Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 43, Number 160, 17 May 1918 — Page 1

vni YT TTT vrr ten Palladium and Sun-Telegram V ULi. AL-1U., NO. 160 Consolidated 1007

RICHMOND, IND., FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 17, 1918

SINGLE COPY, 2 CENTS

56 GERMAN FLIERS ARE DOWNED BY THE ALLIES

British and French Airmen Meet with Little Opposition in Dropping Bombs Behind Foe Lines.

GERMANY CLAIMS 33

(By Associated Press) WITH 1 HE -BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE, May 17. The ideal flying weather yesterday on the British front in Flanders constituted a bad period to the enemy air service. One British brigade alone, up to 3 o'clock in the afternoon, had destroyed 15 German planes and had driven six others down out of control according to unofficial, but reliable figures of which the correspondent learned and at least five other hostile machines were sent crashing down. Today is another perfect day and it is certain to see many bitter clashes in the air. (Bv Associated Press LONDON, May 17. In spite of determined opposition by German airplanes. British aviators on Thursday dropped btmba on factories and the railway station at Saarbrucken, in German Lorraine, starting a fire on the rnllway. After bombing the town the Britishers turned on the enemy and in aerial fighting, says an official statement on aerial activities Issued last midnight, destroyed five of the enemy machines. One of the British airplanes was lost. .Recently British and French airmen have been meeting with little opposition in dropping bombs on railway stations, troop encampments and other military targets behind the German lines. Now the 'enemy has become most active and has attempted bombing raids behind the allied line as well as trying to prevent the allied bombers from carrying on their work Fifty-six German machines are reported accounted for by London and Pads. Of these 43 machines were destroyed by allied aviators. Berlin on the other hand claims the destruction of 33 allied airplanes. In intense aerial fighting on the western front Wednesday, 37 German p.irplanes vcre accounted' for by Brit- j ish aviators, while eleven British machines are reported missing. The official statement says: Twenty-five Brought Down. "Enemy aircraft was active in the early morning and again in the evening (Wednesday), hostile scouts attacking our bombing machines with particular Insistence. Twenty-five German machines were brought down and twelve driven down out of control. One was shot down by machine gun fire from the ground. Eleven of our airplanes are missing. "After dark, our night flying airplanes dropped over fourteen tons of Chaulnes, Lille and Douaui, on the enemy's billets at Peronne, Bray and Bapoume and on the docks at Bruges. One of our machines did not return. Early Thursday our airplanes set out to bomb the factories and railway ctatinn nt Sua rbrucken ( in German.

On crossing the lines they vere encountered by ten hostile scouts and a running fight took place along the entire way to our objective. By the time Saarbrucken was reached twen-tv-five hostile machines had collected and were attacking our airplanes with the utmost vigor. In spite of these attacks, twenty-four bombs were dropped on our objectives. Several bursts were seen on a railway and a fire sctarted. "Having attained their objectives, our airplanes concentrated their efchlnes, five of which were brought down. On'? of our machines was seen to be shot down. All of the others returned."

A MESSAGE The following message from the Richmond Commercial Club was written in behalf of the Red Cross drive: If the Great American Republic is to hold a commanding position among the nations of the earth, if it is to live up to the ideals which it has set for itself, if it is to fulfill its own mission in the march of civilization, then every integral part of the same must respond to the call. The power of the whole can only spring from its several parts. Every center of population must be aroused to its own opportunities, as well as to its own obligations. It mist bring all its faculties, its virtues and noble impulses into play. Individual effort must attune itself to collective purposes; selfishness must yield its tribute to that altruism which contemplates a better world for all mankind. Every citizen must invest with his better attributes the economic, civic and social fabric of which he is a part and thus give something of himself something that will benefit his fellow men.

HUN AVIATION IS FAILURE ON WESTERN FRONT

Foe Suffers from Lack of Men and Machines Says the Officer.

