Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 43, Number 252, 3 September 1918 — Page 1

3D ; PAIXABI Do It Vow Do It Liberally )o It Cheerfully Do It Now Do It Liberally Do It cheerfully VOT VT TTT Vfl nco Palladium and Sun-Telegram 'UU -AXJU KU. Consolidated 107 RICHMOND, IND., TUESDAY EVENING, SEPT. 3, 1918. SINGLE COPY. 2 CENTS I? IP mt

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BRITISH FORCES

TOWARD CAM Al: GERMANS GIVE UP LENS TO ALLIES French Coal Town Falls to British Forces Enemy Forces Are Forced to Give Way on Front From Ypres to Pcronne British Penetrate to Depth of 4 - Miles in Forward Plunge Americans and French Strike Enemy Defense From South St. Quentin Threatened by Allied Gains. 10,000 PRISONERS ARE TAKEN IN ONE DAY (By Associated Press) On a front of virtually 50 miles, from just below Ypres to a point near Peronne on the Somme, the German armies are in retreat. This retrograde movement is not a voluntary one on the part of the enemy but has been forced by the series of unremitting hammer blows inflicted by Marshal Foch in the past six or seven weeks. It has now been accelerated by the notable victory won by Field- Marshal Haig yesterday in breaking through the strong defensive lines protecting the railway center of Douia and Cambrai, and threatening to outflank even the main Hindenburg line south to St. Quentin. Already the taking of 10,000 prisoners by the British in their advance is reported and the German casualties in killed and wounded are declared to have been notably heavy as their thickly massed forces felt the force of the British blow. So pronounced and so speedy is the German retirement that it seems as if the enemy if he has not met with a disaster, is perilously on the verge of one.

Lens is Taken. In what appears like an effort to escape In time, the scope of the German retirement, which had been proceeding somewhat leisurely tut north and south of the Somme, has been markedly accentuated north of the river. In this movement the Important French coal mining city of Lens, at the gates of which the British pounded vainly virtually all last year has been evacuated the British moving in. To the north in Flanders, the re treat Is continuing and the British have further closed up the Lys salient by taking possession of Wulverghem, two miles south of Kemmel. South of Lens ,the Germans apparently are acknowledging themselves beaten on the Queant-Drocourt line where Haig's break through was affected and are retreating in his vitally Important sector without attempting a counter drive upon the victorious British. Take Town After Town. Still further south the retirement has resulted In an evacuation of areas three to four miles deep on both sides of the Bapaume-Cambrai road, the British taking town after town in this area in their steady advance. This morning alone, on the 20-mile front where the British are mainly engaged they are reported to have advanced no less than a maximum of four miles. This seems to emphasize the clearness of the break and, with the large captures of prsoneirs, point to the demoralizaton of the German forces in this area. It is too early to estimate with any degree of accuracy what effect the present big drive of the allies may ultimately produce. Operations by the French and Americans in the south may be counted on to work toward such a result. There is a hint in today's dispatches that some development of importance Is Impending. Move Toward Cambral. The determined German resistance at the erossfoads north of Villers-Les Cagnicourt was overcome by the British this morning and Haig's men are now shoving forward In the direction of Cambria. A strong British force is driving forward on the northern reaches of the Hindenburg line. The British are " well lnsldo the Drocourt-Queant line. So far as learned no organized counter attacks have been developed by the Germans, but on the extreme British left determined opposition is developing. British troops today advanced well to the east of Peronne and are making steady progress. Penetrate Four Miles. In their j.ass beyond the DrocourtQ leant line the British have adanced to a point just to the west of Buissy, two and one-half roll northeast of Queant and occupied Fronville, and mile and a half southeast of Queant. More than 10.000 prisoners were tak-j en by the British yesterday. Addit-1 ional prisoners were taken this morning. The British also hold Doignies, elu. and Bertlncourt and Rocquigny, renresenttnz an advance to a maxium depth of four miles on a twenty mile front effected this morning. In Flanders the British forces have captured the town of Wulverghem, two miles northeast of Kemmel. Germans Admit Retreat. Contrary to expectations the enemy has not reacted heavily with a view to the recapture of the Queant Drocourt line, but has left the British in undisturbed possession of it. South and east of Arras the British have succeeded with strong superior forces In throwing back our Infantry lines on both sides of the Arras-Cam-

