Evening star. [volume], August 26, 1918, Page 2, Image 2

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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these hopes will not be disappointed,
says L'Houro. It deel&rea that the Brit
ish have obliged the German staff to
admit defeat.
Marcel Hutin. in the Echo de Pari?,
points out that the British advanced by
local thrusts, which tore large holes in
the German lines. That the enemy has
been unable to thwart those maneuvers,
he says, proves the tremendous su
periority that the allies have gained
over the Germans.
Ueut. Col. Fabry, in Oui. declares that
unstinted praise must be given the
manner in which the British attacks
have been carried out. He declares
that the allied success north of the
Somme is a purely British victory.
Brave Canadian Officers
Inspire Men to Captures
WITH THE CANADIAN FORCES
IN FRANCE, August 26.?(Canadian
Press.)?Numerous stories are coming
to hand of individual gallantry and
Initiative on the field in the recent
fighting east of Amiens. A Manitoba
battalion was held up in an attack on
Fouquescourt, which lies within tire
old Somrae defenses and was very
strongly held by an elaborate trench
system of machine guns and wire.
Realizing that the capture of the
stronghold was essential to the suc
cess of the entire operations the com
manding officer collected all the men
available and personally led a dashing
assault into the heart of the enemy
positions. A tank coming up, the offi
cer led this through the streets. His
example so inspired all In the ranks
that their advance was irresistible and
after the village had been mopped up
the battalion consolidated a position
to the east and held it against all
counter attacks for two days.
A central Ontario battalion did good
work in front of Beaucourt. The
cavalry had been held up here by con
verging machine-gun fire from the
south of the Roye road and the woods
to the north and east. The battalion
was similarly held up. but its com
manding officer realized that the key
to the position was a small wood to
the northeast, which was alive with
maohine guns.
Taking advantage of the smoke
screen afforded by a burning tank he
led in a hastily collected party and
rushed the wood, capturing sixteen
machine guns. The battalion then
took the town with a dash, the enemy
retiring routed.
Tenacious British Push On,
Taking Towns and Men
By the Associated Press.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, August 25.?The British
continue smashing the Germans to
ward the old Hindenburg line, which
has almost been reached in the north
ern battle zone. The defenses of Ba
paume have either already been cap
tured or are in process of being cap
tured. Bapaume itself- roust fail
shortly.
Meanwhile some of the heaviest
fighting of the war is going on in
this section of the battle front, for
the Germans are loath to part with
the town, which has great strategic
value.
Warlencourt, an important position
just south of Bapaume, on the road to
Albert?which has been widely
crossed?was taken by the British
after a bitter struggle, in which the
Germans suffered very severe losses.
Great numbers of the enemy were
captured during the day. among them
a large party from the third German
naval battalion.
So fast was the British advance last
night and today that it is impossible
to be certain where the front lines
will be located from one hour to the
next.
In some parts on the north the Brit
ish today had reached a point only
1.000 yards from the old Hindenburg
line, which seems to be strongly held.
In the southern battle zone the ar
tillery fire, particularly from the big
guns, is diminishing.
British Display Tenacity.
The British troops display the most
extraordinary tenacity and sustained
power in action. The units which
Friday night waded the Ancre and
later passed through Thiepval in
heavy fighting, are still shoving
ahead.
In many places the Albert-Bapaurae
road has been crossed and south of
Albert the British have pushed a con
siderable distance eastward. It is re
ported the British have reached Ma
metz wood. Cavalry patrols at var
ious points along the line are opera
ting in front of the infantry. This
is possible because the "crater coun
try'' has been passed at many points.
This fact gives the cavalry its op
portunity, because that arm could not
be used over ground seamed with*
trenches and shell holes.
More Towns Taken.
Fozieres, to the north of Albert, fell
this morning. British patrols were
seen entering Martinpnich, where ap
parently the bocbe made good his
escape.
High-wood, a strong position near
Lonveval (northwest of Corables) is
reported captured, while Eaucourt
L/Abbaye, Contalmaison and Cource
lette have been ocupied by the Brit
ish.
Sapignies is completely in British
hands after hard fighting. At last
reports a local battle within the big
battle was being fought at Mory and
its environs where the lines run
through the town.
St. l_.eger was captured and left far
behind. After having once been re
sported in Croiselles the British with
drew to the outskirts. The Germans
counter attacked heavily, and the
British retired to the edge of the
town and poured shells into the
place, while pressing forward on the
sides.
At Neuville-Vitaase and almost up
to the Scarpe, the line at last reports
received at headquarters ran trough
the outskirts of the village, and se
vere fighting was in progress there.
Armored Cars Attack.
