The Daily Missoulian. [volume], December 10, 1917, Image 1

About The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
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'eûery day from
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DAILY MISSOITLIAN p
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He'oIdreliabW
VOL.XLIV. NO. 224.
MISSOULA, MONTANA, MONDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 10,1917.
PRICE FIVE CENTS
emu WAD COMES WITH REVOLT AGAINST BOLSHEVIKI
REVISION OF TAX
LAW IN MONTANA
COMMISSION AIM
Attorney General to Interpret
Present Statute Which
Is Ambiguous.
AMENDMENT MAY BE
DECIDED NECESSARY
Abolition Mortgage Tax and
Equality of Public Serv
ice Tax Is Aim.
a
Helena, Dec. 9.—Recommendations
for important changes in the. lax laws
of Montana were agreed upon by the
members of the state tax commission
and the state board of equaiizaMon at
ttie joint session just conducted here.
Whether these changes can be
brought about, at the next session of
the legislature will depend upon the
construction that is placed on the state
constitution.
Constitution Ambigiouc.
In one place the constitution provides
that revenues shall be derived from a
uniform rate of assessment and taxa
tion of all property, while another place
the constitution provides that a uni
form tax shall be levied upon the
same class of subjects. ]I the latter
provision of the constitution is the one
under which the legislature may make
enactments, then the recommendations
decided upon by the tax commission
may be written upon the statute books
of the state at the next legislative
session, but if the former provision is
followed, it is believed that the con
stitution would have to Is» amended
before proposed changes could be
made. The commission will ask Attor
ney General S. ('. Ford for an opinion
on the interpretation of the constitu
tion before definite recommendations
to the legislature are decided upon.
May Abolish Mortgage Tax.
The abolition of the "'mortgage tax"
is one of the most far reaching changes
proposed. Under the present laws the
assessor goes to the records and takes
off a list of the mortgages. These are
assessed to the mortgagees. If the
mortgagees happen to live outside of
the state, which most of them con
trive to do, the tax cannot be col
lected.
"The revenue derived from assess
ing mortgages amount to very little,''
said one member of the tax commis
sion, "but the. system has a strong
tendency to keep up interest on pri
vate loans. The mortgagee always de
mands a higher rate contending that
he must pay taxes to the state for the
loan."
Substitute Registration Tax.
Instead of taxing mortgages and
notes, as is now done, the commis
sion has proposed a registration tax on
all mortgages. No definite figure has
been fixed, but tentatively it has been
agreed that the fee shall bo 50 cents
for each $100. The commission reached
no conclusion as to what percentage of
the fees so collected shall go to the
state and to the county, respectively".
\ The question of how to assess money
on hand or deposit in a bank has long
been a stumbling block.
The tax "commision agreed that it
would recommend to the legislature
t liât a law be enacted whereby money
lie assessed SO cents on the $100
, Montana, under the present taxation
system, is deriving so little revenue
front the taxing of money that the in
come is negligible.
Public Service Companie*.
Public service corporations of the
state of Montana, are hereafter to lie
put on an equal basis in the matter of
paying taxes. The commission has de
elded to go to the books of the county
nsse sors to get figures, so that all
concerns may be made to bear their
just share of the taxes. Members of
(he tax commission after some investi
Ration along tills line say that many
public service corporations have one
valuation for rate making and another
for taxation purposes. IFrequently
there is a wide difference between the
two valuations. »
investigations of the assessment
rolls of the counties lo get data for
fixing valuations for public servie
corporations and also for other kind
of property" will liegin about Marc
1. The members of the commission
are to conduct their own investiga
tlons so far as it is practicable.
Permanent Tax Commission.
Another proposed innovation is the
creation of a permanent tax commis
sion. It would have rharge of the
levying of taxes, the collection thereof
. and would also to a large extent be
given control of the expenditures of all
state moneys. The creation of the
commission would carry with it the
budget system for carrying on the
financial business of the state.