PUSH WAY

bral high road, says the official statement Issued today by the German army headquarters. Northwest of Queant and on the northern fringe of Noreuil the statement says, "we held the enemy's thrust." Vital Strongholds, Fall. Strongholds vital to the German defenses In northern France, which they sought to hold with large reserve forces, rushed forward at the last moment, have fallen before the rapidly advancing British forces. Driving through the Drocourt-Queant line, the English and Canadian troops are pushing the Germans before them in the greatest battle of the present offensive and one of the most important contests of the war. The English have driven a wedge into the German lines with the taking of Eperpigny and strongly fortified enemy positions northeast of that town. The Doual plains spread out before the invaders with no natural defenses to overcome such as have been surmounted In reaching their present line. In the same sector to the south, English and Scotch troops are advancing with Queant as their immediate goal, capturing many towns and villages including Noreuil. Thousands of prisoners passing to the rear testify to the superiority of the British attack. The various and number of units presented by them indicate the haste with which the Germans rushed reinforcements to the battle in an effort to stave off the disaster of a completely broken line in the defenses protecting the cities of Doual and Cambrai. These cities if taken by Field Marshal Haig would deprive the Germans of two of their most important bases on supplies in northern France. Gain Ground on Lys Front. On the Lys front, the British forces continue to gain ground in the direction of Estalres. Here, it seems probable that the Germans plan to fall back to a line through Armentleres with the defenses of the Hindenburg line in their rear, which the British must break through before reaching Lille. On the French section of the long battle line, the Germans are in retirement northeast of Soissons. The entire Solssons plateau is now in the hands of the Franco-American troops under command of General Mangin. The French are advancing in the direction above Vauxaillon, where late reports 6tated that the Germans were burning ammunition dumps preparatory to a further retirement, probably to Chemin-Des-Dames. As the latter place is also menaced by the French advance toward Vauxaillon, a still further retreat by the Germans is anticipated. The advance north of Solssons which started six days ago, has been one of the most stubborn battles In which American forces have yet been engaged. September 25, 26 and 27! The Weather hor inaiana by the United States Weather Eureau Partly cloudy and cooler tonight. Wednesday, fair and cooler. Today's Temperature. Noon 72 Yesterday. Maximum ,76 Minimum 52

AMERICAN SOLDIERS REMEMBER THEIR

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Members of the U. S. marines now chalk-stone. These markers are placed markers fully identify the graves of the

Americans listing German wounded. The estimates of Germans wounded by Americans during the recent successes against the Huns aren't wild-eyed guesses." This photo shows American marine medical workers checking up on enemy wounded before sending them to stations for treatment. The Yanks have been doing some accurate shooting.

SEPTEMBER 25, 26 and 27 When the soldiers return they will want to know who bought Liberty bonds and how much.

CZECH NATION RECOGNIZED (By Associated Press) WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 The United States has recognized the Czechoslovak peoples as a co-belligerent nation in the war against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Prof. T. G. Masaryk, president of the Czechoslovak national council and commander in chief of the Czechoslovak army, fighting in Russia, France and Italy, met Secretary Lansing at the state department at noon today and was formally notified of President Wilson's action. Great Britain, France and Italy already have recognized the Czechoslovaks and Japan has given impliefi recognition by participating in the international Siberian expedition which is aiding the Czecho slovaks and loyal Russians in re-establishing the eastern front. The headquarters of the nation are at present In Paris but its territorial boundaries Include Bohemia, Moravia and a portion of GalIcia all now under Austrian domination. In extending recognition. Secretary Lansing said: "The Czecho Slovaks peoples having taken up arms against the German and Austrian empires and having placed their armies the field which are waging war against those empires under, officers of their