The Bapaume-Peronne road was at
tacked by British armed cars, which
during tha past twenty-four hours
have been performing wonderful
service, scouting far ahead of the in
fantry. Some of them have dashed
through the country, overtaking re
treating enemy transport columns
I and inflicting terrible damage upon
| them and bodies of troops with their
machine guns.
Co-operating- with the armored
cars, the tanks again have been
heavily in action, some of them roll
ins into towns in advance of the in
fantry. sweeping over the debris and
finishing off enemy strong points in
the face of a perfect deluge of fire.
Many tanks have returned to their
lines with ail the paint shot off their
steel sides by machine-gun bullets.
At some points the German ap
proached the tanks as soon as they
saw them, with hands high above
their heads, fearfully shouting "Kame
rad!"
When Thiepval ridge fell into Brit
ish hands yesterday, the troops press
ed forward at both sides and a large
number of Germans were pinched.
They promptly threw away their
shrapnel helmets and other equip
ment, and. without even guards, walk
ed toward the British rear. In the
neighborhood of Thiepval a British
detachment during the early part of
the advance managed to reach Pys,
but soon found itself surrounded on
all sides by ti?e enemy.
"Stick to It,*' Message From, Air.
An airplane saw the detachment's
plight and dropped a message: "Stick
it," and soon after heavy British for
mations attacked at this point and
drove off the Germans, relieving their
hard-pressed comrades.
Since then Pys has been left well
behind. Posieres, southeast of Thiep
val. fell this morning, and later Ma
met* was occupied, as well as Mar
tinpuich.
Foe Brings Fresh Troops.
It seems certain that the Germans
have brought up large formations of
fresh troops, but it is believed that
up to the present these reinforce
ments are still some distance in the
rear. It is problematical whether the
German high command intends to
throw them into the battle now or to
us? them to hold the line to which
the enemy is now being driven.
Among the prisoners taken in to
day's and last night's fighting, which
progressed under a brilliant moon,
are many Saxons. The officers among
these, in comparison with the Prus
sians, who apparently care not for
such things, as soon as they got to
the cages stripped themselves and
asked for water with which to bathe
from their upturned shrapnel helmets.
Alsatians also appeared in the pris
oner's cages. Happier men than these
it would be hard to And anywhere.
They fell on their captors, embraced
them, and spoke in French of being
"liberated." They pulled pictures of
their fathers, dressed in the Prendh
uniform of 1870. from hidden pockets
and exhibited them proudly. They
said that all the Alsatians had been
placed in German regiments.
Deserters' Families Punished.
"It goes hard with us if we are
caught deserting," said one youth,
"If it is ever found out that any
body deserts, his family is punished,
and even his female relatives are sent
to dig in the front line and other
trenches."
One of the prisoners said he was
carrying food to an advanced post
when the British appeared. He cried
"We surrender!" and he, with the men
in the post, gave himself up.
Prisoners taken when Miraumont
fell, after a brave resistance by its
garrison, said they had been fighting
for three days without food.
The high ground east-northeast of
Bray has been captured and the Aus
tralians here are pushing forward.
One force is now nearing Longueval,
and more Germans may be penned up.
High wood, a strong position in this
general locality which was lined with
machine guns, has been reported cap
tured, probably by a flanking move
ment, and a large number of machine
guns have fallen into British hands
here, as well as many at other places.
Many thousands of machine guns
have been taken away from the Ger
mans during the past two days.
Germans Still Withdrawing
From Vesle, Americans Hear
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. August 25, 9 p.m..?Reports
from various sources say that the
Germans are withdrawing north of
the Vesle, owing to continued pressure
along the French and British fronts.
In the Fismes district the German
artillery fired In a desultory fashion
Sunday, and there was no infantry
action except patrol engagements at
a few places. Much heavy cannon
ading has been heard around Sois
aons.
The Americans are endeavoring to
confirm the withdrawal reports.
Lose All Enthusiasm.
German soldiers believe that Ger
many is not planning any more of
fensives. because of the man-power
shortage, according to one of a party
of seven of a German patrol captured
by the Americans early Sunday east
of Fismes. The soldier, who was a
former bank employe and the owner
of a Berlin restaurant, said the sol
diers no longer had any enthusiasm
for war. Most of those with whom
he came in contact believed the war
would end soon.
The prisoner had been fighting three
years, and declared he was thorough
ly tired of it. He said the soldiers
understood that the German losses
during the recent allied offensives had
been very great. These reports were
credited by the soldiers and were
having a demoralizing effect. He
said he knew of one division of 15,000
which had been redticed to less than
1.000. He did not know what became
of the men.
See Cnance to Desert.