The honor system of assessing is one
of the proposed changes on which the
tax commission is heartily agreed.
The Weather
Monday, Doe. 10.—Sun rises at
7:54; sun sets a 5:04.
Forecast—Montana generally fair
Monday and Tuesday; not much
change in temperature.
LOCAL OBSERVATIONS.
Maximum ............................................37
Minimum ............... 10
6 a. m.................................................12
6 p. m...................................................32
Precipitation .........................33 inch
Did you notice the sun yesterday?
For the first time in several days tie'
clouds finally parted and save Old .-ol
a chance. And he was warm, too. blit
behind it all there was a 1 in so of gen
uine winter in the air. Prospects fo- -
today are that it will bo fair, although,
perhaps, colder. Genuine Christmas
weather, all right.
HUNS SEND BRAINS
TO CAMBRAI FRONT
of
the
the
be
all
the
the
the
one
the
Hindenburg and Lunden
dorff Match Wits With Haig.
Geneva, Friday, yeo. 7.—Doth Field
Marshal von .Hindenburg and General
von Ludendorff are on the Cambrai
front, according to a dispatch from
Strassburg today. Railway traffic
through the Rhine towns has been con
gested for several days, it is reported,
froth this souree, owing to the flow of
troops and artillery being rushed
through to Jliis front. No civilians
are permitted to travel'along the Rhine
and the Germon frontier remains
closed.
Whereas the Italian victory excited
little enthusiasm in Germany, the suc
cess at Cambrai, the semi-official
Wolff bureau stated, is causing the
greatest joy.
Belgium and Germany
Exchanging Prisoners
Havre, Dec. 9.—Through the inter
vention of King Alfonso of Spain, an
agreement lias been reached under
which lielgium will repatriate all Ger
man civilians removed from German
last Africa, who are now interped in
ranee. Germany in turn is to set
all Belgian women and children
interned in German camps, who
ndergoing sentences for mlsdemi
They are to be allowed to return
o occupied Belgium, Switzerland
ranee.
Germany also is to sot free promi
nent Belgian colonials arrested under
eprisal measures. Further mutual
iberations of prisoners are to be
cussed later tinder the agreement
dls
Best Fighters of France
Hold Part Italian Line
With the French Armies in Italy
Saturday. Dec. X.—-By the Associated
Press.—Protected by their own artil
lery" fire and whenever possible, under
over of night, the French forces have
radually taken over their allotted po
sitions on the Italian front and today
ace the Austro-Germans in full
strength.
These French troops are thoroughly
familiar with all kinds of fighting,
both in the mountains and in the
plains, as they are among France's
best. This has been tremendously
heartening and inspiring to the Pal
ans retiring for rest and reorganiza
tion.
Gompers in Statement
Hits Burleson's Stand
Washington, Dec. 9.—Samuel Gomp
ers, president of the American Fed
eration of Labor, Issued a statement
tonight vigorously attacking Postmas
ter General Burleson's recommenda
tion that postal employes bo denied the
right to organize and affiliate with the
federation. He said the federation
was prepared to resist any effort to
put the recommendation into effect,
"Mr. Burleson cannot point to
single instance where an affiliated or
ganization of postal employes lias
threatened to strike," said the state
ment.
Cuba Ready lo Declare
War on Austria-Hungary
Havana, Dec. 9.—The belief was ex
pressed by several congressmen this
afternoon that President Menocal to
morrow would send a message to
congress asking that a declaration lie
made that a state of war exists be
tween Cuba and Austria-Hungary.
Fire of Unknown Origin
Destroys Shingle Mill
Keiso. Wash., Dec. 9.—Fire early to
day destroyed the lumber and shingle
mill of J. N. Moore here. The loss is
$50,non. The origin of the fire was
not appareaL
HALIFAX HORROR
PROBE TO START
IR COURT TODAY
Responsibility for Collision to
Be Decided Before
Admiralty.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
ADDS TO DISCOMFORT
Morgue Officials Say 4,000
Dead ; Others Put Fig
ure at Half.
