Evening star. [volume], October 26, 1918, Image 1

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

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OCTOBER 26, 1918?SIXTEEN PAGES.
TWO CENTS?
No. 27,213.
Yesterday's Nat Grcdkim, 107,551.
WASHINGTON,
*vg
Closing New York Stocks, Page 11.
WEATHER.
Claud/ tonight and tomorrow;
(?otebly rain Sunday afternoon or nlfht
Tsmperature for twenty-four hours
beginning 2 p.m. yesterday. Highest,
74, at 2 p.nL yesterday; lowest, CO, at
7 a-m. -today.
Full report on pace 11.
AUSTRIA PREPARES
FOR DEMOBILIZING
OF NATION'S Aim
Official Statement Said to
Have Been Published by
Vienna Papers.
ANTI-GERMAN ENVOYS
ARE SENT ON MISSION
Regiments Bevolt, While Peace at
Any Price Becomes Popular
in Two Capitals.
By tfce Associated Press.
LONDON, October 26.?An
official statement according to
which the demobilization of the
Austro-Hungarian army is being
prepared is published by the
newspapers of Vienna, an Ex
change Telegraph dispatch from
Copenhagen says.
BASEL, October 26.?Vienna
newspapers are publishing arti
cles relative to preparations for
demobilizing the army. One
newspaper says that two infan
try regiments stationed at Kar
low.'tz have revolted. Karlowitz
I is a village in Croatia-Slavonia,
' Hungary.
Anti-Germans on Mission.
ZURICH. October 26.?Prince Fred
erick Lobkowitz and Baron Nadherny,
who represent the strongest anti-Ger
man tendencies at Vienna, have left
that city for Switzerland charged with
a mission about which no details are
given, according to the Neues Journal
of Vienna.
'?Safety First" Principle.
PARIS. October 26.?In well in
formed circles it is said :hat the nom
InaUon of Count Julius Andrassy as
successor of Baron Burian, the Aus
tro-Hungarian foreign minister, is,
above all, important from the view
point of a conclusion of peace and an
application of the "aaCalf ?Bial" prin
ciple in Austria. It Is said that peace
at any price now Is popular at Vienna
and Budapest.
The Zurich correspondent of the
Journal says that the new foreign
minister is understood to be a parti
san of direct peace negotiations with
the entente without recourse to the
offices of President Wilson. He says
that the situation in Ausiria-Hun
gary is such that the monarchy, will
soon capitulate ;ui1T throw itself on J
the mercy of the. allies. The corre-i
eponrieni says that in Austria no [
notice is being taken of "decisions ar
rived at by Berlin.
The Czechs are now masters of the
situation at Prague. The Slovaks
have decided to change the name of
Press'ourg to Wilsonville. The
Ruthenians of Oalicia have declared
I for a separate Ukrainian state com
prising regions of Austra-Hungary
inhabited by Ruthenians. It is re
ported that anarchy reigns in the
ancient Danubian monarchy of Hun
gary.
Apponyi Is Hungarian Premier.
IDONDON, October 25.?Count Albert
Apponyi has been appointed Hunga
rian premier in succession to Dr.
"W'ekerle, according to a Vienna dis
patch to the Politiken of Copenhagen
and forwarded by the Kxchange Tele
graph Company.
Flume Bevolt Suppressed.
LONDON. October 25.?The revolt of
i Croatian soldiers of the 79th Regi
! ment at Fiume has been suppressed
J by three Austro-Hungarian regiments
i arriving from Albania, according to
. an Kxchange Telegraph dispatch from
' Copenhagen. There was hard street
. lighting at Fiume. in which hundreds
of persons were killed, the dispatch
adds. *
TURKfEACEOFFER
MEANS SURRENDER
By the AaodiM Praa.
LONDON, October 26.?The]
Turkish minister to Switzerland
has handed the British and
French ministers to that country
an offer of peace, virtually
amounting to surrender, accord
ing to a Bern dispatch to the
Daily Mail.
FRENCH PATROLS CROSS
DANUBE TO RUMANIA
PimS October 28.?The war office
report tonight shows that French pa
trols have crossed the Danube river
and Invaded Rumania near Lom Pa
lanka. defeating German detachments
aad taking prisoners.
TURKS NOW AT TABRIZ
TO EVACUATE CITY
The Turkish force occupying Tabris,
Peiala. Is about to evacuate the city,
to a report from Tehren.