(By Associated Press) LONDON. May 17 German aviation has proved a signal failure in the great offensive on the western front, according to an officer correspondent of the Morning Post. Writing from the front, he says: German aviation does not exist at present. There are two principal reasons, the first being the tremendous wastage caused by the incessant attacks of the French and British pilots on German machines; the second being the bombing of airdromes. The enemy today suffers from lack both of men and machines in its flying arms. "In every department the Germans have been and still are exerting their full strength. If they had airplanes available there is no dought that they would have made full use of them, as we have done, for observation purposes, to prevent the bringing up of reinforcements, and to disorganize troops on the actual firing field. They have done none of these things effectively. "The conclusion seems manifest that it is because they have not the necessary force available. In any case ,the fact remains that German aviation has ceased to be a force to be seriously reckoned with. In the last four weeks the situation, which on several occasions has necessarily been delicate, would have been very much more so had the Germans been equipped with an adequate air service to supply them with definite observation."

GERMAN BIRTH RATE FALLS 40 PERCENT

George Creel Apoligizes to Congress for Speech tVv Asxoclarerl Tress WASHINGTON, May 17. George Creel, chairman of the committee on pubiic information today apoligized to congress today for his much discussed New York speech in which he was piloted as having said that as he disliked slumming he would not explore the hearts of congressmen. "I admit the indiscretion and regret It deeply." Mr. Creel wrote to Chairman Pou of the rules committee considering resolutions on the incident.

(By Associated Tress) LONDON, May 17 A report compiled by the local government board based on information from German sources shows a fall in the birth rate in Germany during the three years 115-17 inclusive, equivalent to the loss of 2,000,000 infants. Forty per cent fewer births occurred in 1916 than in 1913. These figures are compared with a decrease of ten per cent in the birth rate in England and Wales. This fact has led to a large extension of infant welfare work in Germany, in which voluntary societies have played an active part. The infant mortality in Germany in 1913. it is shown, was 151 per thousand, as compared with 10S in England and Wales. The rates in 1914 for Prussia, Saxony and Bavaria were resnectively 164, 173 and 193 per thous

and. An abnormal increase in infant

mortality during the first months of the war is shown by the fact that in Prussia, in the third quarter of 1914 the rate rose from 124 to 143; in Saxony from 140 to 242, and in Bavaria from 170 to 239. The records in England and Wales do not show any abnormal mortality among infants during the early months of the war.

r

THE WEATHER

For Indiana by the United States Weather Bureau Probably showers late tonight or on Saturday. Cooler Saturday. Today's Temperature. Noon 80 Yesterday. Maximum 82 Minimum 48 For Wayne County by W. E. Moore Occasional showers and probably thunder storms this afternoon and tonight and Saturday. Probably cooler. General Conditions Weather continues fair over the eastern states. The Rocky Mountain storm covers the west with a diameter of 2,500 miles. Rains are general in the north, with thunder showers over the south. The storm will reach here within 24 hears with occasional rains. The weather continues very warm except in the northwest where the temperatures are i"t'er.

Rickenbacher "Wings

Another Hun Plane (By Associated Press.) WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE, May 17. American aviators in the section northwest of Toul brought down another ' German airplane this morning. Full details of the action have not been received. It appears, however, that Lieut. Edward Rickenbacher of Columbus, O., answering an alarm shortly after day. encountered three enemy planes. He attacked them and shot one down sixty-three kilometers inside the enemy lines.

Shortage of Small Coins Entirely Eliminated Now (By Associated Tress) WASHINGTON, May 17. The shortage of pennies and other small coins, so acute a few months ago, has been entirely eliminated, Raymond T. Baker, director of the mint reported today. By working the Philadelphia, San Francisco and Denver mints 24 hours a day, 1.097,000 one-cent pieces, 5H7.000 nickels, 3,141,000 dimes. 3,091,000 quarters and 3,227,000 half dollars have been accumulated above the odr of bnnks.