Halifax, Dec. 9.—No official attempt
was made here today to check up or
revise the long list of dead and in
jured resulting from last Thursday's
disaster, when a munitions ship's cargo
xploded In the harbor.
The morgue officials held to their
estimate of 4.0(H) dead, bul other ob
servers said that the estimate was too
great by half.
"'The admiralty court to determine re
sponsibility for the collision of the
vessels that caused the explosion of the
open its hearings tomorrow. Today
the survivors of the Norwegian steam
er Into,-which rammed the Mont Blanc,
laden with munitions were arrested
and Captain Lamedoe and Pilot Mac.
kay of the munitions ship also were
ordered detained a.s witnesses.
95 Bodies Recovered.
A heavy rainstorm interrupted the
searcti for bodies, but by night 95 ad
ditional bodies bad liven placed in the
morgue. Several deaths oceured among
the injured. The task confronting the
relief committees seemed almost hope
less. hut later in the day the skies
cleared and cheering word came from
the physicians in charge of the tents
in which «00 of the homeless had found
shelter. The tents had withstood the
storm and the occupants were as com
fortable as could be expected.
Dec.
by
is
Suffering From Nerves.
Tile nerves of the populace are on
edge. A wild report today of a burn
ing munitions ship heading into the
harbor and flying a red flag filled the
streets with frightened persons who
shouted to others to seek the open.
A coaler actually was on fire, but the
flames were soon under control.
Shock, fire, wind and deluge have
followed in succession like plagues
ami to these have been added the
threatened invasion ol' former resi
dents, friends of the Injured and miss
ing and the merely curious. They have
arrived in hundreds and are coming in,
thousands if reports are true.
Will Find No Welcome.
Shelter is insufficient for the home
less and food needed for the desti
tute cannot be spared for visitors.
Even physicians and nurses are here
I ample number for the present.
Others who have freely offered their
services have been notified to await a
possible call later. For the. present
medical supplies and clothing are not
required, so generous have been the
early responses. There is still need of
.uildlng materials.
It was officially stated tonight that
the arrest and detention on a British
cruiser of the survivors of the steam
er Into was not due to the discovery
of evidence of an emeny plot. In
quiry by government experts has es
tablished, it was said, that the col
lision was accidental.
There was, however, fault on the
part of the navigators and there were
unofficial reports that the Mont Blanc
was taking the wrong side of the chan
nel. Justice Drysdale, an expert in ad
miralty law, was lonight. designated
by the government to conduct the in
quiry. This will lie public and far
reaching.
Rain Increase* Misery.
A torrential rain flooded Halifax
at daylight today. Accompanied by
a 50-mile gale, it added greatly to the
sufferings of thousands of persons who
had found none too sure shelter after
the destruction of their homes Thurs
day by the explosion on the ammuni
tion laden steamer Mont Blanc in the
harbor here.
Systematic searcli for the dead in a
two and a half square mile area, in
which the entire available population
was expected to take part today, was
held up. Throughout the devastated
zone the rain turned three feet of snow
Intp slush, knee deep at points, hut
notwithstanding these renditions, men
and women went early to the scene to
continue their own hunt for members
of their families lost in the disaster.
Toward noon the wind shifted slight
ly and the skies were brighter, but not
clear. The temperature dropped
sharply.
Dead in Unexpected Places.
No additional estimates were forth
coming this morning as to the number
of dead. The officials do not agree
Wagons carried to the morgues a score
of bodies found in unexpected plac
The
and
can.
a.
top
ing
so
(Continued on Pace Six.)
Enlist
Montana Men in Majority
at Spokane.
Spokane, Dec. 9.—All recruiting
records for local offices went by
the hoard today, when a total of
949 men were sworn into the mili
tary service of the United States.