J-'-J October 22.
Ik* aamo report states when the
BsMsb evacuated Bate some time ago
It *a* almost thirty-six hours before
tk* 1Mb arrived. In the-meantime
the TMIms had looted aad murdered
USssMnM); and it was tjorti<
that thovssads ef Armenians were
"WE WILL LOYALLY
OECLARESDR. SOLF
German Foreign Secretary
Tells Reichstag President's
Terms Are Accepted.
AGREES TO DISCUSSION OF
ALSACE-LORRAINE CASE
LOKDOST, October 26 The Ger
man government Is not contem
plating at present any further note
to President Wilson, says an Ex
change Telegraph dispatch from
Copenhagen. It Is probable that
the government will make a dec
laration In the reichstag to the ef
fect that Germany Is awaiting the
peace conditions of the allies.
By the Associated Press.
AMSTERDAM, October 26.?"As for
Alsace-Lorraine, it is at once clear
that, as these territories were ex
pressly mentioned among President
Wilson's fourteen points, vye agree to
regulation of these questions," said
Dr. W. S. Solf, German foreign sec
retary. in addressing the reichstag
Thursday. (In the address referred
to President Wilson said that "the
wrong done to France by Prussia in
1S71 in the matter of Alsace-Lor
raine. which has unsettled the peace
of the world for nearly fifty years,
should be righted.")
"Moreover, having accepted Presi
dent Wilson's program as the basis
of the entire peace work," Dr. Solf
continued, "we will loyally and in the
sense of complete justice and fairness
fulfill the program in all directions
and at all points."
LONDON, October 25.?Dr. Solf, the
German foreign secretary, speaking in
the reichstag Thursday, according to
an Exchange Telegraph dispatch tnm
Copenhagen. ,Mio . - governmant
would continue, tho reforms ,&U?pin
undertaken in the government of A?
sace-Lorralne, but would, not antici
pate the solution of that problem. -
The foreign secretary contended that
Polish annexation demands were not
in accordance with the peace program
of President Wilson.
'
| "Purely German Question."
BASEL, Switzerland, October 2t.?
The question of Alsace-Lorraine is
purely a German internal question,
declares Kart Hauss, the new gover
nor of Alsace-Lorraine, .in a state
ment published in the Strassburg Ga
zette. The statement is a reply to
declarations made in the reichstag"~by
Dr. Georg Ricklin. a deputy from Al
sace-Lorraine. and amounts to a gov
ernmental manifesto. It is issued in
agreement 'With other deputies from
Alsace-Lorraine.
The statement of Herr Hauss de
clares that the future of Alsace-Lor
raine must be decided by vote of the
population and that it is an internal
question in Germany with which a
peace conference could have nothing
to tio. It concludes by saying that a
new era is opening for Alsace-Lor
raine. which will enable the two
provinces to form a point of recon
ciliation between France and Ger
many "and to collaborate in establish
ing a compromise between two civili
zations called to work in common for
the safety and prosperity of human
German Feeling- Divided.
BERN, Friday, October 25. The
feeling in Germany in regard to
President Wilson's new note appar
ently is much divided. The conserva
tive. military and junker papers on
the one side are crying that the
President intends to subjugate and
annihilate Germany. The liberal pa
pers on the other side express ap
preciation of the President's effort
toward world-wide pacification
The reactionary elements are strug
gling desperately for their tradi
tional privileges and traditions, but
?e!r.?PI!??ent,8 . express confidence
that the liberals in the reichstag and
the government are sufficiently pow
erfu' to master them. The vote of
confidence in the reichstag is regard
ed as favorable to the liberal cause
and peace.
German Press Comment.
AMSTERDAM, October 2?.?Although
the Gennan newspapers are not satis
fied with President Wilson's latest
note., many of them say that it mean*
progress toward peace. This feeling
uas reflected in operations yesterdav
?"> Berlin stock exchlnge in an
advance in prices.
The Kreuz Zeitung of Berlin, how
ever. apparently does not look for an
early ending of the war. This news"
paper, which hitherto has refrained
from opposing President Wilson's de
mand, advocates war to the end It
says the President "in the style of an
American boxer has posed himself for
a last blow in the face of the German
hU tot??ona with
Condemns Vote Generally.
