Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 16, Number 208, Decatur, Adams County, 4 September 1918 — Page 1

DECATUB DAILY DEMOCRAT

Volume XVI. Number 208.

GERMANS ARE RETIRING TO THE MESSINES RIDGE BRITISH TAKE 3,000 MORE PRISONERS -BEGUN ADMITS GIG LOSS-MAJOR GENERAL GRAVES ANO TROOPS ARRIVE IN SIBERIA.

TBy Lowell Mellett, United Press Staff Correspondent) With the British Armies in France, Sept. I—(Special to the Daily Democrat)—Evidence is rolling up that the Germans are retiring to the Wytshate and Messines ridges. The action of the German machine guns indicate the Intention of the enemy to hold the canal line temporarily, staving off the threat against Cambrai. Along the main line the British have taken another 3,000 prisoners. General Byng’s patrol in Manancourt southwest of Cambrai i encountered heavy machine gun fire. Leichell is held by the British. Ytres is reported to be likewise held although the Germans’ machine patrol is just beyond the town. Tadtole Copse, scene of desperate fight-1 ing in June battles, is again in the hands of the British. Air-J planes report two canal crossings destroyed seven miles west ] of Cambrai. Four crossings | are still intact there. Byng's army took two thousand prisoners and twenty-two field guns in the twenty-four hours ending last night. Washington. D. C., Sept. 4— (Special to Daily Democrat) — The arrival of Major General William Graves, American commander of our troops in Siberia, with forty-three officers and. 1,088 men, September 2nd. was announced today by Chief of Staff March. At the same time he identifies the thirtieth division the Americans who distinguished themselves in the Flanders fighting during the last week and the thirty-second division the Americans who have battled violently on the Soissons front with the French. Troops| sent to France now total 1,600,-; 000, he announced for September Ist. General Graves will at | once assume charge of the troop unit now numbering 21,000, in Siberia. London, Sept 4—(4:20 p. m.) —J Americans and French in strong forces, comprising both artillery and infantry, have crossed the Vesle river at Fismes it was announced here today. Indications are that the Ger-, mans must retire very soon if they are not doing so now. Washington. Sept. 4—(Special to Daily Democrat)— Provost Marshal Crowder today announced that bank- ( ers and persons engaged in other ployment, not previously regarded as warranting deferred classification. may now apply for exemption, on the grounds their work is necessary to| the nation. Men holding important, positions in the Red Cross and similar organizations, those engaged in public health and similar employ-| ment are entitled to deferred classi- ( flcation. This ruling removes the | danger of too narrow construction of the working industries. Paris. Sept. a. m.)-Gen-eral Mangin’s troops have rea, ; he ‘* the edge of the Vauxaillon tableland and are gradually progressing toward the Chemn des Dames, according to dispatches to the Journal today. Vauxaillon itself is about a mile and a half east of the allied line above Soisons. Progress in this direction shows Mangin continuing his movement to flank German positions along the Vesle and menace their new positions on the Chemln des Dames. Derby, England, Sept. 4—(Special to Daily Democrat)— Resolutions uiging the British government to immediately negotiate for peace, provided the Germans evacuate France and Belgium, were adopted by the labor congress in session here today. The congress also demanded they have