Plenty of Germans, he added, would
desert and surrender if given the
opportunity. Many of them are con
stantly watching for a chance to
give themselves up to the Americans.
Trouble has been threatened in the
German munition plants, and the
army leaders were tightening condi
tions there. He said the rules gov
lerning munition workers were more
I strict now than ever.
j Germany, he said, has plenty of
ammunition, but the man-power
i question and the actual entry of
American troops into the fighting are
worrying the military leaders.
Told to Watch. Americans.
[ By. the Associated Press.
AMERICAN FORCES ON THE
VESLE FRONT, Saturday, August 24.
?Prisoners taken today by American
troops in the region of Chateau du
Diable, to the west of Fismea, said
they had been ordered to keep in con
, stant contact with the Americans
along the Vesle river. The German
retreat north of the Marne river had
I been carried out in an orderly man
ner, they declared, hence German sol
' diers believe it to have been pre
meditated and a tactical maneuver
| intended to eliminate an awkward
salient.
The general impression among the
1 Germans had seen too much of the
was, now that so many powers had
I combined against Germany, that it
was not possible for Germany to win,
yet the entente allies would never be
1 able to enter Germany because the
German soldiers, the prisoners said.
I destruction in France to permit of
Germany suffering in a similar man
i ner.
The prisoners said Germany would
be defended to the last man. If that
did not suffice an immediate peace
must avert an invasion. The Germans
admitted that the Americans had
fought with freshness and enthu
siasm.
FAVORS SOCIETY OP NATIONS.
Radical Committee in France In
dorses President Wilson's Plan.
PARIS, August 26 (Bavas)?The
executive committee of the radical
party at a meeting yesterday adopted
a resolution in favor ot a society of
nations as outlined by President Wil
son. The party will urge Its members
in the French parliament to work tot
the realisation of socb a plan.
BACK TO THE HINDENBURG LINE
Frt? N?t Xwk TribaM.
The British advanced yesterday over the shaded areas and reached the Hin
denbnrg line at Bnilecoart? southeast of Croisfiles. The dotted line in
dicates the farthest German advance in 1018.
OFFICIAL WAR REPORTS.
AMERICAN.
August 35 ?ectlon,^7I"
eace hostile raiding parties were
aeain driven back in attempts to
reach our line.. At other points oc
cupied by our troops the day was un
;S:L.vr^.??
sHar-CK-V.'"
"section 'b?^There t. nothing to re
port In this section.
BRITISH.
August 26 (day).?At S ?'eIoc1'
morning our troop.
Scarpe sector and are reported to have
made good progress.
On the southern portion of the bat
- r u^e^r.da?ndbr:
ed strong counter attacK. _hbor.
north of Bapaume In the
hood ofEaucourtL attacks
were r gh j
^InmcVlng heavy Casualties on him
and taking prisoners.. attempted j
and we have rosde progrew beyond,
the village. have lm
?"rrE.Su""' "
"{EwwWU Wins on 'he t.?l!
have S& dUTwith loPssss under
?Ou?rt'roops nevertheless ^Jought |
ESSffiii
progress snd taken many ^soner.^
tac*. enemy's position on tne
imm
wmws
edUMartlnpuieh, Lesars and L?barque^
h^Taken^^rkv^Yl'^bo^
BA^unt\r^t^kN?.Ti"e^b"the
slmoy,v^..?eUtorwl.P?^rd.ln
<f S?ot fnight).?Resistance in
A!ES todavwith the arrival of
German reinforcements on the bat
fS0w:reMbrnoykenh0irn.CSUu?tetrroo^;
^.S^sr^-sssrssi
Jher progress; they have taken many
PNorthrof the Somme the Australians ,
carried the enemy's position, on the
?^sSa0dUvance.d8in0,thBe .'direction of
Carnoy. and have taken Mamets.?
Welsh troops captured Mamets
'iTuie center we capturedMartin
_?i,v r ? San and L? B&rQue.
v??th of Bapaume there has Keen
I ???tinr in Favreuil and about
made prog
ress east of Behagniea and In Neu
'aSE?'?"(night). aeriald-On An
?"her 2dayUof "veiled work? Including
mScS low flying and artillery obser
and five German balloons were shot
down in flames. Ten of our own
machines are missing.
During the twenty-four hours we
dropped forty-three ?,*:
the Valenciennes and Carabrai rail
way connections being attacked
one other targets. All our night
flving airplanes returned safely. We
succeeded in destroying two enemy
nieht bombing machines.
On the 25th instant our machines
successfully attacked a hostile air
drop and the railway stations at
HAttembourg and Luxembourg.
?llen? resuUs vrere obtained on the
railway stations.
FRENCH.