The army led with 213 men. of
whom 191 were from Montana
cities, 21 from Washington and one
from Idaho. The other 36 went
Into the navy.
Twenty-two applicants for en
listment into the army could not
lie accommodated today, and were
forced to wait until tomorrow.
Recruiting officers expect another
big day tomorrow, when additional
recruits from Montana will arrive.
SAMMEES READY
TO 60 OVER TOP
Bayonet Class in Graduation
Exercises Shows Marked
Proficiency.
^Wltli Hie American
Dec. 9.- By III" Asset i
"graduation exercises'
bayonet school today
by several generals
4
W
Army In France,
at.d Press. The
of the large
were witnessed
md their staffs.
lo
oi
not
44
a
to
The men who had been trained In tli
British system by British instructors,
gave a demonstration of energy, speed
and accuracy which was truly Ameri
can. They now are ready to go over
e top.
The scene of the graduation was in
a. broad, grassy valley, with high hills
walling nil the sides. A British ser
geant major, in charge of the actual
instruction, put the men through the
bayonet drill so vigorously I hut more
than one man was lui 11. But their
wounds were not serious.
Even more vigor was shown by tin
men as they occupied tile trench line
and. with their officers, went over the
top In a charge, meeting dummy Ger
mans on the way and finally,occupy
ing the enemy trench.
Anticipate Every Command.
The men went furiously at the
charge, urged on by the most emphatic
language that a British sergeant major
might he credited with having at Ins
command. He shouted to his men<
"Give it to 'em—In ttie heart, in the
throat, that's the way. If you don't
get them, they'll get you. On your
tees all the time! Quick! Quick!
Quick!"
The urging for speed appeared en
tirely unnecessary. The men knew
what to do, and did it, and they were
up
if
tile
He
ley
at
Ti
so well trained that orders were an
ticipated and executed almost simul
taneously with the giving.
The French and British nffici rs
watching the exercises were enthusi
astic, especially at the speed and en
ergy of the Americans. Some of ttie
graduates will be sent immediately to
newly arrived units as Instructors. A
new class in this school will begin at
once.
SUCCESS PORTUGAL
REVOLT CONFIRMED
Dr. Paes President of Pro
visional Government.
Madrid, Dec. 9.—Information re
ceived by the Portuguese legation in
Madrid Is confirmatory of previous ad
vices that the revolutlonaly movement
in Portugal had been successful.
According to the legation's informa
tion, the government, under Premier
Costa, has been thrown from power
md Dr. Sldinlo Paes. former Portu
guese minister to Germany, has been
made president of a provisional gov
ernment.
London, Dec. 9.—A Lisbon dispatch
from the Havas correspondent says:
"After three days' fighting the gov
ernment. in order to avoid further
bloodshed and discord In the army, de
cided to concede the resignation or the
ministry, which was the chief demand
of tlie revolutionists, who were led by
Dr. Sidonio Paes and Colonels Soares
Branco and Alves Bogadas. It is re
ported that Alfonso Costa, the former
premier, lias been arrested at Guardn. '
American Air Program
Is Nearing Realization
Washington, Dec. 9.—Production of
Liberty airplane motors on a quan
tity basis actually has begun. Amer
ican army aviators are In training on
the fighting lines in Europe and the
nation is within sight of realization of
the great air fleet project mapped out
since the United States entered the
war.
Figures cannot be published, but It
became known today that members of
the air board are satisfied that an
other 60 days will see men and ma
chines being turned out at a rate that
insures the ultimate success of their
plana.
NUMBER DEATHS !
U.S. DESTROYER
PLACED AT 66
Adtr.iral Sims Sends Further
Details of Sinking by
German U-Boat.
BUT 44 MEN ABOARD
ARE ACCOUNTED FOR
of
out
American Boat Stumbled Into
Path of Submarine; Hit
Vital Spot.