' representatives at the peace conference. Berlin via London, Sept. 4—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Germin withdrawal in Flanders and Picardy was anounced by the Berlin war office today. “Astride the Lys” the statement said “in a continuous battle, the enemy went forward far as the line of Wulverghen and Nieppe. Monday night we withdrew our troops in a line from Arleux and Manancourt undisturbed by the enemy. Between the Ailette and the Aisne, French, American and Italian troops renewed the attack. | London. Spot. 4 —(Special to DailyDemocrat) —Steady advances by British and French troops were announced in over night official statements issued by the London and Paris war office. Field Marshal Haig also noted abandonment of enemy stores and 'other signs of a most hurried German 'letirement before the British in 1 ! Picardy. I I London. Sept. 4, — (4:22 p. m.) — Though the British have only locate ! in the outskirts of Lens the Germans , have wholly evacuated the city. Paris Sept. 4—(4 p. m.)—At Guls- J 'card, 6 miles north by east of Noyon the French cavalry is today forcing the Germans back. The enemy is withdrawing from the right bank of •the north canal. North of Soissons the Channiny-Laon railway has ben passed. General Mangin is reported advancing on the Paris-Haison and Soisson s-Guign icou rt railroad. BULLETIN Paris, Sept. 4—(Special to Daily Democrat) — Announcment that allied detachments along the Vesle front have crossed the Vesle river nt several points and that the French •and Americans are in the western • outskirts of ('oucyOe-C.hateau was 'made by the war office today. I The Hague, Sept. 4—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The German main | headquarters have been transferred from the Spa. Belgium, to Verwiers, ; ’in Liege province. ’ Belgium, accord- , Jng to the newspaper Les Mouvelles. ( BULLETIN London. Sept. 4—(Special to Daily Democrat)— A British armored car , is reported to have entered Marquoin , according to a dispatch from the British front today. Washington, Sept. 4 —(Special Io I Daily Democrat) — Political fortunes of congressmen today threatened to I delay final enactment of the. new SB,1000,000,(100 revenue bill until just before or immediately afier fall election | House majority leader Kit chin and his aides plan to bring the bill into 'the lower body Friday and push it through by Sept. 14. Leaders on both sides say there is no chance of getting the hill enacted j before Sept. 28 the date of the next liberty loan. Some members of the house ire eager to stay on the job until the revenue bill is finally disposed of on the grounds that they will be in a stronger position at election if their work is cleaned up. London, Sept. 4—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The British hold Romancourt, (just south of Ecourt-St. Quentin, eight and one-half miles west by north of Cambrai). it was learned today. Inchy-en-Artois has been captured and the British also hold Bernicourt and Hermies. I Harbin, Manchuria, Sept. 2—(Spe- • cial to Daily Democrat)—The van■'guard of the Czechoslovak column II which captured Verkhneudinsk has I ( effected a junction with General Sent- ' onoff's forces on the Onqn river. >■ From Pensa to Vladivostok there ' (Continuedron - Faae’Two)

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday Evening,September I, 1918.

GETTING STARTED ' Advisory Committee of the ( Fourth Liberty Loan Held Enthusiastic Meeting. OPEN headquarters In Terveer Building Within Few Days—Lansing Plan Was Discussed. Watch for the sign “Liberty Loan Headquarters.” It will appear within a few days across the front of the Terveer building; which has been kindly donated for this purpose and which will soon he occupied by Chairman Schirmeyer and his assistants. A meeting of the advisory committee was held last evening and another will be called for Friday night bv which time it is expected that the captains for each unit will be reported. Upon motion last night a resolution inviting the women of the county, to participate in the campaign was unanimously adopted and Mrs. Knapp, county chairman for the women will be invited to become a member of the general advisory committee, together with such of her lady assistants as she deems advantageous The plan of campaign used at Lansing, Michigan, was read and discuessed, an expression of opinion resulting 11 to 8 in favor of the voluntary subscription plan the first three days. The matter will be decided upon probably at the next meeting The attendance last night was excellent and reports from over the county are that the organization for the Fourth drive will be the best since the war started. Last night’s meeting was full of enthusiasm and every man has his coat oil', ready for the important campaign which will continue Adams county in the Ixty-il ty column. ON “NEXT MONDAY Will be Dedication of New High School Building— Date Changed. PROF. ELLIS COMING And State High School Inspector Will be Here for the Occasion. If all of the new high school furniture arrives in lime for installing by that time, the dedication of the nowhigh school building will be held next Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Prof. Wortmann had first set the date for Friday of this week but owing to delay in arrival of furniture, the date was changed. State School Superintendent Horace Ellis and State High School Inspector Oscar H. Williams of Indianapolis, will be here for the occasion. All of the city grade teachers are requested to meet in room 203 of the new high school building next Friday afternoon at three o'clock. When the crates containing the new high school furniture arrived, it was found that wrong parts of some had been sent, thus occasioning another delay. a’IABORMEETING TONIGHT. W. A Kremers, representing the manufacturer; James Hurst, the representative of labor, and I). N. Erwin, federal labor enrolling agent, together with representaives from each township, will meet this evening at 8 o’clock at the city hall for the purpose of discussing, if posible. to raise the county's quota of eighty-six unskilled laboring men which the government has called for. Those interested should be present at this meeting tonight. o LIBERTY GUARDS TAKE HIKE. The Decatur Liberty Guards took a four-mlle hoke last night out the Monroe road. They are fully equipped and organized and lined m> in squads according to size. All members who are not present at the regular meetings are fined. The membership is limited to one hundred.