U. S. marines making headstones.

in France spend their leisure time making headstones and marking out of on the graves of the marines who have Blade the supreme sacrifice. The dead heroes.

own nationality and in accordance with the rules and practices of civilized nations; and "The Czecho Slovaks having In prosecution of their independent purposes in the present war, confided supreme politial authority to the Czecho Slovak national council. The government of the United States recognizes that a state of belligerency exists between the Czecho Slovaks thus organized and the German and Austro-Hungarian empires. "It aslo recognizes the Czechoslovak national council as a de facto belligerent government clothed with proper authority to direct the military and political affairs of the Czecho Slovaks. "The government of the United States further declares that it Is prepared to enter formally into relations with the de facto government, thus recognized for the purpose of prosecuting the war against the common enemy, the empires of Germany and Austria-Hungary." Crews Are Landed from the Torpedoed Steamers A CANADIAN ATLANTIC PORT, Sept. 3. One hundred and fifty-nine men, comprising the crew of a Norwegian steamer and five Lunenburg, New Foundland and French fishing schooners, recent victims of a German submarine have arrived here on a trawler. The men, in thirty-one dories had been nearly a week In making land. They were picked up off the Grand Banks. The men reported that after they were ordered from their craft thv were not al'owed to go back for food, clotjjing or money. "

FALLEN COMRADES

COMMUTES ON- Pl&lK ALLIED TROOPS TAKE POSITION OF BOLSHEVIKI Measures of Terror Are Threatened as Result of Attempt on Life of Lenine. 'By Associated Press) LONDON, Sept. 3. Entente allied troops in northern Europe and Russia aided by Russian forces on August 31 captured the enemy's position north of Obozerskaya. 15 jmilea south of Archangel, according to an official report issued today by the British war office. COPENHAGEN, Sept. 3 All persons in Petrograd and Moscow who are not actually residents are ordered by a decree issued by the government to leave within 24 hours, says a Moscow dispatch received here from Berlin. WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 Safe conduct for passage through Finland has been granted to citizens of allied countries seeking to leave Russia, the German authorities dictating the policy of the Finnish government having no objection to the arrangement. Special trains will be provided for the refugees who include some 100 Americans, to cany them through Finland to the nearest Swedish port to embark for their homes. THREATEN DRASTIC MEASURES COPENHAGEN, Sept. 3. -The condition ot Nikolai Lenine, Bolshevik premier, has so improved that physicians consider all danger passed, according to a Moscow dispatch receiv ed through Berlin. I The attempted assassination of Lenine has been- followed by drastic measures on the part of the authorities in Moscow, according to the Helslngfors correspondent of the Hamburg Fremdenblatt, who reports that in addition to the removal of thousands of persons from Moscow to Petrograd, the following proclamation has been issued by M. Peters, chief of the extraordinary commission in the Russian capital. "The criminal adventures of our enemies force us to reply with measurer of terror. Every person found with a weapon in his hand will be immediately executed. Every person who agitates against the 6o"viet government will be arrested and taken into a concentration camp and all his private property will be seized." WOMAN IS HELD . AMSTERDAM, Sept. 3. Dora Kaptan, the Russian revolutionary, who attacked Premier Lenine, has refused to disclose the names of her accomplices or to give any information regarding the attack, says a dispatch from Moscow to the Berlin Lokal Anzeiger. She said that she recently arrived in Moscow from the Crimea. Witnesses stated that a student about fifteen years old, stopped the premier and handed him a paper and at the same time two women appeared. Dora Kaptan. after the shooting fled into the street, where she was arfested and taken to the ministry of war. Poisoned cigarettes were found on her. Disillusion Sweeps Over German Empire; Acts of Revolt Threatened (By Associated Frnas PARIS, Sept. 3. A dispatch from Berne Switzerland to Le Matin quotes a prominent Swiss citizen coming from Germany as declaring that in the last six weeks a formidable disillusion has swept over Germany. If the German military situation does not improve, the informant said, trouble that may surpass the acts of the Bolshevlki in Russia, menaces the Ger(man empire.