U.S. MAY HAVE 4,000,000 MEN ARMEDJN 1910 Men Will Be Called to the Colors as Fast as They Can Be Equipped. WASHINGTON, D. C, May 17. The war department has fixed a goal of 1,500,000 fighting men and 2,000,000 men of all branches of the service in France before the end of 1918. The program also calls for the mobilization of approximately 1,500,000 men of the second draft in training camps on this side during the period from May to December, inclusive, permitting the army to match man for man the troops sent to France with new drafts called out for training. United States Troops Table. Taking Secretary Baker's official sctatement that the number of American troops now overseas has passed the 500,000 n.ark, as of May 1, the following summary may be made: Troops in France May 1 (exceeding) 500,000 Estimated total June 1 800.000 Estimated July 1 (nearly) 1,000,000 Goal set for end of year 2,000,000 These estimates, however, require explanation. The number of troops in France May 1 was far beyond 500,000. Secretary Baker having confined himself to the announcement that this mark had been pased without giving exact numbers. For the last two months the number of troops sent to France has been more than 150,000 a month. The movement has been so heavy as to make the June 'estimate of 800,000 conservative, and the July 1 estimate of approximately a million about the number that may be expected on past performances. Get Additional Transport. At the normal rate of 15,000 men to France a month, the total for the six months from July to December Inclusive would be 800,000, but the war department believes it can exceed this number as additional transportation facilities become available during the year. The mark, therefore, has been fixed at 2,000,000. Draft Call Schedule.

Final plans for calling second draft increments this year have not been worked out, but the tentative plan, using May 1 as the starting point, calls for the mobilization as follows: Called to colors in May 400,000 Each succeeding month 150,000 Total, May to December 1,450,000 Under the policy of "no limit" to the size of the American army as enunciated by Secretary Baker In asking con er ess for blanket sintVinrltv tn

call out as many troops as may be

neeaea to oeat tne Huns, it is impossible to make any estimates made in May binding'for the remainder of the year. War department officials frankly admit this. But the program they have fixed is capable of expansion possibly to a year's total of 4,000,000 under arms, if facilities can be found for sending troops to France faster than they have gone in the past, and if the training camp and supply facilities can meet the strain that will he r,lacri unnn

them by accommodating future draft i .

Explains Brigading Problem. The problem of moving approximately 400.000 men to ramns (inrlnir i.,v

brought the greatest troop movement strain American rail rnarlfl pvpr have

had to face. This troop movement has

neia DacK rreignt shipments and there probably will be further derangements of the traffic. The war department

nas aaopiea me advice or the British and French, however, to send troops first and let supplies come later. Italy Asks U. S. Troops. Italy, in an informal way, has made known to the United States that the presence of American troops on the Italy front is greatly to be desired. It became known here today. A few thousand men under the American flag, Italian officials feel, would hearten the Italian civilian population and their troops. Italy has an abundance of man power but desires the inspiration that would be afforded by the presence of American forces. In the face of a threatened Austro-German offensive on the Italian front the dispatch of Amerlean troops to Italy, it is declared, would convince the Italian people that

Aiueuca sianas nrnuy behind their country. Cite Enemy Propaganda. German propaganda is active in Italy from Sicily to the Alps telling the people they are left to their own resources, that they are fighting hopelessly, and that America has been bluffing. It is to combat this propaganda that the Italian government has suggested the presentation to Italians of the proof of American determination in the shape of American soldiers under the American flag, on Italian soil. American Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. workers and American aviators already have gone into Italy in considerable numbers with beneficial results. What is now wanted by the Italian government Is American fighting menItalian officials have declared tlie force need not be numerous and that a few thousand men vould answer the purpose, as they could be transferred from one point to another.

