Evening star. [volume], November 03, 1918, Image 1

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

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WEATHEK.
Mr and slightly wanner today; to
morrow fair.
Temperature for Iwouty-foor hour*
ending 10 p.m. last night: Highest, 60;
lowest, 40.
WASHINGTON, D. C., SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 3,. 1918 ?
TRAIN DECAPITATES *
IWO IN MOTOR CAR
AT GRADECROSSING
Capt. Robinson, U. S. M. C.,
and Mrs. May Padgett
^ 33eet Death at Hyattsville.
WATCHMAN ON DUTY
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
Safety Gates Hot Down?Officer a
\ Hew York Man?Companion
' ?! lived at 826 14th Street.
I Two persons were instantly killed
I at the crossing of Johnson and
f Maryland avenues and the Balti
| more and Ohio railroad, in Hyatts
' ville, a few minutes after 10 o'clock
last night when train No. 17, an ex
press from Baltimore, struck the
touring car in which they were
driving.
Capt. Philip Brooke Robinson,
U. S. M. C, of 45 East 84th street,
New York, was one of the victims.
Capt. Robinson was identified by
means of a New \ork automobile
registration and identification <;ard
?found in his pocket.
His companion was identified as
Mrs. May Padgett by means
of a post ? card photograph
bearing the address 826 14th street
northwest, and a sales slip made
out yesterday by a local department
store in the name of Mrs. May
Padgett, the address being the same.
Both Victims Decapitated.
Both of the victims were decapi
tated. the young woman's head being
found seventy-five feet from the
crossing, while the head of Capt. Rob
inson was twenty-five feet away.
Witnesses of the accident say the
safety gates at the crossing were up.
The watchman on duty, Ed Kite, a re
lief man. was taken into custody by
Deputy Sheriff Garrison and locked up
to the Bladensburg jail.
The machine in which Capt. Robin
son and his companion were driving,
a Paige touring car, was demolished,
?tt, machine bore a New York license
tax.
r Coroner's Inquest Tomorrow.
Immediately after the accident a
coroner's Jury was impaneled and an
inquest Is to be held at 8 o'clock to
morrow evening. The jury is com
posed or M. G. Dutrow, foreman;
George N. Bowen, jr.; K. A. King, Al
len M. Knight, G. T. Mcllahon, W. S.
i Dutrow, Charles S. Richardson, J. D.
! Briscoe. G. Hodges Carr, o b. Dutrow, :
C. O. Appleman and Dwight W. Ga'L
It is believed Capt. Rooinson and his
companion had been in l>a.itimore and ;
were returning to this city when the :
accident occurred. The machine ap- ;
Broached the crossing at a moderate
speed, according to witnesses. As the ,
gates were up, indicating a ^le*'r :
track the machine did not slow up.
Apparently the occupants of the ma
chine did not hear the train, which ,
-was ctuning into the city at express ^
tpeed. j
Auto Hit Squarely by Train.
The automobile was squarely on the
crossing when it was struck and re
duced to a pile of junk. Capt. Robin- .
^n and his companion were caught
under the wheels of the engine and j
were borne some distance. I
Capt. Robinson had been on duty at j
the Navy annex here for some time. |
At the Navy Department last night it
was stated he was married and. lived
with his wife at 1812 Riggs place
northwest. He was about forty years
old.
jgrs. Padgett Lived, on 14th Street.
Mrs. May Padgett roomed with her
mother. Mrs. Mattie May Kirkley. at
?26 14th street northwest. She was
iwenty-six years old and was separat
ed from her husband, Ernest D. Pad
gett. to whom she was married" ten
"ears ago. A boy eight years old lives
with the father in Anacostia. Mrs.
Padgett had been employed as a tele
phone operator at the Chevy Chase
Club for about four months. Prior to
that she had worked in New York, it
was stated at the 14th street address.
The crossing at whicli the fatal ac
cident occurred has been the scene of
other fatalities In the last few years.
About a year ago two persons were
iriiithere wnen a B. & O. train
struck the vehicle in which they were
riding. Hyattsville residents for a
long while have been endeavoring to
compel the railroad to make adequate
safety provisions at the crossing, but
the efforts have borne no fruit.