August 26 (day).?Very vigorous
artillery actions occurred during the
night in the region of Roye and Beu
vralsnes (three miles to the south of
Roye). The artillery fire also was
heavy on the Ailette, Oise and Aisne
rlT? German surprise attacks in the
Vosges sector were without result
"j we took'prisoners. The night
was cllm on th. rest of the front.
"Heavy bombardment? in the region
2SlSSeTiven'" *
?Au^T,,^DSJfc?SrVf^K
ether "?*" to leave a score of priaon
?ca la out kute ?M?
violent bombardment in the region of
Beuvraignes. . ... ?...
Between the Atlette and the Olse
French troops increased their PJ?K"
ress east of Bagneux (northwest or
Soissons). . ,
On the right bank of the Meuse and
in the Woevre our patrols took prison
ers, of which a number belonged to
Austro-Hungarian units.
Both artilleries were active in tne
neighborhood of Lasslgny today.
Between the Ailette and the Alsne
we made new progress east of Bag
neux and repulsed enemy counter
attacks west of Crecy-au-Mont. we
captured 400 prisoners. ^
Aviation?It wax impossible to car
ry out any bombing operations dur
ing the day. During the night the
weather improved and our bombing
machines immediately took the air.
Eighteen thousand four hundred kilos
of explosives were dropped behind tne
battle front and on stations, which
were damaged, and bivouacs in the
region of Ognolles and Guiscard. Sta
tlons, railways and assembly *?n""
at Laon, An!xy-lr-Chateau. J ussy.
Chauny, I^a Fere, Ham, Semlde. Pon
tavert and Quignlcourt were be
sprinkled with projectiles. Numerous
hits were reported on the objectives
and fires broke out at Laon, Ham,
Oulscard and Gulgnlcourt.
Eastern theater. August 24?There
was artillery activity along the whole
front, particularly on the Struma and
west of the Vasdar. In Albania we
repulsed enemy reconnolterlng Pi
ties. French aviators brought down
an enemy plane west of Monastlr and
British aviator* bombed enemy can
tonments in the region of the
Struma.
IT ALIAS.
August !5 (day) .?Last night our
airplanes again dropped 4.000 kilo
grams of bombs op aviation camps
on ths Frluli plain and in the Laga
rlna valley, causing large fires.
Hostile aircraft dropped bombs on
the city of Padua, slightly damaging
some buildings. There were no casu
*^There has been considerable fight
ing activity in the Semenl river re
gion of Albania. Hostile forces r.;
oeatedly attacked our advanced posts
north of Fieri, but always were re
pulsed with heavy losses.
BELGIAN.
August 28 (weekly report).?Dur
ing the past week we have repulsed
by infantry and artillery Are five Ger
man attacks on our advanced posts In
rezlons of Nleuport, Dixmude,
Mercken and I^ngemarck We were
le?y activity, of average Intensity. Is
smarted from the front as a whole.
Ai? enemy balloon was destroyed In
the course of this week by one of our
aviators.
gebmau.
Ansust ? (day).?There have been
successful fore field lights southwest
of Ypres. On both sides of Ballleul
and north of the La Bassee canal (Lys
salient) we repulsed enemy partial
attacks before our lines.
Ttctween Arras and the Somme the
British continued their attacks,
strong infantry forces, led by tanks
were thrust forward In the early
morning between Neuville-\ 'J?fse
and St Leger. They collapsed. They
collapsed with heavy losses before
our lines. Our posts standing in
St Leger wlthdreWaccording to com
mand on their fighting lines east of
the village. Enemy attacks were also
shattered before Mory.
Enemy forces stormed many times
aealnst our front, extending, after
the battles of August 2J, from west
S the Behagnles-Bapaumo-Warlen
eourt line. The attack was Initiated
by bringing in numerous tanks Inthe
center against Bapaume itself. These
attacks collapsed.
Lieut. Ebarhard during the past few
days has here destroyed eight armor
1 ed vehicles. , _ , . ,
The enemy pressed forward sharply
against our lines which had been
taken back from the Ancre and in
the afternoon came from Courcelles
and Poileres . to attack against
Martinpulch and Basentln. Prussian
troops thrust themselves in a counter
attack upon the flank of the enemy
and threw him back beyond Posleres.
From the Somme to the Oise fight
ing activity remained limited to artil
lery fire and minor Infantry battles
I north of Roye and west of the Olse.
On the Ailette the fighting activity
died down. Between the Ailette and
the Alsne many strong attacks, which
were brought forward In especially
thick waves near and south of Cha
vlgny, foUowed upon a heavy fire
against Crecy-au-Mont and on both
sides of Chavigny. They were re
pulsed with hsavy losses for the
French.
