crop and should be dug up and burned at once. Let the pupils in the schools and the parents in the hon.e see that every piece of property in the community is searched for this enemy. “But if the edge of your barberry leaves are smooth and the spines below the leaves are for the most part . single pointed, with the flowers or her- . ries singly, then you may know that ; what you have is the Japanese or t dwarf variety, which is a friendlv 4 alien, immune' to rust and so sate from » destruction." ! “Before the rust can attack the grow- . ing grain in early summer, it must . reach a barberry plant anil grow on i- its leaves. After a few days a great r number of small seed-like spores are > c arried by the wind from the barberry to the. grain fields. Perhaps 50.000,0n0 i sjores might be given off from one i bush. If there are no grain fields . handy, the rust attacks many common I grasses just as well. These aid in t spreading it to the country. A single '{plant dr hedge on a city lawn may

|+*++ + 4 + + + TO WAR MOTHERS. ♦ + War Mother of Adams County: + . + Saturday. May isth, the Red + + Cross proposes to have a spies- + + did parade at ln-30 o’clock in the + morning. The Red Cross pro- + + poses to make this parade one of + + the most beautiful ever held here + + The following week the Red + ' + Cross drive commences. We + + want you to help us make this + + Saturday parade a success. Will + . + you please be present on that + + day and join us in the parade? + * The place of assembly will be + + the library building at 9:30 + 4- o’clock. + 4- MRS. ANNA McCONNELL, + 4> Chairman. War Mothers. + < . + + 4. + + + A + + + ruin miles of grain, once the rust gets going in damp, warm weather." TO BE RECOUNTED Will be the Votes Cast for Trustee of Root Township. TO DECIDE CONTEST Commissioners Are Named to Do Recounting, Beginning May 20th. The matter of the "tie” of votes cast for Martin Gerke and Philip Schiefe.rstein for trustee of Root township will be settled by a recount of the votes, this to begin Monday morning at nine o'clock, May 20. and to continue without interruption until completed Such was the order made by Judge I). G. Smith this morning when the petition of Mr. Gerke for a recount was heard. The judge appointed Henry Eiting, Ferdinand Bleeke and Charles D.. Ter-ple, commissioners to make the r count. Messrs. Gerke and Schieferstein are each privileged to select a. voter of the county to be present, an:! Gerke and Schieferstein may also be present at the recount. Will Hammell. clerk of the circuit court, is to serve as clerk of the commissioners. In his petition asking for a recount . of votes. Mr. Gerke sets out that a number of votes were thrown out in , lhe former counting and he has reason i to believe that the majority were cast for him. ENLISTED IN NAVY Bernard Parent and Fred Ayres ft this city have enlisted and been gi i a I a transfer by the local military board 1 to join lhe navy. They will leave 1 Thursday for Indianapolis, from which v place they will be sent to Providence, f R. I. Marion Crist of Kirkland town- s ship enlisted through the local board 1 as a mechanic and will leave Monday f for Jacksonville. Florida, to rc|a>rt at I Cantp Ben Johnson. WOMEN MAY REGISTER Any woman in the county, missed ir. v the recent taking of the war census, er 1 registration, may register either al 'hejs Decatur Library or at the North End i grocery. Mrs. Anna McConnell, coui.-.t ty chairman, has placed registra’ioii i cards at both places, where registrars I will care for the applicants. :

MEN HAVE BEEN SELECTED. The local board this morning selected the sixty-three men who will leave here, probably May 25th, for Camp Taylor, Ky„ they comprising the county's 'fUuota of the recent call. Seven men were selected as substitutes. Order number 1371 was the highest taken in making up this list. The sixty-three