Washington. I......
from Vice Admiral
lo unfold llu story
oi Un- destroy"!- .1
not lessen the tell t
44 of 1 In or mon
aboard are known
9. Further reports
Sims today began
oi the torpedoing
cob Jones, but did
,1 ll\, s lost. I loll
officers ami men
to bai.- survived,
Including on* unidentified man, picked
up and carried off by the subma
rine that struck the blow.
Today's report added lo the list ol
dead Ensign Stanton F. Kalk, a young
if fleer whose name did not appear In
tile first roster of the ship's company
He died from exposure. Tile dis
patches gave no further details of the
scape of l.ientenat Commander Bag
ley and the other survivors, but they
ontatned the names of 17 of the res
iled, in addition to those announced
last night. Secretary Daniels Issued
this statement:
Daniel*' Statement.
Additional information received from
Vice Admiral Sims today reveals tli
fact that 111" Jacob Jones was torpe
doed at 4:12 p. m„ on December «.
She began to settle aft and finally sank
at 4:29. The submarine was not seen
until some time after the ship sank.
The submarine then picked up one sur
vivor, whoso identity is not known.
The destroyer was not so far from the
European coast as was indicated by
the first dispatches.
"Gunner .Harry R. Hood, was killed
Ti V the explosion of tIn- torpedo, next
of kin. mother, Atlanta, On., Ensign
S. F. Kalk, died of exposure. Ensign
Kalk's name was not In the roster of
officers published yesterday. His next
of kin Is his mother, Omaha, Neb.
"Twenty-seven additional names of
survivors have hern received, bringing
is
thr
It
the total number saved up to 44. i
elusive of the man taken prison"!
tlie submarine."
List of Survivors.
Following are names of survivors ca
bled by Admiral Sims today, in addi
tion to tlie list previously published:
Quartermaster Howard U. ('hase;
Boatswain's Mates Charles ('liarles
worth and Harry Louis Gibson; Gun
ner's Mates Charles Chilton and Con
rad Street; I'litcf Yeoman Joseph Ar
thur Cossalrt; Chief Electrician Clif
ford Demon de Forest; Electricians
Clifton Grandford, Boyd Martell Hump
and Terrell Read Wood; seamen Har
old William Aagaard, Phillip Jacob
Burger. Gustave Bulltz, Jr., Albert
Lewis Everroid; fireman David Roy
Carter and Patrick Henry Judge; mess
attendant, Restitute Echon; carpen
ter's mate, William Penn Hughes: hos
pital attendant. Ernest ,11. Pennington;
water tender. Edward Meier; appren
tice seaman Isiwronce Hansen.
The following survivors were not in
the list of enlisted personnel given out
yesterday :
Seaman Chester S. Lauen, emergency
address not given.
Fireman Howard A. Moyer, White
haven, Pa.
Fireman Charles A. Mason, West
Lynn, Mass.
Officials here entertain little hope
that more survivors will he found.
Hit in Vital Spot.
The report indicates that the craft
stumbled into the path of tlie subma
rine and I ha I (tie torpedo went home
In such a vital spot that the vessel
was sinking even as the flare of the
explosion died out. Night was a hand
There was no time to make provision
against the cold and the se a us th*
crew leaped to tlie life rafts. Many
probably had dlo«l*\vith Gunner Hood
in the explosion, or the steam bursts
that undoubtedly followed.
The U-boat commander made sun
befere he exposed hlH craft that the
destroyer had gone down. lie took
no chances of a Inst shot from
guns, which might send hint aryl ills
vessel to their reckoning. Probably
the single man saved by the subma
rine was taken aboard because the
submarine officer desired information
as to tlie Identity of the vessel he had
sunk.
st
her
doe
a
will
were
tiles.
in
had
of
a
up
to
in
SUFFRAGE WORKER DIES.
San Francisco, Dec. 9.—Dr. Margaret
E. Colby, pioneer resident of this state
and at one timp actively Identified with
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt and others,
found in the aid of the suffragists in
Wisconsin and northern Iowa, died at
lier home in Berkeley, Cul., yesterday,
at the age of 84 years.