FRANK KNOTTS, HOSTAGE,
OUT OF BANDITS' HANDS
American THTntng Engineer, Who
Was Held by Villa Follow
ers, Is Released.
EL PASO, Tex., November 2.?A re
port was received here tonight that
hYank Knotts, the American mining
engineer, who was being held as a
hootace by Eplfanio Holguin's Villa
followers near Villa Ahumada, Chi
huahua, was released today and had
prrtred at Villa Ahumada, eighty-three
miles south of here.
Knotts, D. B. Smith and Amnion
Tinner, a Mormon, were seized by Hol
eruin and a ransom of $50,000 was de
manded for their release. Smith and
Tlnaey were liberated to obtain the
ransom money, but Smith and E. P.
Trailer, who interceded in behalf of
Knotts, were arrested by Mexican fed
eral soldiers.
They were taken to Chihuahua City
under guard on a charge of aiding
the enemies of the government. Rep
resentations to the State Department
liave been made for the release of
Smith and Fuller. Knotts Is expected
to reach the border tomorrow. It is
net kavra whether the ransom money
Shortest and Bitterest Clash
of Great Parties Ends
Tomorrow.
PRONOUNCEMENTS GIVE
VOTERS A DIZZY WEEK
Situation in Debatable Congres
sional Districts Arouses
Great Interest.
BY DT. O. MESSENGER.
Tomorrow night will bring to a close
a political campaign unique In the his
tory of this country as being the short
! est campaign ever waged, and at the
same time one of the bitterest In point
1 of partisan intensity aroused. Fewer
I speeches will have been made than in
I any previous contest, yet It would be
difficult to recall one In which a greater
volume of vitriolic statement emanat
ing from prominent personages has been
circulated through the public press.
The "open season" for politics com
menced after the close of the liberty
bond campaign two weeks ago, having
been deferred by mutual agreement
during the progress of that patriotic
endeavor. * The white-he^t stage of
I politics, however, began with the Presi
dent's appeal to the voters for a demo
: cratic Congress, issued a week ago last
! Friday.
President Created Sensation.
While it had been expected that the
; President would take a hand In the
political game by appealing for support
of certain individuals and probably, in
veighing personally against others, a
profound political sensation was occa
sioned by the course he pursued of
making the republicans charged, a
broadside indictment of republicans
countrywide and practically drawing a
line of patriotic demarkation between
them and democrats.
Then the trouble started. Such men
as Taft, Hughes and Roosevelt voiced
quick and hot resentment of the in
ference they drew from the Presi
dent's language, and were followed
by the campaign managers of high
and lesser degree, with expressions
of like tenor from republican leaders
in Congress.
"Topliners" Beply.
Immediately the "topliners" in the
democratic party came back with re
iteration of the President's appeal and
with elaboration of his argument*
trimmed out with all the adornments
of political animadversion they could
bring to mind at the moment. Mem
bers of the cabinet, such as Secretaries
Daniels, Lane, Wilson, Redfleld, Hous
ton and Postmaster General Burleson,
Vice President Marshall, the campaign
managers, former Ambassador Gerard
and officials of minor rank in the ad
ministration, together with big men
on Capitol Hill, came out with state
ments or in speeches backing up the
President's appeal.
An interesting feature of the out
come of the President's appeal was
the signing of a joint protest against
his action by Theodore Roosevelt and
| W liiam H. Taft. factional opponents
?within the republican party for yearsi
This was taken to bo a conclusive
sign of reconciliation of these men,
an augury of harmony between the
progressives and regulars in the re
publican ranks?at least for this oc
casion.
Dizzy Week for Voters.
It was a dizzy week, no doubt, for
the average voter without hard
shell political predilections, trying to
get his political bonnet on straight
before\ sallying forth to the polls next
Tuesday, if re sought to assimilate
all the charges and counter charges,
allegations and refutations which the
politicians fed him.
By this time the campaign is
"made." the "eyes are set" and people
probably can stop and catoh their
breath in the whirlwind which has
howled around them, unless, as was
freely rumored in political circles
yesterday, another and an eleventh
hour statement may come from an
exalted source.