U. 5. War Expenditures for Month Broke Record; $1,714,000,000 Spent WASHINGTON, SEPT. 3. Government war expenditures in August broke all monthly records by more than 100 million dollars, amounting to $1,714,000,000 on reports up today. Later reports may raise this by fifty million dollars.

LOSS OF QUEANT LINE IMPERILS ENEMYJEFENSE Blow Regarded as One of Worst Disasters Inflicted on Germans During War. (By Associated Press.) LONDON, Sept. 3. The sensational breaking of the famous DrocourtQueant switch line after a series of important allied advances with great captures of men and material has made an immense impression here. WThile too great confidence that the success can be maintained is deprecated and while the expectation Is general that the enemy will make the most desperate efforts to recover the position, the blow is regarded as one of the worst disasters inflicted upon the Germans during the whole war and one which must cause their highest command the deepest anxiety. The belief Is general that the switch line is the main system of German defense and that there is nothing strong behind it. Consequently, its loss, if it becomes final, opens the widest possibilities. "It's loss would involve the evacuation of the French coal field, perhaps even of the Flanders coast," says the Mail, " and would imperil the German hold on Dousi, Valenciennes and Cam brai, which are essential to Hinden burg for manoeuvring his armies. The switch line is thus the pivot of the whole German front and its breach means that we have forced the enemy to a struggle of man against man which he had used all of his ingenuity to avoid," The Telegraph, also noting the danger to the important German centers of communication says: "If the Germans cannot stand before Doual, Cambrai and St. Quentin, they can stand no where this side of the German frontier. It ia possible for them to fight harder and throw in reserves at a swifter rate than they have done in the last few days, they v.ill do so. We doubt the possibility of their accomplishing either." Other commentators remark that the Germans now pretend that they are retiring according to plan and are convinced that the retirement will be compulsorily carried uch further than they ever intended. ENEMY TAKEN BY SURPRISE PARIS, Sept. 3. Yesterday was another day of notable successes for the allies, results of the first importance being attained in the face of stiff resistance to both the British on the left of the line and to General Mangin's French troops on the right. The French military commentators write enthusiastically today over the breach in the Hindenburg line made by the British between Drocourt and Queant. "Astonishing as it may seem," says Henri Bidou in the Journal des Debats, : "the enemy was once more taken by surprise. Only by accepting this as a fact can one account for tbje great number of prisoners which Indicate the importance of the forces engaged and the lack of the prolonged resistance which should have been the consequence of the presence of this important mass of effectives. Doubtless the German staff held the hope that the British after several days' hard fighting would be obliged to rest." In the newspaper Oui, Col. Fabry advances the view that the battle is being directed on the German side by the local commanders who are being more and more left to their own resources by General Ludendorff. This he argues is a certain sign that confusion prevails along the German line and likewise of a scarcity of reserves, for in losing its reserves the supreme command loses its best reason for intervening in the direction of affairs at the front, the critic points out. Must Accelerate Retreat. All the commentators agree that the British success is likely to have widespread effects and that the German armies fighting before St. Quentin and La Fere will be obliged to accelerate their retreat for fear of the fall of what is characttrlzed as the pivot of the whole line to the west of Cambral, which would place them in jeopardy. On the southern end of the line the enemy is continuing to interpose an energetic resistance between the Ailette and the Aisne, profiting by the intricacies of the terrain which makes the region one of the most difficult to attack and easiest to defend on the whole of the western front. Nevertheless General Mangin is making progress dally,' scoring advances which while not great in themselves, are appreciable and continuous and are calculated to have a cumulative effect. Through the capture of Leuilly eight miles north of Soissons, and of TernySorny, three miles south of Leuilly, the Frencb have completed the capture of the plateau above Soissons. Leuilly, In addition Is close to the Ail-! ette. while Terny-Sorny Is on a level with the Chemin-Des-Dames, which is less than four miles to the oast. One effect of the advance is to give a view over the whole county eastward as far as Laon, an advantage which will have its effect In due time.