Men of National Prominence to Bring Needs of Red Cross Home to Country

, rn Z ' S - "J I , .... ft 'V I t'"'k f - v ' , , A ZZL - f-s" -

Left to right, above: Both Tarkington, Charles E. Hughes and Archishop Hanna. Below: Alton B. Parker and Senator James E. Watson. Many men of national prominence are included among the 7,500 speakers who are to bring the needs of the American Red Cross home to the American people during the campaign for a second $100,000,000 war fund that will extend through the week beginning May 20. The speakers will include two former candidates for president, Charles E. Hughes and Alton B. Parker, exPresident Taft, Charles W. Fairbanks, Leslie M. Shaw, George W. Wickersham, Senators Watson, Kenyon, Morris and Cummins, Commissioner of Education Philander P. Claxton. Hugh

Gibson, William Allen White, Booth Tarkington, Meredith Nicholson, Otis Skinner, Frederick Ward and William Hodge. Archbishops Hanna and Mundelein,

Bishop Lawrence of . Massachusetts, Bishop Gaylor, and many others, will represent the churches. Fifty of General Pershing's veterans and 200 wounded Frenchmen will undertake to tell Americans all about the hospitals, the -nursing, the ambulances and the canteens maintained by the American Red Cross, and what these agencies mean in saving life, reducing suffering and maintaining the morale of the armies.

EXTREME STEP IN GRAIN SEIZURE ROUSES DUTCH

Farmers Threaten to . .Up Fields When Store Is Taken. '

Plow Grain

Keep Money Working in Campaign for Freedom

loan who drew their first coupons

May ib, are re-enlisting their money by Investing the amount of the coupon in thrift stamps.

At the postoffice Friday it was stated that a number of loan subscribers Wished to turn the pminon in fnr

thrift stamps and war certificates, but

mai tney were requested to convert the coupons into money and then but the stamps, in order to simplify matters for the postoffice. This was done and an increase in the sale of war savings stamps immediately became noticeable.

(By Associated Press) AMSTERDAM, May 17 Extreme steps taken by the Dutch authorities in sending troops to search farms for the purpose of seizing wrongfully withheld stocks of grain has aroused such indignation among the farmers affected that they threaten to plowup sown fields. In some cases they alleged to have taKen tnis unpatriotic course. To justify military action the authorities have issued statistics showing that in the Haarlem lake district it is estimated that 39 per cent of the wheat crop, 45 per cent, of the barley, 60 percent, of the beans and 83 per cent, of the green peas hr.ve been withheld. The food shortage in Holland is becoming serious. Not only is wheat

scarce, but other foodstuffs as well. It has been decided that butter and other fats will be added to the ration. These stocks have been Ion exhausted and the available supply of coffee is dwindling rapidly.. Hoarding Kicvalent. For some weeks temporary measures taken by the ministry of agriculture have resulted in the almost total disappearance of meat from the dinner tables. Fish and eggs have taken the place of meats. The potato ration also w-as reduced recently. The situation as a whole has given an impetus to hoarding. In the ir.ea' ime, the government has not obtained German permission to send three ships to America for

food. Neither has the new economic agreement with Germany materialized apparently because the Dutch shrink precious stocks of foodstuffs which Germany demands for her coal, iron and other rroducts. As a result, coal imports from the east have been at a standstill for weeks. Nevertheless, an agricultural expert, writing in the Tyjd believes that the prospects for the winter are for much improvement over last year, owing to increased cultivation and other causes.

Chubby, Blue-Eyed Baby Deserted; Inheritance Awaits It Says Note

U. S. Committee Will Probe Steel Industry CBy Associated Press.) WASHINGTON. May 17. After a conference tcday between the steel committee of the American Iron and Seel institute and the war industries board the appointment of a joint steel committee to investigate the entire steel industry with special reference to the government's war requirements was announced. :

Sues City for $2,000 for Injuries in Fall Mary H. Wissler, Friday, filed suit n circuit court against. the city of Richmond alleging that she was permanently injured in a fall on the

ement sidewalk on Northwest Second street, near the viaduct, September 23, 1917. Bushes grwipg over the sidewalk she charges was. the cause of her fall. She is siring for $2,000 damages '