Profits
Public to Know What Re
tailer Makes on Food.
Helena. Deo. 9.—Dr. Alfred At
kinson of Bozeman, state food
controller, who is in the city to
night enroute to Great Falls to at
tend a meeting of the wholesalers
of the state, announced that an ef
fort is to be made to inform the
publie on wholesale prices through
out Montana, beginning tomorrow.
Flour, sugar, beans, rice and
bacon arc among the articles se
lected foi tile first nnnounc 'mo l.
Which will tell the peopl " ex
wluit flic retailers pay and let
Judge whether th" ultimate
is "profiteering."
no: ly
th- m
prion
CROSSED SOILS
CAUSED DISASTER
Captain l^amedoe of Mont
Blanc Firm in Belief Col
lision Responsible.
Halifax, N.
meats aboard
thr ship became a terrihl
., Dec. 9.
tiny Mont
-Exciting mo
ula ne before
engine of de
st ruction were described by several of
her officers today. Captain Lame
doe persistently lias refused to make
a detailed statement.
The inquiry of the admiralty court
will he opened tomorrow.
All those on board tlie iMont Rlanc
escaped from the ship, lint three nu n
were subsequently" wounded by projec
tiles. une, a gunner, died today. A
wireless operator struck by a bit of
steel may die. The Injuries of th"
third man were pot serious.
The neu seemed still dazed by their
experience, but one thought hold fast
in their minds. That was that they
had realized that tile explosion of 58*1
tons or trinitrotoluol (T. N. T.) would
Spell disaster and in tlie moments Hint
preceded it they laid menial pictures
of frightful slaughter.
Safety Was Impossible.
"I have been in Hie war. I have
been in front of German guns, but
never before was there an explosion
like tills." said one of the crew. H
was worse than 160 shells. A shell
will blow up a house, but tills blew up
a city. ini" was safe nowhere. We
were a mile away when tlie ship blew
up and >• got three of ns."
Captain Lamedor, though adhering
to his purpose not to talk of the affair
in detail, admitted that In Ids mind
there was no question of the cause.
Caused by Collision.
The collision caused the explo
sion." lie added. "There was no sign
f fire previous to tlie moment the ship
id.
Tlie munition ship had lain outside
he harbor Wednesday night and the
next day was ordered to proceed to
nehorage to Ledford basin. As she
was passing through the narrows, the
lief ship lino was moving out. Cap
tain Lamedoe sal,| Hint In the narrow
channel there was a mistake til the
exchange of signals between the two
ssi'ls. In maritime circles the opin
ion seemed to be tonight that the
Frenchman was at fault.
The Mont Bln lie was struck on the
larboard side and veered toward
June. Captain Lnmedoc said that an
Instant after the smash a gush of
moke was seen Issuing from tlie ves
el. lie gave orders for all hands to
take to the hoots.
Taking up the story at this point, an
officer said:
Position Was Desperate.
"There were tanks of benzol and pie
lie add aboard and we knew that the
jar of Hie collision, causing a spark,
had Ignited these chemicals among
which tlie flames could burn only a
w moments before they Spread to till'
T. N. T. our small boats were nearly
swamped In our efforts to escape. \\ <
feared that the explosion would come
before we could make the short boat
trip to tlie shore and we pulled like
desperate men.
"On the beach we found a multitude
watching the smoke arising from the
abandoned ship. A few took warning
and followed us. We made for the
woods and were a mile Inland when
the explosion let go. Our gunner was
struck by a fragment of steel and fell
mortally wounded.
"The wireless operator, who with
the gunner, had out-distanced the rest
of us was next Lit by a piece of steel.
Another man was struck by lilts of
metal, but tils injuries were super
ficial."
Tlie cargo Included a large quantity
of shells and ammunition.
in
New Division American
Troops Reaches France
in
at
With the American Army In France.