FRENCH FORCE PUSHES AHEAD TO PLATEAU FACING LAON

Elite of German Army Thrown Against Franco-American Troops Around Juvigny Resists at Great Sacrifice. .STRIKE GERMAN LINES BULLETIN (By Associated Press.) WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN THE FIELD, Sept. 3. The battle for the plateau north of Soissons has used up some of the best divisions remaining in the German army Yesterday's fighting between Crecy-Au-Mont and Leuilly and between Juvigny and Terny was particularly severe. This was evidenced this morning by the field being strewn with the dead of the Prussian guards. They are piled one on top of the other in some trenches and long lines of them show where the guards counter attacked five times in a vain effort to stem the tide of battle which was running relentlessly against them. Each one of these efforts added largely to the losses of the Prussians In wounded as well as in dead, while after each rush a lot more of urwounded prisoners remained in the hands of the French. French forces supported by Americans and Moroccoan divisions, after Eeveral hours of artillery preparation yesterday attacked the German position between the Oise and Aisne rivers the German war office announced today. (By Associated Pre WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN FRANCE, Sept 3. Localization in the activity of the infantry In the past two days has given the appearance of the relinquishment of the pressure on the flying German lines from the Somme to Soissons. The altered face of the battle is due to changes in the conditions of the ground and tactics. The fighting has been continued to comparatively short sectors north of Soissons, north of Noyon and Nesle where engagements of the utmost importance have been in progress in which the allies have gained advantages that explain the enormous sacrifices the Germans made to hold them off at those points. North of Soissons, General Mangin's forces after three days and furious combats in which positions were taben and retaken several times, have pushed forward on the plateau that overlooks the valley of the Ailette, behind Chemin Des Dames, where the citadel of Laon, one of the stoutest pillars in the German secondary line of defense may plainly be seen. Smash Prussian Guarc". The French and Americans met around Juvigny the elite of the German army, grenadiers of the Prussian guard, picked storming battalions and hardy mountain infantrymen. They defeated them decisively, taking an enormous death roll from their ranks and sending a goodly number of cap tives to the rear. The Associated Press correspondent saw a column of 'these prisoners filing back over the plateau to the west, where white wood crosses over fresh graves marked the scene of other recent defeats. Some were young, .but all were sturdy and humiliation and deppression showed in their faces, rather than the satisfaction exhibited by other prisoners over the final release from the inferno of war. The Americans cooperated In the attack on Juvigny with the type of tanks which the French have named "Chars D'Assaut" or shock cars. These engines of war have been called "armored infantry." They have all the suppleness of troops afoot and they advance readily into the enemy's positions, dealing death with grusome profusion from their quick fierce little cannon. One of these cars, manned by a French lieutenant, killed 200 Germans, before Juvigny. He had just abandoned a damaged tank to take the place of a wounded man in another. His pilot, whose orders were to stay by the disabled car, was unable to resist the enthusiasm of the charging troops past his abandoned post and fell in with a platoon of Americans short of officers. The pilot showed them the route and fought with them all the afternoon. Americans Are Fighters. "It's good to see how those Americans fight," this boy said to the correspondent. "We are glad to fight with them. Together we will get the Germans." Very severe fighting has been going on also north of Noyon, along the Nevs river and the canal Du Nord and around Nesle. After forcing the last fortified centers of resistance around Roye and Chaulnes, the French arrived at these points, confronting natural obstacles which the Germans utilized to the best advantage. The course of the river Somme and the canal running parallel before th !front east of .Nesle offered a doubl water line, with marshy ground be tween. Fording there was so diffl cult that the roads must be used ant the Germans concentrated artillerj and machine gun fire on all the roads, (Continued on Page Eight.)