Tuesday's elections are of national
and country-wide scope. Thirty-nine
United States Senators and 431 mem
bers of the House of Representatives
will be chosen. Maine having in last
September elected one senator and
four representatives without chang
ing the political complexion of the
delegation in Congress.
Present Party Divisions.
The present division of the parties
? in the Senate is, democrats, 52; re
publicans, 44; necessary to control,
49. In the House, democrats, 215;
republicans, " 209; independents. 11;
necessary to a majority, 218. In the
main the contests throughout the
country are strict party fights be
tween the democrats and republicans,
although in some congressional dis
tricts the republicans and democrats*
have effected fusion on candidates to,
1 oppose the socialists.
Governors will be elected in thirty
one states, some of which will also
choose full or partial state tickets
and legislatures. Prohibition will
l come up at the polls in six states,
anil two states will vote on woman
suffrage. .
The states which will choose gov
i ernors are Alabania, Arizona, Ar
kansas, Colorado, California, Con
necticut, Georgia. Idaho, Iowa, Kan
sas Massachusetts, Michigan, Minne
sota, Nebraska. Nevada. New Ifexlco,
New York, North Dakota. Ohio,
Oklahoma, Oregon. Rhode Island,
South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas,
Vermont, Wisconsin. Wyoming, Penn
sylvania, Tennessee and New Hamp
shire.
Minor Elections.
Minor state officials will be elected
in Delaware, Illinois, Indiana. Ken
tucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana.
North Carolina. Utah and Washing
ton.
The states in which the prohibition
question is to com? up at the polls*
in various forms and suggestions,
are California. Colorado^ Ohio, Wash
ington. Utah and Wyoming. Okla
homa and South Dakota will vote on
woman suffrage.
The campaign for the governorship
In New York attracts this year the
usual attention which affair* political
in the Empire state command. The
republican incumbent. Gov. Whitman,
is running for a third term, and Is
being opposed by a candidate selected
by Tammany, Alfred E. Smith of New
York city, one of the moat popular
democrats in the whole state.
For awhile there was much apathy
in the republican campaign, due to
lack of Interest by one of the repab
lican factions, headed by William
(Continued on Eleventh Pr*? 1
SURRENDER OF HUN
NAVY, WITHDRAWAL
OF ARMIES, IS PLAN
War Council Considers These
Points as Start to Fram
ing Armistice Terms.
ALL MILITARY SUPPLIES
WOULD BETAKEN OVER
Stipulations Probably Beady To
morrow or Tuesday?Germany
Host Accept Without Quibbling.
The supreme war council at Ver
sailles, it was learned today through
diplomatic channels, has under con
sideration, as the starting point in
framing terms of an armistice, pro
posals that Germany be required to
withdraw her armies, without their
military supplies or the loot being
carried from France and Belgium,
to a zone thirty miles to the German
side of the Rhine, and that the en
tire German navy, including sub
marines and the Helgoland fort
resses, be surrendered.
It is possible that the conditions,
when finally agreed upon, may not
emerge from the council in exactly
this degree, but it is believed they
will be no less potent for preserv
ing the military supremacy of the
allies, and at the same time offer
propositions which the Germans
may accept without further fight
ing.
Must Accept In Entirety.
Information coming through the
same sources indicates that the armis
tice terms, as finally agreed upon, may
be made known to the world tomor
row or Tuesday and that they will be
presented to Germany for acceptance
in their entirety or not at all, with
out opportunity for quibbling or trad
ing.
From & military point of view, the
proposal that the German armies be
disarmed and retired thirty miles be
yond the Rhine is classed oniy as tan
tamount to an absolute surrender. It
would not only throw open to the al
lied and American armies many roads
to Berlin itself, but with the surren
der of railway rolling stock deprive
steps to light if they would.
There is some question among mili
tary observers as to whether such
complete terms are really necessary.
Undoubtedly the object sought in pro
posing that the enemy retire thirty
miles behind the Rhine is to destroy
the German inner defense system.
That system is supported by a chain
of fortresses, without which the line
would be untenable, and some military
experts believe it may not be neces
sary to go farther than to demand
the surrender or dismantling of those
forts.
Suggests Establishment of Zone.