Cavalry and rifle regiments were
especially effective in this operation.
Our bombing sfluardrons during
Saturday night dropped on harbor
works, railway stations, military
works and camps of the enemy 75,000
kilograms of bombs.
ATJSTBIAN.
August 25 (day).?Our attack is
progressing successfully in Albania.
After a bitter struggle yesterdajr
Italian bridgehead positions north of
Fieri were taken. During the pur
suit which followed our troops crossed
the BemenL We also made progress
I near Berat and the Belores mountains.
The bombing attacks of our airmen
, J,....
H
TO GIVE UP KAZAN
Czecho-Slovak and Anti-Bol
shevik Troops Occupy Town
on River Volga.
EXECUTE REVOLUTIONISTS
Br the AsaorUtnl Trrn.
AMSTERDAM, AURTUst 26.?Czecho
slovak and anti-bolshevik forces
have reoeeupled the town of Kuin,
on the River Volga, says 'a Moscow
dispatch to the Weser Zeitung of
Bremen. The bolsheklkl were forced
to retreat after heavy lighting. The
bolshevik! now hold positions some
distance from Kazan,
A Moscow telegram giving a state
ment Issued on August Si aays that
the soviet troops had been forced to
retire In the region of Trostjaka in
the direction of Xadilsk, in the
Pyshung district (south of Arch
angel), but had successes in the
Kazan district.
Japs Force Withdrawal.
LONDON, August 26.?Gen. Ssme
noff's opponents in the trans-Baikal
region have withdrawn as a result of
the arrival of Japanese troops at
Manchuli, according to a Tientsin
dispatch to the Exchange Telegraph
Company. Only 3.000 of the bolshe
vik troops remain in that region.
Japanese troops are completing
their concentration on the Ussurl
front, according to dispatches from
Vladivostok. At Engeneuka sailors
supported by armored cars attacked
the bolshevik forces In the face of
I artillery Are and routed them.
The strike at Vladivostok is ter
minating in a fiasco as striking labor
ers have been paid off^ and Chinese
substituted for them. Xt the arsenal
shops a serious clash between strik
ers and non-strikers occurred, but
allied patrols Intervened. The dis
patch says that the bolshevik agi
tation among various elements of
workmen is subsiding.
It is reported that Americans have
privately loaned the city of Vladi
vostok 3,500,000 rubles, taking the
tramways as security.
Alexleff Directed Hove.
The big counter revolutionary
movement which recently broke out
In Moscow was organised to prevent
the dispatch of troops to the Czecho
slovak front, according to the bol
shevik newspaper Isvestia of Mos
cow. The movement, the newspaper
adds, was directed by Gen. Aieiteff,
rormer commander-in-chief of the
Russian army. Eight leaders of the
counter revolutionary, Including the
former commander of the eighty
sixth rifle regiment, were arrested
and executed.
Moscow newspapers report revo
lutionary movements In the province*
of Vologda, Vladimir, Vyatka and Orel
and say that they were sanguinarily
repulsed. At Dtnnl, in Orel, 100 whit*
guards were killed. At Petrograd
twenty persons. Including the officers
a Krasnoye-Selo regiment, were
executed. Three members of a foreign
mission also were put to death
The Russian newspaper Pravda de
mands the arrest of the entire bour
geoisie.
Trotzky Calls It a Lie.
Leon Trotsky, the bolahevik min
ister (Of war and marine. in a proc
lamation published In the Krasnaya
Gasetta, August 23. characterises the
statements that the allied troops were
landed in Siberia to protect th* Trans.
!'b/irian. " ?? It*, according to
a dispatch r?ceived here from Berlin.
The proclamation of Trotsky follows:
To all: When in April preparations
were being made for a Japanese land
ing in \iadivostok, the Japanese gen
eral staff Informed the cabinets of the
S!L i ,, d*n**r threatened the
Siberian railway from German and
Austrian prisoners. I thereupon sent
American and British officers from
Moscow to the Siberian railway, who
were obliged officially to confirm that
all statements regarding the railway
being In danger were idle gossip. This
fact is known to Ambassador Francis.
Now that the intervention of the al
lies is an accomplished fact the Amer
ican government has supported the
Japanese lie.
"According to the American state
ment the object of the intervention of
the allies is to help the Csecho-Slo
vaka against risings of German and
Austrian prisoners of war. Thla is a
lie, just as was the Japanese state
ment regarding the nienace to the
Siberian railway by the Germans."
Alllea Hake Denial.
Br the Associated Press.
ARCHANGEL, Russia, Thursday,
August 22.?An official announcement
Issued today by the entente allied
governments In the northern region of
Russia denied the statement recently
made by Lenlne and Trotiky, the
bolshevik premier and war minister,
respectively, that Great Britain.