A chubby four-weeks-old baby boy, rolled his blue eyes smilingly at the Home of the Friendless Friday morning, and emitted "baby talk." The' baby didn't realize that its mamma and papa had deserted it upon the tender mercies of the world Thursday night. The baby doesn't even know its own name. The baby Was found Thursday afternoon at the Kelly hotel on North E street, with a note pinned to its clothes. Police Friday were trying to

locate the . parents who registered as "Harry Johnson and wife." It is believed that the parents have left the city. The following note, written in pencil, was found pinned to the baby's clothing: "When you read this you will have found my baby boy. "For a time, at least, I am forced to give him up. For' financial reasons my marriage must remain a secret for a time. In after years his inheritance may amply repay you for any expense you may incur. "He is a priceless treasure and only grim necessity causes me to part with him. I pray you give him the name he must bear Glen Leslie. It may lead to his discovery later. "I beg you to be kind to my Glen. Keep the cross as a certain proof of

his identity. .We are not Catholics. It is just a keepsake." The baby . was taken by the police to the Home of the Friendless, and Elizabeth Candler, probation officer, is seeking a home for it. It was well dressed in clean,' white clothing, and other clothing was left with it . - -

HUNS PLANT BOMBS TO CHECK PATROL

(By Associated Press WTTH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE, May 17 The Germans opposite the American sector northwest of Toul are resorting to infernal machines in an effort to check the activity of American patrols .numbers of which go out every night to roam No Man's Land and even German land virtually at will. A member of an American patrol stepped on a harmless looking wire near the German lines yesterday and a bomb immediately exploded in the center of the patrol group. It had been planted by the enemy. Members of the patrol either entered or were assisted into an abandoned trench nearby and the soldiers prepared for a fight, believing one was certain to come. They waited in the darkness for half an hour for something to happen, but the Germans did not come out. The party then made its way cautiously back to the American line.

Cases Against Speeders Continued in City Court Cases against Horatio Land. Frank Scott and Wllliard Lebo, arrested Thursday evening on charges of violating the' muffler and speed laws, were continued. The men were arrested by Officers Davis and Hirshberg on North A street. The police expect to make more arrests of violators of the speed law, running with mufflers open, and running at night without the proper dimmers on the headlights.

21 SELECTS LEAVE FOR CAMP MONDAY

Official notices were sent out Friday to the 21 selected men who will leave for Columbus barracks, Columbus, O., next Monday afternoon. The men are ordered to report at the court house Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, and if any of them fail to receive their notices in time their names in this list are to be regarded as an official order, the chairman of the selective service board said. Following are the men who will leave Monday: Sherman Kortright, Floyd M. Wilson, Georgo W. Hieger. LawTence E. Taylor, Wallace Kendall, David B. Baker. Raymond Schuneman, Russell L. Fye, Frank E. Wilkemeyer. Claude Knight, Chester Batchfield, James Quinlivan. Charles G. Meyer, Ray C. Robbins, Henry R. Miller. 'Everett J. Schuelle, Sale Sherrow, Carl Stewart, Wilfred E. Moyer, Virgil M. Overholzer and Lecel Hale.

U. S. TROOPS STRENGTHEN ALLIED LINE Itl FLANDERS

American Troops Arrive on British Front which Bars Way of Germans to the English Channel.

Hun Newspapers Demand Extension of Lorraine to "Protect Fronties"

(By Associated Press.) AMSTERDAM, May 17. German newspapers are now demanding the extension of Alsace-Lorraine further into France "as a protection against a neighbor, who for more than six hundred years has always been the attacker." It is sugsested that the frontier, which now runs along the crest of the Vosges mountains should hereafter be at the bottom of the French side of the mountains. "Germany surely has the right to secure her frontiers, as Austria has done," says the semi-official Strassburg Post, "and she can certainly claim that her heroic efforts entitle her to a tranquil and peaceful existence hereafter."