COPENHAGEN. October H^-Wlth
few exoeptlons the German pi mis con
demns President Wilson's latest note."
saying it is an alteration of hta former
standpoint and betrays lack of oon?
prehension of recent events In Ger
minY J"* TeU *? misconstruction of
what has happened there. It Is also
said the note represents a concession
tV.h?Jem^d.!<>f the ?>??<? nations.
Theodor Wolff, writing in the Tages
blatt of Berlin, expresses great dis
appointment. He says it always has
been a principle of international aN
fairs not to interfere with the inter
nal problems of other nationa Presi
dent Wilson recognized thta. he con
tinues. In his Mexican speech in June,
1916, but now, Herr Wolff declarer
thishas been forgotten. He adds:
?The peace which the President im
poses Is to-be a peace placing Germany
at the mercy of its oppoMataTpraaU
dent Wilson's Policy is one of brutal
We- must be prepared far whatever
5-CENT CAR FARES
GRANTED TO BOTH
LINES IN DISTRICT
Six Tickets for a Quarter
Plan Is Abolished by Public
Utilities Commission.
QUESTION OF TRANSFERS
WILL COME UP LATER
Both Companies Claimed That They
Were Operating at a Los* Under
the Old System.
Six street car tickets for a
quarter passed into history in
Washington this morning.
The Public Utilities Commis
sion issued an order, operative
at once, abolishing street car
tickets and granting the petition
of the street railway companies
for a straight five-cent fare.
The order was Issued upon an un
derstanding between the Public Util
ities Commission and the managements
of the street car lines that transfers
between cars of the Washington Rail,
way and Electric Company and the
Capital Traction Company, and vice
versa, shall be issued at certain points
to be determined upon later by the
Public Utilities Commission.
A hearing of the petition of the
navy yard employes to consider In
tercompany transfers in the navy
yard section has been fixed by the
commission for November 7.
Mr. Brownlow's Statement.
Commissioner Louis Brownlow,
chairman of the District Board of
Commissioners and chairman of the
Public UtiliUes Commission, made the
announcement this morning. He Is
sued the following statement in con
nection with the decision:
The Public Utilities Commission to
day Issued an order, effective at once,
abolishing the present street car fare
of six tickets for a quarter and estab
lishing the straight five-cent fare.
This order-is issued upon the con
dition that Intercompany transfers
shall be given at such palate in the
Washington Railway and Electric
hereafter1 by the commission.
A hearing to consider intercompany
transfer* for the navy yard section
Itwas fixed, for November 7."
Companies' Claimed Iiosses.
For a long period this matter has
beeh under consideration by the Pub
lic Utilities Commission, having been
brought to them by thi managements
of the street car companies. They
alleged that the street car companies
were operating at a loss and that un
less relief was granted by advancing
the fares to a straight 5 cents the
lines would have to be operated at a
lews and face bankruptcy.
It was pointed out through figures
taken from the operating accounts of
a large number of traction companies
in the large cities that these concerns
were being operated at a loss, in sub-'
stantiation of their claim that it waa
necessary for the proper and success
ful operation of the lines in Wash
ington that the six tickets for a quar
ter be discontinued and the five-cent
fare substituted therefor.
The Public UUliUes Commission made
a thorough Investigation into the
claims of the traction companies, cov
ering a wide scop? of territory, in
cluding all of the principal cities of
the country, taking into consideration
the claim of advances in cost of labor
and in all classes of material uBed in
the operation of street'car lines.
Several public hearings on the sub
ject were held by the Commission
ers, and a wide correspondence has
passed between the commission and
{ individuals, corporations and citi
?ens' associations protesting against
such a policy on the part of the com
mission. Several of the citizens' as
sociation and other civic bodies fa
vored abolition of the six tickets
for a quarter, with the provision for
universal transfers at all junction
? points. Arguments pro and con were
passed up to the Public Utilities Com
mission 'ram many sources, most of
the arguments being againat the
proposition.
Argument Against Change.
One of the strong arguments made
against the proposed granting of the
petition was that during a period of
mors than three years neither of the
street car companies operating in the
Ditsrlot had 'expended much for new
equipment, and that the service in
the city was inefficient and away be
low the requirements to transport
the population of the city.