France and the United States were
enemies of Russia. The allied military
action, the announcement added, waa
aimed at the expulsion of th* Gar
man* from Russian territory and the
suppression by force of arms of the
Brest-Lltovsk treaty. The statement
follows:
"Lenlne and Trotsky declare that
the British. French and Americans
when disembarked at Archangel are
brigands, and they call upon the Rus
sian proletariat to fight against them
as enemies of Russia who attacked
her without a declaration of war. We
declare to all Russian citizens for
whom the welfare of Russia is dear
that this is not true. The British,
French and Americans at Archangel
are the alllea of Russia. They were
Invited to make a landing here by the
legitimate government and with the
complete and unanimous agreement
on the part of the population.
Elect Their Leaders.
?The government of the northern
region la composed of member* of the
constituent assembly which waa
elected by the whole population of
the northern border district. It com
prises also repreeentattves of the
semsvos and municipalities elected by
universal suffrage.
?This government had been formed
and waa overturned by the Illegiti
mate bolshevik government before
the descent of the allies. It was
formed on the initiative of the
League for the Regeneration of
Russia, which reunites representa
tives of all the political parties, rec
ognising the constituent assembly-as
the only rightful Russian govern
ment.
"The allies then were called to
Russia by the only legitimate and
representative .authority for the pur
pose of military action In common,
aiming at the expulsion of the Ger
mans and the complete suppression
by force of arms of the Breat-Lltovsk
treaty traitorously signed by the
boishertkl. But they were called on
the distinctly specified condition that
they must not mix themselves In the
internal affairs of the government
I of Russia."
STEAMER SINKS Iff FOG.
Jhe George Hudson Goes Down on
Beef in Forty-One Feet of Water.
WATCH HILL, R. I.. August 2?.?
The fish-laden steamer George Hud
son ran onto a reef and sank in
forty-one feet of water during a thick
fog off here. Captain William D.
Murray and his crew of thirty men
reached shore In a boat
The Hudson was bound for Mystic,
Conn., from a New Jersey port She
was owned by the AUantlo Coast
Fisheries Company, waa of 1M cross
toss and valuejl at HMMb
FORMER GEORGE WASHINGTON
ATHLETE KILLED IN ACTION
ROGER HILLIS, '
Capttla of 1911 foot boll team, alaio hj Horn ueklat gu ballot.
D. C. MINIMUM WAGE
BILL PASSED BY HOUSE
Keating Measure Ha* Indorsement
of Commissioners and Em
ployers' Association.
The Keating: minimum wage bill for
women and children In the District of
Columbia was paused by the House
today after it had been considered for
more than an hour.
The drastic gun-toting: bill fathered
by Representative Johnson of Ken
tucky, chairman of the House com
mittee on the District, is under con
sideration this afternoon.
With less than one dosen members
in the House today the minimum wage
bill, as reported from the District
committee with only slight changes
in the verbiage as proposed by Rep
resentative London of New York, so
cialist, was recommended for passage
by a viva voca vote without oposl
tion.
Voluntarily Indorses Bill.
A remarkable circumstance in con
nection with this legislation is that
the Merchants and Manufacturers*
Association of the District volun
tarily indorsed the bill and urged
its passage. This association has a
membership representing thirty-three
different businesses in Washington, in
cluding department stores, with a
total of about 5.000 employes. A
resolution adopted by the twenty
second annual convention of the
American Federation of Labor also
indorsed the legislation. .
It also has the strong indorsement
of the District Commissioners, who
are to administer the provisions of
the law, and of the District health
officer.
When Chairman Johnson of the
House District committee called up
the gun-toting bill, he remarked that
there are more homicides in the District
than in any other similar area. Several
members on the republican side opposed
the bill on the ground that the pro
vision for life Imprisonment on a third
conviction of carrying concealed
weapons was too drastic.
Chairman Johnson admitted that he
would be In favor of hanging for the
third conviction. He said that at that
stage a man had become a notorious
outlaw and no punishment would be
too severe.
Representative Johnson Leaves.
Representative Walsh of Massachu
setts said he did not believe In ad
vertising to the country the National
Capital was a community of gun
toters, dirk carriers and razor wield
ers.
Chairman Johnson got Impatient at
the opposition and refused to dis
cuss the bill further. Representative
London on the ground of opposing
the bill, was allowed an hour's time.
He started by saying that Chairman
Johnson is so certain of himself that
he never admits the possibility that
he may be wrong. While Representa
tive London was saying this Repre
sentative Johnson impatiently left
the House chamber.