I ATTEND U. B. CONFERENCE. Rev. and Mrs. C. J. Miner and Ros Hays have gone to Winona Lake ti attend the annual United Brethrei » conference in sesion there. o SON IS BORN Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Niblicl are proud over the honor of beinf grandparents, a son having been bon ' to their son. Dr. Stewart Niblick am wife of Chicago. o THIRTY-EIGHT WILL LEAVE Thirty-eight Adams county hoys will leave tomorrow morning at 7:03 over the Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad for Camp Taylor. Ky. where they will enter military training. o DAILY CENSUS REPORT The girl baby born to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sudduth of thg west part -,f the city has been named Margaret Elizabeth. THE WHEAT CROP Can be Increased if Proper Methods Are Used to Take Care of Seed. CLEAN SEED WHEAT Is Very Important—Watch Out for Stink Smut Says County Agent Meeks. The state council of defense has requested that Adams county increase her wheat acreage for the 1919 crop from 12.000 acres to 22.000 acres. This request was made after a careful consideration of our labor and soil conditions and almost every farm in the county is capable of producing an additional amount of wheat. Both Patriotic and Profitable. Perhaps there are farms in Adams county in' which the wheat acreage fbr next year cannot be increased but the yield may be increased materially by practicing the most approved methods in producing a wheat crop. The soil should be disced before being plowed (if oat stubble) and the plowing should be done as early as possible as this insures a firm seed bed which is so essential in producing a good crop of wheat. After the soil is plowed and while it is being prepared the farmer should consider his seed wheat. It should be of an approved variety which has yielded well and it should be cleaned care fully. Clean seed wheat is very important, because uncleaned seed con tains, as a rule, many broken grains, weed seed, chaff and many small diseased grain, al of which constitute an undesirable condition and keep down good yields because of a good stand of wheat cannot be obtained by sow ing the usual amount of un-cleaned seed. After the wheat has been cleaned, it should be treated for the stinking smut as this particular type of smut damages the grain and the producer of wheat effected with the stinking smut is docked at the elevator. Sometimes the dock is considerable, depending upon the amount of smut present. This particular smut is easily controlled by treating the seed wheat with a formaldehyde solution made up at the rate of about one pint to forty gallons of water. This amount is sufficient to treat from 75 to 80 bushels of seed wheat. Farmers wishing to treat their seed wheat should use the wet method and do not leave the wheat covered up for more than four hours and it must be covered for two hours. After treating the wheat and drying it properly it is harmless, as the gas has all escaped, and it is ready for the drill, provided the sacks into which it is placed prior to sowing have also been rung out of the formaldehyde solution and the drill has also been treated. It is always possible to increase our yiels as well as our acreage if all the controlling factors are carefully con--1 sidered in the production of the crop, ’ and each is acompished correctly at ’ the right time. This office wishes to ’ co-operate in any manner possible ' with the farmers of Adams county, in order that our wheat crop may be materially increased for the year 1919. J. R. MEEKS, > County Agricultural Agent. ! ~~RAIN CHECKS - TODAY 1 (United Press Service) • Chicago, Sept. 4 — (Special to ■ Daily Democrat)—The first worlds i series game today was postponed be- | cause of rain.