men and substitutes are as follows: Walter Hofstetter. Berne. Fred Sprunger. Berne. Victor Hoffman. Decatur. Carl A. Sprunger, Berne. John F. Smelser, Berne. Ralph Burnett, Monroe. Edwin Bixler, Berne. Noah N. Schrock, Berne. William Studler, Geneva. Fred Macke, Decatur. Amos O. Stauffer, Berne. John W. Eckrote. Geneva. Joseph Hilty, Berne. Reuben E. Liechty, Berne. Floyd Schnepp, Decatur. Burtell H. Smith, Decatur. Bernard J. Lange. Decatur. Chas. W. Massonnee, Decatur. James E. Deam, Decatur. • Oswin Zuercher. Berne. Charlie Ross, Decatur. Samuel Flueckiger, Monroe. Henry F. Schlickman, Decatur. Attos Von L. Yost, Pleasant Mills. Jepthan Zuercher, Berne. Waldo M. Lehman. Berne. Artie L. Jackson. Decatur. Jeff J. Swartz, Bluffton. Otto Theo Gase, Decatur. Enis N. Twig, Geneva. James C. Hoffman, Decatur. Bert R. Glendenning. Portland. Ore. Oscar Sprague, Decatur. John F. Duer, Geneva. Adolph Sprunger. Monroe. George Steiner, Berne.

Price, Two Centi<

DEATH SUMMONS Came for Miss Helen Campbell at an Early Hour Today. HAD BEEN ILL LONG Was Eighteen Years of Age—Daughter of Curtis Campbell. 1 I , Surviving her sister. l»ls Campbell, by but a few months. Miss Helen Cam)) hell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Campbell, of Pleasant Mills, passed into the newer life this morning at I seven o’clock. The girl who was only | about eighteen years of age had been ill for svernl months of peritonitis and complications, and little hope was ex- , tended in the later months for her recovery. The Campbell family formerly lived in this county, but came here last fall from Bluffton to again make their home here, residing in Pleasant Mills. The deceased is survived by the folI lowing brothers and sisters: Mary. ! David. Daniel and William. A sister, I Lois, preceded her in death last tall. She is a niece of,Mrs. Jacob Buhler of this city. The funeral arrangements ate not yet made but the service will probably ; be held Friday afternoon and will be held either at Pleasant Mills or in the Decatur Baptist church. SHOWS IMPROVEMENT Roltert, little son of Mr. and Mrs. O. P. Mills, who has been quite seriously sick with complicated ailments, is reported to be improving. DOCTOR ISDEAD Dr. S. K. Christy. Pioneer Physician of Willshire, Ohio FOUND DEAD TODAY In His Bed—Had Been in 111 Health for Two Years. Willshire. 0., May 15—(Special to Daily Democrat) Dr. S. K. Christv. pioneer physician of this city, having been here for forty years or more, was found dead in bed this morning at 5:30 o'clock by his wife. The venerable physician had been in ill health for two years or more, and an attack of heart trouble is believed to have been the cause of death. He was about sixty-eight years of age. He has no children, but has two step-children, being sons of his first wife, by a former marriage. They ire Walter Johnson who lives near Willshire, O.; and John Johnson, of Fortville. About four years ago Dr: Christy was married to Mrs. Alpha Boyer, who survives. The funeral arrangements are not yet made

Riley Galloway, Berne. Raymond W. Dean, Decatur. Leo J. Weber, Decatur. Wm. Harman Dreher, Decatur. Clement R. Gottschalk. Berne. Earl C. Fuhrman, Decatur. Fred A. Niblick, Decatur. Elmer V. North, Geneva. Joe Freed, Geneva. Frank E. Neuenschwander, Decatur David Sprunger, Berne. Wade L. Manley, Geneva. John Peter Bosse, Decatur. Chas. A. Rape, Geneva. Roy C. Steele. Pleasant Mills. Roe C. Dickerson. Geneva. Carl A. Shirk, Monroe. Albert F. Mutschler, Decatur. Harry E. Landers. Geneva. True L. Miller, Decatur. Walter A. Springer. Bobo. George Ellenberger, Berne. Hazel B. Watkins, Pleasant Mills. Frederick P. Weber, Decatur. Orval Allspaw, Berne. Marion C. Whitright, Decatur. Wilber Mathys, Berne. SUBSTITUTES James C. Runyon, Geneva. Alfred Fuhrer, Geneva. John Arn, Geneva. William H. Egly, Geneva. Harry Sprunger, Berne. William Kauffman, Berne. ' Gilbert L. Buckey, Geneva.