REPORTS NO FOUNDATION
FOR CLOSING STORY
"There la absolutely no foundation
for the announcement the latter part
of laat week of twenty-four lines of
activity that would be closed up as
non-essential. I have made a thor
ough Investigation of this this morn
ing and find that the announcement
was entirely without warrant and
has no foundation In law or any other
authority."
This announcement was Issued today
from the office of the Merchants and
Manufacturers' Association and Is
based on an investigation made by
Secretary Columbus, who returned
this morning from a trip to Spring
field. Mass- and New York city.
?The community labor board of the
District of Columbia has no authority
to issue snob an order or ruling as
was published." added Mr. Columbus.
"In making this investigation I went
to the highest sources of authority in
various government branches, but to
a man?and a woman, too, for that
matter?all disclatm any such inten
tion as was contemplated in the an
nouncement of last week. The com
munity labor board of the District of
Columbia will hold a meeting this
afternoon, following which I have no
doubt that an explanation will be
forthcoming.
?The circumstance was most unfor
tunate and should be a warning to all
concerned to wait until they know
they are right before they go ahead.
Washington business interests have
nothing to fear, and the matter should
be dismissed.
"A meeting of our committee, which
haa been called for this afternoon,
will be held, however, aa we have two
vary important matters that will re
quire the immediate consideration of
! ROGER HILLIS IS KILLED
AS HE WAITS TO CHARGE
j Former George Waiihiipton Foot
Ball Captain Victim of Ma
chine Gun Ballet.
i
Roger Hillls, captain of George
Washington University foot ball team
in 1116 and a basket ball player of
note at that institution, while hiding
in a shell hole "over there" and wait
ing: for a barrage fire to lift before
charging the boehe, was shot and
killed by a machine gun bullet. Death
was almost instantaneous, according
to brief details received by Prof. De
Witt C. Croissant, chairman of the
students* activities committee of the
university, from Lieut. Thomas Sul
livan. former coach of the foot ball
team, who is stationed at Camp Her
r!tu N. J.
Further details learned were that
Hillis had volunteered to participate
with comrades in a trench raid when
he received the fatal shot.
Hillis was a student in the medical
department at George Washington,
coming here from Oberlin College in
01\io. where he was star fullback and
tackle on the foot ball team there.
WOULD AMEND LAW FOR
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
The District Commissioners today
sent to the Senate District committee
a favorable report on the House bill
amending the existing weights and
measures law in the District x>t Co
lumbia and urging its speedy enact
ment. The Commissioners suggest
several amendments which they be
lieve would be advisable.
The present weights and measures
law, the Commissioners say in their
report, is obsolete. It adds:
"The present high prices of neces
sities emphasise the need of a law
in the District of Columbia affording
residents the protection provided In
this bill.
"This is especially true in view of
the fact a large number of persons
have come to the District to live dur
ing the war who are not accustomed
to many of the business methods em
ployed here, and they are thereby
made victims of unfair practices by
some concerns engaged in the sale of
merchandise."
The Commissioners ask that there
be restored to the bill a provision
which would compel street venders to
give sales tickets to purchasers, show
ins the name and address and license
number of the venders and the weight,
measure or numerical count of each
purchase.
The Commissioners hold that this
regulation would be a great safe
guard to the poor, who make many
purchases from street venders.
They oppose a provision inserted in
the bill by the House making all fee
dealers and peddlers public utilities
in the District. They hold this to be
unnecessary and calculated to place a
heavy burden on the Publio Utilities
Commission, owing to the large num
ber of small dealers and peddlers of
ice here.
ST0Y1E 7. MOOBE HTDICTED.
! Acctued of Stealing $36,000 From
Franklin National Bank.
Stovle J. Moor*, colored, former jan
itor at the Franklin National Bank,
was Indicted today by the grand jury
for grand larceny. It Is alleged that
May 8 last he stole $36,000 of the bank's
funds.
A preliminary examination of Moor*
Is scheduled for tomortow In the Po
lice Court, but the return of the In
dictment will render the hearing un
necessary. Moore Is in custody and
claims he found the money In an
overflow trap In the basement wash
room of the bank building.
Y0TOG GULLS AID BED CB0SS.
Baiie $38.42 for Diftrict Chapter
at a Benefit Sale.
Thirty-eight dollars and forty-two
cents was raised for the benefit of the
District Chapter of the American Red
Cross at a benefit sale Friday, en
ducted by seven little glris under the
management of Miss Thelma White,
1540 North Capitol street. They ware
Ruth White, Alioe Haye* jfaaetta
Hayes, Margaret Bberly, Marie Qus
see. Anetta Gussee and Clara Gull
U.I
Needs Portable Schools, Pro
vided For in D. C. Unpassed
Appropriation Bill.