BOOTH FESTIVAL to »n Was Great Success—Monroe Epworth League Ranked Second in R n ■' THE VALUE OF GIFTS % Decatur Third — District s • :: Gave More Than State Prior to This. Two truclK were required to carry the canned goods, vegetables, eggs, linens and other supplies from this f Epworth League sub-district to the t Booth Festival of the Fort Wayne Methodist District, held at Weiaser Park, Fort Wayne. Monday. At that ) time all of the leagues of the distri t presented their gifts for the new Methodist, hospital at Fort Wayne. This will be an annual affair hence- • forth. Appraisers estimate that the total value of the gifts from this district was $1,126.67, which is more than the whole state had given prior to this to the Methodist hospital at Indianani olis, for which Booth festivals have been held for some time including also the Old People’s Home at Warren. Dr. Wood, who has been in charge of both the hospitals in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, gave a talk, as did Dr. Martin, district superintendent. There were games and contests of various kinds. In a basket ball contest. the Decatur team won over Auburn. The leagues contributing to the two truck loads of gifts from this sub-district were those at Decatur, Monroe, Pleasant Mills, Bobo and Mt. Pleasant. According to the value of the gifts. • Monroeville ranked first: Monroe ' second, and Decatur, third. There was a basket dinner at noon. 1 in the style of a good old fashioned ’ picnic, and the day was one of great ' pleasuFe' fdr~all. FILED A PETITION ■ Property Owners Along St. , Mary’s Street File Petition With Council i FOR A SIDEWALK r c Communication from State ' r Board of Health Placed < on File—Bills Allowed. c A short session of the city council was held last evening, there being but a very few business affairs up for official action. Mayor Yager again occupied the chair he having recovered from his recent sickness, which caused him to be. absent at the last meeting. Every member answered to roll call and the clerk's minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The petition of Frank McConnell | and other property owners asking for , a sidewalk along St. Mary's street ( was filed and upon motion referred | to the street and sewer committee. The* street and sewer committee reported as having entered into a ' contract with Michael Miller for the construction of Jackson street, filing ' the contract and the contractor's bond 1 which were approved and ordered 1 spread on record. A communication from J. N. Hurty, ’ secretary of the Indiana state board ’ of health relative to the. city’s adoption of an adrinance regulating the, 9 treatment of vencral deseases was read. Accompanying the letter was r a copy of the ordinance as prepared B by the state board of health, which 1 was also read to the council by Clerk ’ t ' Christen, and the matter placed on n file. As a war measure the state board requested that the ordinance n be passed and asked that the council t . permit a state or federal representai tlve to appear before them and to explain to them the need of adopting such a measure. Similar ordinances have been adopted by the different cities in Indiana. The council will take up the matter at some future J meeting. s A communication from William G. - McAdoo, director general of the U.iited States railroads relatives to pro-

posed construction work was read ami placed on tile. " The finance committee allowed the following bills and the meeting adjourned. Citizens ‘Phone Co, $4 45; Citizens Phone Co., $3.75; The Democrat Co., $11.70; The Democrat Co., s6o'l; Dick Boch, $37.50; Titos. Dowling. $32.50; J .1). McFarland. $3.00; Street Commissioners pay roll. $100.05; V Police pay roll. $82.50; City Firemen. $72.50); Decatur Volunteer Firemen, $4.00; Decatur Volunteer Firemen. [ $13.00; Decatur Lumber Co., $41.58; D. F. Teeple, $.85; M. J Mylott pay roll. $139.50; A. C. Foos pay roll. $326.00; The Democrat Co. $10.00; Graham Insurance Agency. $17.60; Dfecatur Insurance Agency, $35.20; John S Peterson. $17.05; Harry Fike. $17.00; D. F. Teepel. $8.95; Waterworks pay roll. $41.57; D F. Teeple. $1.48; W. D. Porter. $1.25; J. D. Bollinger, $4.20; Goldie G. Steele, administratrix. $57.46; W. I). Porter. $9.85; T. St. L. & W. 11. R. Co.. $242.19; G. R. & I. R. R. Co., $228.50; Mathias Coffee. $11712; L. A. Roop, $150.27 /Continued on Page Two) WOMEN ORGANIZE Mrs. Faye Smith-Knapp Meets With Advisory Committee Relative TO THE FOURTH DRIVE Os Liberty Loan —Organizers Named for Each of the Townships. Mrs. Faye Smith-Knapp, county chairman of the Woman’s Fourth Liberty Loan drive, met at the Masonic hall last evening with the members of her advisory committee for the purpose of organizing, assigning the territory to organizers and discussing plans for the campaign which will open September 28. The women, as before, will work in co-operation with the men. and the plan of organization will be along the line of that of the men’s drive. At the meeting last evening captains, or organizers, were named for each of the twelve townships, and they in turn are to appoint chairmen for each of the twelve townships and lor the four incorporated cities or towns in those townships—Decatur, Berne, Geneva and Monroe, making sixteen units in all. The unit chairmen are to be reported to the county chairman at a meeting Saturday afternoon at four o’clock, that the complete organization may be gotten under way as soon as possible. Township organizers assigned last evening are: Union —Mrs. Fred Linn. Root—Mrs. S. D. Beavers. Preble—Mrs. C. V. Connell. Kirkland—Mrs. Will Kremers. Washington —Mrs. C. S. Niblick. St. Mary’s—Mrs. Ed Moses. Blue Creek—Mrs. J. S. Coverdale. Monroe —Mrs. Horace Callow. French —Mrs. J. L. Kocher. Jefferson —Mrs. C. L. Walters. Wabash—Mrs. C. A. Dugan. Hartford—Mrs F. E. Frame. There is very little change in the organization over that of the Third Liberty Loan drive. Mrs. W. R. Dorwin, who could not take the work this time on account of the illness of her husband, and Mrs. Dan Sprang, who is out of the city, resigned and were succeeded by others. With the exception of a change or two in assignment. otherwise, the organizers have the same territory. Mrs. F. W. Downs was named chairman of the speakers’ bureau, and Miss Jessie Magley, chairman of the publicity committee. Chairmen of other committees will be named later. The various methods of campaign, some of which were presented at the district meeting at Fort Wayne, attended by Mrs. Knapp and also by Mrs. F. F. Thornburg, who will be chairman of the Decatur organization, were discussed. The advisability of having a county meeting again was also discussed. Mrs. Fred McCulloch, state chairman, thought it probable that she could secure a woman who had returned from ■abroad to tell of war work and conditions there, as a speaker here, and efforts will be made to get one for the county meeting, which will probably be September 21. — o Mrs. Fred Bender and children, of Lima. 0.. and Mrs. Fred Bender, of Pleasant Mills, are guests of Mis. Ben Teeple at Williams today.