Commissioner Brownlow said that
the matter of fixing the points for the
intercompany transfers was still
being discussed and would be de
cided at an early date. It has been
Intimated that transfers between the
companies at the* downtown points
of oongestlon will be considered. One
point that seems deedded upon is
transfers between the two companies
at 8th street and Pennsylvania ave
nue southeast.
EOT EWEl MID
Aviators to Drop Plans Tonight
and Searchlights Will Try
to Locate Planet,
Washington tonight will experience
the feeling that accompanies a night
air raid. Aviators from Boiling Field,
including three aviation officers who
recently completed a flight from
Houston. Tex., to Washington. will
fly over the city.
High candlepower flares will he
dropped while the powerful search
lights which are a portion of the
capital's aerial defense will attempt
to pick out the' planes. Only the ex-,
plosion of ..bombs And. the barking
of aaH-alreraft guns will be *"l?-l"g
to gtre residents of the tmSrlcan
capital the feeling that until recently
was not uncommon to persons ltving
in the allied capitals of London ana
MRS. ELLA F. YOUNG
DIES OF INFLUENZA
Former Superintendent of
Chicago Public Schools Suc
cumbs in This City.
NOTED WOMAN EDUCATOR
Bm8. ELLA FLAGG YOUNG.
Mrs. Ella Flag? Young; of Chicago, a
member of the national women's lib
erty loan committee, formerly super
intendent of the Chicago public
schools and the only woman in the
country to hold such an office among
the largest cities, died this morning
at 9:30 o'clock at the Chatham apart,
ments of Influenza.'' after an Illness of
ten days.
Mrs. Young had finished a speaking
tour for the fourth liberty loan, hay
ing visited Montana, Wyoming and
Utah. A week ago Thursday she
came to Washington fromUtah with
her secretary. Miss Laura Brayton.
She was then suffering from influenza,
and since that time' had. been con
fined to her apartment with the dis
ease. Miss Brayton, who had been
her secretary for thirty years, was
present when she died. (Mrs. Young
was seventy-three years old.
Prominent Among Educators.
Mrs. Young was one of the best
known amongt woman educators in
the United States. She was a leader of
progressive ideas, to which she de
voted more than fifty years of her
life. In 1*09, from a list of six can
didates, five of whom were man edu
cators of -national reputation, she
was chosen to head the Chicago
public schools. ....... , . .
' For fdur years she was head of the
Chicago schools and during that pe
riod was the target of political at
tacks, the fight reaching to the depths
of city politics. While her regime was
stormy because of powerful opposi
tion, she usually carried her point, and
her history during those days is most
interesting. * She resigned in 1913 and
was succeeded by John D. Shoop, who
died recently. '
While head of the Chicago schools
she inaugurated many reforms, among
them being the teaching of sex hy
giene, the enlargement of the kinder
garten course, an increase in the scope
of the vocational training department
and simplification of the curriculum of
the primary grades.
Tenders Her Resignation.
Ber resignation resulted when' the
Chicago school board planned to oust
ber as superintendent. She anticipated
the move and submitted her resigna
tion. The Chicago public appealed to
Mayor Bairison to have her withdraw
ber resignation and return to her
duties, although she then was nearly
seventy .pears old. Mrs. Young de
clined usftas her enemies on the board
retired^Bayor Harrison was obliged
to accept the resignation of five trus
tees MTore Mrs. Young would again
assume her official duties.
Works Untiringly for Loan. -
She became a member of the national
women's liberty loan committee and
works* untiringly for the success of
the loans. Her-first move w^en she
became affiliated , with the committee
?m to show her patriotism for the
caoSe by Investing almost all her hold
ings in liberty bonds. She was author
of a text "fcook during the third liberty
losta that was of - extreme, educational
value ti> the general public. The book
-isxm. i
"LEAVETOEXTEHO"
Heflin Inserted President's
Appeal to Nation in
the Record.
A political wrangle. provoked by
the Irregular Insertion In the Con
gressional Record of President
son's appeal for the election o
democratic Congress, and cul"'nJLt"
ing in the making by Representative
Heflin of the point of "no *uo??
threatened for a time today to block
final action by the House on the six
blllion-doUar military deficiency bill
Delay on the bill, however, was averted
after Representative Cannon of Illinois, i
{saiagsau ?