OTHERS ALSO RETARDED
Failure of Congress to pass th?
District appropriation bill* whleh
provides for the construction of sixty
portable school buildings, is givinp
the board of education no little wor
ry as to how it will accommodate
Washington's increased school popu
lation this fall.
Anticipating that the bill would be
passed, the District called for bids
for construction of fifty of the por
tables in June. It was planned to
have the buildings ready for use by
September. If the money should be
made available tomorrow, there isn't
sufficient time left now to build them
by the opening of the school season
September 20.
Expects Increase In Lower Grades.
Just how the situation is to be met
probably will not be determined until
after the next school enrollment is
ascertained. It is anticipated that the
increase in the high school popula
tion will be below normal, on ac
count of the war and the draft. But
heavy increases are looked for in tne
younger grades.
If necessary, the old Central Hip'i
and M street colored buildings can
be made to accommodate a part of
the overflow. But the heating sys
tem in the former building will have
to be overhauled at a considerable
expense.
The District government is encoun
tering embarrassment in every direc
tion because of the appropriation bill
being tied up in Congress. For one
thing, it is without funds to pave
streets and build sidewalks in the
?one of war buildings west of l<th
street It requested that money for
these improvements be made immedi
ately available, and the !***
planned to have been finished before
this. Unless funds are early forth
coming workers in these buildings
will face the prospect of mud streets
this winter.
To Start Work on New Budget.
With the District entirely without
an appropriation act and operating
only under a continuing resolution,
making available e&eh month one
twelfth of last year's appropriation.
th? Commissioners are planning to
commence worl? on the next
budget, which promises to be a ec.unt
one compared with the totals
in previous budgets. It is to be con
structed on a strict war economy
basis and will show a reduction of
probably several millions of dollars.
As in previous years, the Commis
sioners ask the co-operation of citizens
associations in the framing of the
estimates, but request that these
bodies, in submitting the lists of im
provements desired for next year,
recommend only those which are con
sidered a war necessity. The Com
missioners will have to put their
recommendations to Congress on a war
basis and civic bodies will greatly as
sist the District heads by doing the
same thing. Associations which al
ready have submitted their recom
mendations and asked for improve
ments which obviously cannot be sup
plied at this time are asked to amend
their lists so that they will conform
with the war necessity policy.
SOLDIER IS REPORTED
S
Body Spiked to Barn Door Found
by Brother, According to Dr.
Howard-! Statement
Tales of unbelievable savagery prac
ticed by German troops upon Ameri
can soldiers who have fallen Into
their hands are told by Dr. P. H.
Howard, a member of the Chamber
of Commerce of St. Louis, who has
just arrived in thia oountry wearing
the uniform of a Salvation Army war
relief worker.
One of the moat horrible stories is
that of how an American private In
France found his brother, a sergeant,
in the same regiment, crucified b>
Germans with bia hands and feet
pierced with bayonets which held his
body against a barn door.
The story of the eruclfixtlon. as well
as details of numerous other atroci
ties, is contained In tatrolated doc
umentary evidence which was gath
ered at first hand by Dr. Howard, wfco
went to France several months a?o
to make a personal lnvestlrarloa ?
the need for war relief
Dr. Howard's Statement of Deed.
Dr Howard's statement, which was
Issued yesterday by the publicity de
partment of the Salvation Army, says
ln -art- "Let me cite an instance of
hammering back the Hun
SSiS^^SSd^n Jhe fight*
?^3hHuELrln^? ujat
had been ??***?* Siaur'aplta^br
K-^Src'S1 at?
^asVis^own brother, took down the
crucified "\*n- s!d- to get Christian
bod.y ,be?i^h was later attended to.
burlal. *hich .orwar<i, and before
thlt day was over he had evened up
the score.
Fritz Paid the Penalty.
"A. C. Cole survived and later at
tended his brother's funeral. X ?*n
s5?irive the details, but the American
r!L Jre satisfied with the penalty
paid for that piece of fiendish
n"S?C?n Dr. Howard's story was re
la ted^to Gen. March today, the chief
?V?liff said he had never received a
?t stao : ??? 0oie was crucified
fn'fhe Marne fighting. He added that
raJ^Pershins would almost certainly
hJve made a special report of that
sort of s, case.
JOTbidebsbobbow cabs.
Abandon Auto* Belonging to Rep
resentative Baer and Bomjue.
Automobiles belonging to Repre
sentatives John M. Baer. North Da
kota. and Hilton A. Romjue .Missouri,
were taken by Joy rldera yesterday.
SSt boloAd men abandoned
SiBaScw at Missouri avenue and
K? fSiet whiia the Bomjue ear waa
found abandoned at Wx and F street*