Price, Two Cent!*

WOOL SHORTAGE And Its Effect on Red Cross Yarn is Explained by Mr. Scott. I ACTING GEN. MANAGER Most Essential Garments Will be Made Fall Knitting Program. Mrs. W. E. Smith, head of the knitting department of the Red Cross feels that tlfe following, from the Red Cross magazine, will explain why the local chapter has not yet re- • ceived its fall yarn quota: Holds Up Fall Knitting. s Acting General Manager Scott also isued the following statement, in Connection with the statement by the , war industries board of August 13. ■ that the board “has served notice on ■ spinners of hand knitting yarns that because of the military needs of the government no more wolen or worst- ) ed hand knitting yarns may be manufactured until further notice. “Red Cros women throughout the country are anxious to know' exactly what our pans are for future knitting, and in justice to these workers who , have rendered such spendid service J in the past, we want to make the present situation cear. "Some time ago the war industries board advised the Red Cross that in view of the great shortage in raw wool, the future production of knitting yarns would be very much reduced. We immediately commenced to purchase all yarns suitable for our ’ knitting, and as a result we have toi day in stock or on order 1.400.000 . pounds of yarn for distribution to our chapters. This, of course, is an ■ amount considerably less than we . used last year, which was approximately 10.009,000 pounds. It is hoped, however, that in the near future, we may obtain some further supply of yarn made from wool which is not suitable foi government purposes. While the total amount of yarn which will be available, is being determined, we are studying the problem of utilizing this supply to produce only those garments which are most essential, we will anounce our fall program of knitting, "It will gratify our women to know that the effort which they have made during the past year to produce large quantities of knitted articles has resulted in satisfaction and additional comfort to our soldiers and sailors. It will 'interest them still further to know that their productive abilities were so great that we now have a reserve stock of knitted goods in our warehouses which wil argely offset tlie present wool shortage as it affects the Red Cross. Gives Distribution Facts. "Our workers wil he interested to know that we have distributed to the army and navy in the United tSates from September 1, 1917. to June 30. 1918, the folowing knitted garments: 2,000.900 sweaters (about 100,000 purchased). 700,000 mufflers? 900.000 wristlets, 575,000 helmets and 1.700.000 pairs socks (about 500,000 pairs purchased). "For the same period of time the Red Cross shipped to our French and Italian commissioners for distribution to soldiers, sailors and civilians: 400.000 sweaters, 75.000 mufflers, 245,000 wristlets. 60,000 helmets and 90.000 pairs socks. “The Red Cross now has in its various warehouses ready for distribution: 1,600.000 sweaters. 134.000 I niufflels. 384.000 wristlets. 228.000 helI mets and 1.328.000 pairs socks. > “We. are. therefore, hopeful that ■ our stock of finished garments and . yarn on hand, together with whattever further wool we can obtain, will enable us to meet the more urgent , requirements of our men in service , during the coming winter." DECATUR TENnFs PLAYERS WIN X . The Decatur tennis team, inchrl-it-.g Drs. C. 11. Weaver and Burt Man- • gold, Hugh Hite Oscar Lankenau. E. • D. Engler. Bryce Thomas, played • (he Fort Wayne team Labor Day, • the Decatur hoys winning. Fort 1 Wayne will play here Saturday. o I CHICKEN-KILLING CATS Certain residents of the city are incensed at chicken-killing cats which run at large. Io the destruction of f young chickens. One family lost 1 thirty-six young chickens in this way. having but sixteen of the flock remaining. I '