?'ixos?' Aetttr
norlty Leader Glllett'charged that Rep
resentative Heflin. under leave to ex- ,
Wnratic congressional committee. R?P i
liven ^no^xt^nf
stricken from the Record. j
Speaker Makes Ruling. [
Speaker Clark said the rule of the j
House is that under leave to print
no member can Insert anything that
happens after the date on which the
l8RepresMitaS?e^S*eflin s^d that d?
?5 neve^een'tSs 'auesUon^ught
? Representative GUlett responded
SSSSS-"^
s",?rr ?.r?"s stst
motion was put to strike, out any
matter inserted by any mem
11? under leave to extend his re
marks.
Balses Point of "No Quorum."
Representative Heflin said in order
to prevent the republican side from
stopping this ^"er^ng
people in th ^ int of no quorum.
WHun' the House seemed blocked in
to get consideration for the
urgent deficiency bill. Representative
cLnnon got unanimous consent to ad
cannou b Every word or his
^f/ch was oharged with human in
terest and patriotic seal to support
ihe boys in the trenches.
it Z same time, it was an effec
the earn ech from the repub
iwn viewpoint. Representative Can
nn reviewed the "gentleman s agree
2r\V'_ S?t carrying appropriation for
?hot"nd shell, clothing and sustenance
for thesoldiers, ships to transport men.
mHe emph?^Ptheefact that thlsim
T,"?ttve war business in support of
SBa%B5SSt'1 ?
Mr. Cannon's Bequest Granted.
R?P,rrSrurt co'ns^r^whicS "was
unanimous entire-disagreement
Se held in abeyance unUl the ap
v?,i?n bill could be considered.
After that) be -aM. if the gentleman
^ ? Alabama did not feel disposed
toask^inanlmous consent to have the
".Hnnable part of his extension in
the lScorfl printed as of this date, he
S5d^Sm?elf would ask such per
severation of the conference re
port was then begun. _ ^
SI8K LIVES DAILY TO COOK.
Three Y. M. C. A. Women Fry
Doughnuts While Under Fire.
NEW YORK. October 26.?Three
American T. M. C. A. ~?men have
worked under fire in the open, frying
10.000 doughnuts a day for the
victorious American troops through
out this week, a cable to the United
?War Work Campaign headquarters,
made public here announces.
The women. are Mary Bray.
vt f Mary HolHday, Indlan
tod- and Ida. Edith Knowles.
SKiiSt, Arls. The work was done
open bonfire, and when re?
suppMe* ran short skillful sub
stitutions war* ?*?
INFLUENZA KEEPS
0
Churches and Theaters to Re
main Closed as Epi
demic Abates.
COMMISSIONERS' STAND
Washington churches win not be open
for services tomorrow, notwithstand
ing that the Influenza epidemic is
abating in the District.
Neither will the ban placed on mo
jtlon picture and other theaters and
all other places of publio gathering
% IP*4 ...
" Strong pleas Offi
cer WUUan*,- C..
General Blue this morning by a dele
gation representing the churches of
the city were unavailing. The mem
bers of the delegation were told that
until the health authorities feel fully
assured that all danger of the spread
of Infection through large public
gatherings has disappeared the ban
I will not be lifted. .. >
Following the conference with the
-fninisterfcal delegation, Dr. Fowler
conferred with the Commissioners,
after which the following order was
given out by Commissioner Brownlow,
as chairman of the board:
Commissioners' Statement.
The Commissioners today consid
ered the question of the churches
opening for services tomorrow. They
sought the advice of the health officer
of the District of Columbia, who in
formed them that. In his opinion. It
would not be safe to permit the hold
ing of services In the churches at this
^"Through the health officer thQ?
also sought the advice oftheoffice
of the United Statee public health
service, and that office emphatically
confirmed the opinion of the health
0<"The Commissioners do not desire
to interfere any longer than is made
necessary by unusual conditions
with the reg?Uar assemblage of the
people in their churches. They lis
tened with sympathy to the repre
sentations made on behalf of the
churches, but in view of the em
phatic opinions of the District and
federal health authorities, they re
gret that at this time they are un
able to modify their1 former action.
"The Commissioners say that no
action looking to the opening of the
churches, theaters and moving pic
ture houses and the removing of. the
general ban against places of pub
lic gatherings will be taken until
auch time as the health authorities
Think it would be wise to do so and
so recommend to them.
Mew Cases Decreased.