Friday. Dec. 7.—By the Associated
Press.—-A division of American troops,
recently arrived in France, will begin
regimental maneuvers Sunday and will
lie trained In barrage fire, the Amer
ican artillery working with American
aviators.
KALEDIRES AND
(ORRILOFF JOIR
IH DECLARATION
Workmen's and Soldiers* Del
egates Order Troops
Against Cossacks.
ITALY SUCCESSFUL
STOPPING TEUTONS
Mountain Passes Remain in
Roman Possession After
Bloody Battle.
London, Doc. 9.—A proclamation
to the Russian nation has been is
sued by the Russian government
announcing that "Kaledin** and
Korniloff, assisted by the imperial
ists and constitutional democrats,
raised a revolt and declared war in
the Don Cossacks' region against
the people and the revolution."
Evidently the first gun in the civil
war which has been expected for
weeks.
The Workmen's and Soldiers*
delegates have ordered the neces
sary movements of troops against
the counter revolution and issued
decrees authorizing the local revo
lutionary garrisons to "attack the
enemies of the people without
awaiting orders from the supreme
authorities and forbidding any at
tempts at mediation."
No details of the uprising are at
yet to hand, but the proclamation
of the Bolsheviki government as
serts that the Constitutional Dem
ocrats and the Bourgeoise are aid
ing the movement against the
Leninite faction. The Cossacks, of
whom Kaledmes it the leader, are
famous as dashing fighters and in
choosing Korniloff as his right
hand man, Kaledines obtains a
military man of unquestioned abil
ity.
of
Italians Pul Stop
to Teuton Efforts.
Iliilian Army Headquarters, In
Northern Italy, Saturday, Doc. S. 6 p.
in By the Associated Press.— The bat
ll" uf Ashign Is virtually suspended,
willi tlie enemy checked, if not de
feat€*il. In Ills main design of breaking
through to the Brenta valley and the
plain ii few miles below, although he
succeeded In advancing his lines a
short distance when the Italians fell'
buck to new positions.
These positions, guarding the Fran
Z' lla und Giulena passes, have success
fully resisted all enemy forces and the
Italians on the steep heights on each
side of the passes rain down artillery
and rifle fire and release Inigo bould
di is every tinny the enemy forces try
to get through.
This lias continued until the Italians
so in reasonably assured of holding the
liasses and compelling the enemy to
look tor another line of approach.
An exceptionally large air raid was
rallied out yesterday with a fleet of
l ui airplanes. Including Italian light
and heavy squadrons. The huge fleet
flew low, scattering more than 2,0.10
bombs, which caused extensive damage
in tlie northern sector, where the en
"ioy is assembling forces and supplies.
Troop trains were scattered, railway
depots destroyed and munition supplies
blown up. Large fires marked the
route of the raiders, Indicating the cx
t"iit of the destruction.
Little Activity
on Other Fronts.
r Utile infantry activity Is th prog
ress ou I lie western front in France
and Belgium, although mutual bom
bardments are ensuing. The Germans
hiiYi not yet decided again to offer
battle lo General Byng's forces in their
newly chosen positions on tlie Cambrai
sector, although their artillery has
shown considerable activity south of
I'amlirai and in the regions of Moeuv
roH and Banteux,
la the Verdun sector tlie Germans
made another attempt to pierce the
French lino In the region of Be.aon
vuux, luit were repulsed and suffered
nsiderablo casualties.
FROZEN NOSES THE RULE.
Rockford, 111., Dec. 9.—Visits to en
listed men's barracks at Camp Grant
today established an estimate that ap
proximately 200 men have suffered
frozen noses or fingers in the zero
weather of the last two days. The
minimum temperature recorded has
been six below but a stiff west wind
lias made the men believe the cold
more severe.
NO AMERICANS KILLED.
Halifax, X. S.. Dee. 9.—No Ameri
cans were killed in the explosion, ac
cording to reports received by Rthel
bert Watts, American consul general.