Third Liberty Loan' Goes Over Four Billion Mark . - (By-Associated Press) WASHINGTON, May 17. Unofficial reports today to te treasury indicated that the third liberty loan total had gone over four billion and might reach $4,250,000,000. The exact total will not be known until next week. '

TOUGH LUCK (By Associated Press) CAMP DIX. N. J., May 17 An older brother's long trousers served as such an excellent camouflage suit for Gilbert D. Werner of Harrisburg, Pa., that he succeeded in enlisting in the 312th ambulance company now stationed here, but confronted yesterday with the family Bible which showed that he was born only 15 years ago, he was forced to return home with his mother, just as he was beginning to win praise from his officers. The lad has five brothers and a sister in service. After he disappeared suddenly from his home his sister who now is serving as a motor messenger at Spartanburg, S. C, learned that he was quartered here. His mother arrived today with the Bible proof of his youth.

FIRST TO BE BRIGADED (By Associated Press) AmeHca is contributing to

the stiffening of the allied line

not only in Picardy, but in Flanders. American troops, today's dis

patches report, have arrived on the British front and are finishing their training amoner the

troops holding the line which bars the way of the Germans to

tne English channel, the objective in the north. So far as is known, these Americans are the first troops to get into the fisrhtine zone as

units brigaded with the British. They are part of the force which has been dispatched from the United States in the new move

ment of troops forecast soon aft

er the German offensive was

started in March. It seems not imorobable that

there will be renewal of the

German thrust in the Flanders

area shortly, either as a sep

arate operation or in conjunction with the onenine of an of

fensive on a great scale all along the battle line.

(By Associated Press.) WITH AMERICAN ARMY IN FANCE. May 17. Troops of th.e newAmerican army have arrived within the zone of British forces in northern France and are completing training in area occupied by Troopg blocking path of Germans to channel ports. Their commander already has commanded American forces In trenches on thn French front. - - The British officers and men who are training the new forces say the Americans are of the finest material and are certain to give most excellent account of themselves when they meet the Germans. British troops greeted the Americans not only as comrades In arms, but as warm friends and the work of instruction is being continued in that spirit. The American forces upon arriving within ths British zone were cheered to the skies by the sons of Briton, many of whom bore unmistakable signs of battle. They had not seen the Americans before, but they knew they were coming. The Americans on the other hand gained all the more enthusiasm by the heartiness .of the greeting which they received from the battle scarred comrades in arms. Germans Persistently Active. The German guns have been persistently active all around the Lys salient where the enemy wedge protrudes toward Hazebrouck, the railway junction which is the key to the transportation system In this whole

area, and an increase in the intensity

of the bombardment there is report

ed by the London war office today. On the Somme front the chief ac

tivity continues to manifest itself in the vicinity of Hailles, where the German salient in Picrady has its tip.

The French have been cutting into the German advanced line here recently and the guns of the opposing artillery forces are aign hammering at each other's positions as if in preparation for some new movement by one side or the other. Except lor raiding operations there have been no infantry action on either of the battle fronts. The air forces have been extremely busy, however, and incidentally the Americans are showing some effective work in this

branch of the fighting service. Expect Infantry Attack. Germany still hesitates to renew heavy fighting on the main battlefields of the western front, but the increase in aerial and artillery activity Indicates that infantry fighting on a larger scale thn in the past two weeks soon again may be in progress. Allied and German gunners are harrasslng the opposing lines with shell fire and this fighting continues most marked on the front north of the Lys, in Flanders, and south of the Somme, in Picafdy. It has been the German policy to precede a strong infantry operation with a few hours of the most intense artillery fire, but the enemy bombardments have not yet reached the highest pitch, though it is believed the German preparation for another offensive move are about completed. Along th front from the StelTio pass to Lake Garda, enemy patrols have been repulsed by the Italians. Between Lake Garda and the Brcnta and on the Asiago plateau the artillery fire has increased. (By Asnciated Press.) WASHINGTON. May 17. American troops referred to as "New m'""army" in dispatches reporting their arrival in zone of BriiibA bp...di. . in France, are forces being brigaded and trained with British, probably on Flanders battlefront. They are not troops detached from General Pershing's present forces, but are part of new movement troops from United States forca?ted bv Llcvd