New ?ia?s of influensa reported -to
the District health department for the
twenty?four-hotir period ending at
noon today numbered 402, a decrease
of eighty-two cases as reported for
the twenty-four-hour period preced
ing. New cases, it was stated, appear
to be of a milder type than prevailed
during the height of the. epidemic:
There were thirty-four deaths from
influenza for the twenty-four-hour
period ending at noon today. This is
an increase of twelve deaths over the
twenty-four-hour petiod ending at
noon yesterday The small increase is
not looked upon by the health authori
ties with alarm. On the contrary,
both Helth Officer Fowler of the Dis
trict health department and Surgeon
IH. S. Mustard of the United States
public health service, working Jointly
with the local health department in
combating the contagion, are of
opinion that the line on the chart In
dicating the rise and fall of fatalities
from the disease will fluctuate for
several days before it will settle to
a steady falling.
Instead of being discouraged both
health officers feel encouraged at con
ditions as they find them today. Bear
ing out this opinion of the fluctuatlngs,
it is recalled that there was a decrease
of twenty-seven deaths yesterday as
compared with the previous period.
Meetings All Demands.
Dr Mustard said this morning that
his branch of the service was meeting
all demands for physicians and nurses,
and In a measure automobile service
in the transportation of physicians and
nurses to the homes of the sick on
calL
He however, said that he could dm
more nurses, trained and untrained
and a large number of additional au
tomobiles and would be pleased t?
have volunteers In that work. . ?
"We are working Jointly with the
District health department' and tyre
is a unity of -co-operation andwtfare
producing result*, and very satisfac
tory remits at. that. The Joint ef
forts of the two services have made it
T"
f i i -''r f8Sf
FRENCH DENT FOE I
UNE AS BRITISH
SMASH FORWARD
German Losses in Jour Days'
Fighting Placed at50,000
and 200 Guns.
GEN. DIAZ'S ARMIES IN ITALY
MAY DIVIDE AUSTRIANS
By the AnaeUtcd Pre**.
French troops facing the southern bulwark of the German
defenses in France continued to make important dents in the
enemy positions along the Serre and eastward, while the British
hammer at the pivotal point around Valencicnnes.
Southwest of Marie the French have captured Mortieres on
the Serre, while farther east in the region southeast of Montcornet
Gen, Petain's men have smashed through the German lines on a
front of four and one-half miles to a depth of two miles at certain
points. The German defenses here were formidable, having been
prepared in 1917 and continuously reinforced.
In the last four days the Germans have lost nearly 15,000
prisoners and 200 guns, according to unofficial estimates in Paris. *
The enemy losses in effectives are declared to have been not less .
than 50,000.
While the British, French and Americans are slowly breaking
their way through the stubborn German defense along the line
south of Valenciennes, the attention of the allied world is directed,
for the moment, at least, to the Italian front, where Gen. Diaz
seems to have started a major operation.
This stroke was aimed at the angle in the Austrian line which
runs from the Adriatic along the Piave until it reaches the moun
tains, and then turns to the west. If the allied attack makes ma
terial progress the Austrian armies on the lowlands near the sea
and those holding the front in the mountainous sector may be
divided. ^
FRENCH ADVANCE TWO MILES;
ftAWMORTIFR S ON SERRE FRONT
B 7 the Associated Fna.
PARIS, October 26.?On the Serre
front southwest of Marie the French
have captured the village of Mortiers
after violent fighting, the war office
announces. Between the Oise and the
Serre the French maintain contact
with the enemy.
Between Sissonne and Chateau Por
cien the French, breaking up the
enemy resistance, carried their line
forward on a front of four and one
half miles to a depth of two miles at
certain points, through tfte positions
prepared by the Germans In 1917.
Xeet Stout Resistance.
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
FRANCE. October 25 (by the Asso
ciated Press).?Gen. Debeney*s attack
betweeq Mont D'Origny and the val
ley of the Serre is meeting with very
stout resistance. The battle was rag
ing again fiercely this morning around
Villers-Le-Sec, which was occupied by
the French troops.
The Germans have brought op three
fresh divisions to this sector in the
past few days, and appear determined
to dispute possession of every foot of
ground. They are particularly fa
vored by the character of the terrain,
which is very broken, furnishing
strong natural obstacles which the
enemy has utilized to the utmost by
adding field fortifications upon which
they have been working the past four
weeks.
The position Gen. Debeney's men are
attacking from Ribecourt southeast,
to the valley of the Serre is called the
Herrman position by the Germans.
Considerable of its general character
istics has been learned from captured
orders and reports of aviators. This
is not supposed to have the same
strength as the Hindenhurg line, hut
is sufficiently strong to permit of a
stout defense. Behind this line, again,
there is an extension of the Hunding
position in front of Guise, to "which
the Germans 110 doubt will retire when
the present battle is finished.
Use Artificial Floods.
In the valley of the Oise the Ger
mans have formidably strengthened
the natural defenses by artificial
floods from the region of Guise south
ward to La Fere. Dams prepared long
ago for use in the eventuality of a
retreat have enabled the Germans to
divert the waters of the Oise and
spread them through the valley. They
also have another water line In the
valley of the Serre to protect their
present positioneL
In spite of the formidable obstacles
encountered and almost constant
service in the fighting line for the past
three months, the forces of Gen.
Debeney continue to forge ahead and
will soon have driven the enemy back
upon the old battlefields ot the retreat
from Charlerol in 1914. The Germans
arc expected to make a stand around
Guise, where the French held them up
for a short time during their march
to the Marne.
HAIG ONJJE QUESNOY OUTSKIRTS;
VALENCIENNES BEING BOTTLED
By the Artoclited Press.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY, IN
FRANCE AND FLANDERS. October 25.
?The British troops tonight were on
the outskirts of Le Quesnoy, having
driven forward across the Le Quesnoy
Valenclennes railway after heavy light
ing.
The enemy appears to have retreated
from a considerable .portion of the
ground in this zone.
British patrols late today, were operat
ing in the Le Quesnoy region, while
British infantry had reached .the high
ground north of Maresches and were at
tacking the German positions there.
Today's advance greatly increases the
menace to the Germans holding Valen
ciennes. which is rapidly being bot
tled up.
If a Hne were drawn through the
positions now held by Gen. Home's
army on the north and Gen. Byng's
forces on the south It would pass
well to the east of Valenciennes.
Should the British continue their for
ward pressure, as it has been pressed
for the past three days, the enemy
will be forced to evacuate Valen
ciennes very shortly.
When the British attacked this
morning they held Vendegies and the
high ground east of that place. From
these points they drove off before
daylight Into the ridge country north
and east.
The British second army, attacking
In conjunction with the French on
the north battle front, fought its way
steadily forward in the face of heavy
artillery fire and captured Moen. in
Flanders. The French are reported
to be making good progress on the
British left. ? ..
BRITISH CONTINUE GAINS NORTH
AND SOUTH OF VALENCIENNES
Br the Associated Pica.
LONDON. October 21.?The British
continue to press forward between
Valenciennes and Tournal, Field Mar
shal Hals announces. They have cap
tured the villages of Odomes and
Maulde on the front north of Valen
ciennes.
South of Valenciennes the British
have rained "new successes on the
borders of the Normal forest, captur
ing Mount Carmel hiU and Englefon
t&ine. ?
British patrols have progressed
north of the railway between Val
enciennes and Le Quesnoy.
9,000 Prisoner* Taken.
LONDON. October IS.?Nine thou
sand Germans have been made pris
oner and ISO guns have been captured
by the British in t{Mr attack against
the Germans. ucorCu to Field Mar
shal Half's communication issued to
night.
, Qmi iHoih 1b
develop favorably, according to an of
ficial statement issued at the war of
fice tonight, which says the FYenoh
have carried Zulte, in spite of des
perate resistance, while the British
have occupied the villages of Ingoy
heim and Ooteghem and are advanc
ing toward the Scheldt river.
Kay Fa,ll Back to Meuse.
The Germans In their withdrawal
movement have not yet reached the
line of Antwerp-Brussels-Xamur. but
it does not seem probable that they
will halt there when the line is reach
ed, but will continue the retirement
to the line of the Meuse. The Ant
werp line presents few naturaf fea
tures for defense, and the Germans
have not constructed extensive de
fenses along it
However, the Germans must retire
to a shorter line. Their reserves are
exhausted and the tiard pressed ar
mies must have a breathing space.
Ia the last few weeks the German
high command has not been able to
maintain a fresh reserve of more
than thi*ee or four divisions. , ..
The internal condition of ihe
airmy also la nana too