The military discussion developed by
the proposals brings a suggestion that
a wide sone might be established
within tre boarders of Germany from
which the armed forces of both sides
might be withdrawn until peace
treaties finally have fixed new bound
aries. The French and Belgian fron
tiers are expected to be reoccupied by
the allied armies, but it might develop
that as the German forces would be
required to fall back, the German
frontier provinces might be left un
occupied in a military sense.
It seems certain to military experts
here, however, that the terms will in
clude the surrender of the Metz for
tifications and such of the Rhine fort
resses as will clear the way for mili
tary invasion of Germany to an extent
making resistance futile.
President Wilson continued yester
day to keep in close touch with the
war council at Versailles through his
personal representative, Col. House.
No one In Washington outside of the
inner official circle knows the exact
extent of CoL House's powers, but
they are believed to be very large.
They probably do not go to the extent
of authorizing the conclusion of any
binding agreement for an armistice or
peace without approval of the Presi
dent.
Secrecy Is Deemed Advisable.
It has been, of course, deemed inad
visable to disclose what is going on at
Versailles, certainly not while the
proceedings are still under way and
before the various views of the dele
gates have crystallised into ultimate*
terms to be offered to GeriAany. Aside
from the danger from an open dis
cussion while questions are still un
settled, It Is regarded as discourteous
between nations for one of the par
ties to the conference to make any
disclosure until an agreement had
been reached. It Is even probable
that this rule will govern until the
terms hare been presented to Ger
many.
In some quarters there la a disposi
tion to turn to the Turkish armistice
as affording a likely precedent In
its general principles to the demands
to be made upon Germany, though
there would of necessity be great
variations in the details owing to the
different conditions.
VERSAILlfS CONFEREES
CONTINUE SESSIONS
PARIS, November 2.?The Temps
this afternoon says:
"The chiefs of the allied govern
ments, with their military and naval
colleagues and counselors, are con
tinuing this afternoon at Versailles
from yesterday and the day ' before
their deliberations, at which there are
present, as Is also known. Premier
Veniselos of Greece, Paul Hymans. the
Belgian foreign minister: M. Matsul.
the Japanese ambassador, and M. Vest
nich. the Serbian minister."
WAR'S DEVASTATION.
KIN CAPITAL
OF HUNGARY CLASH
Street Fighting in Progress
Between Bosnians and
Hungarians.
flSZA'S ASSAILANT FREED
By the Associated Prew.
COPENHAGEN, November 2.?The
last telegram received today ,in Ber
lin from Budapest said that sangui
nary street fighting was in progress
between Hungarian and Bosnian
troopa Since then telegraphic and
telephonic communications have
ceased.
Public Demonstrations.
LONDON, November 2.?Budapest la
be flagged, according1 to a German
wireless message received here today,
and many publio demonstrations of
brotherly feeling are ocourring.
Troops sent by the national council
have liberated tVoops which were
looked In barracks by the gendarmes.
Lejtner, who recently attempted to
kill Count Tisza, and who was ar
rested early in October, has been set
free by a mob which raided the prison.
The Vienna grain reserves are vir
tually exhausted. According- to a
Zurich dispatch to the Exchange Tele
graph Company Vienna has only three
days' flour supplies.
Regiments Take Oath.
AMSTERDAM. November 2.?Amid
scenes of the wildest enthusiasm regi
ment after regiment, each with its
commander, is appearing before the
national council at Budapest to take
the oath of allegiance, while high mili
tary officials are calling upon the
council to offer their services, accord
ing to advices received here from the
Hungarian capital. The Danube moni
tor flotilla has acknowledged the
council as the military authority.
The council has been informed of
the appointment of Count Michael
Karolyi, president of the Hungarian
independent party, as premier.
Proclamation to People.
LONDON, November 2.?The Hun
garian national council, according to
a German wireless message picked up
by the British admiralty, has issued
a proclamation to the people of Hun
gary saying:
"People! The soldiers, workers and
citizens haye taken over the power
and the council has met. Democracy
is sacred. In the name of a world's
peace return to work. Soldiers, re
turn to your barracks!"
Demobilization of Czechs.
BASEL, November 2.?The Austrian
chief of staff, a Vienna dispatch
states, has asked the Czech national
council to 'send him a representative
to arrange for the demobilization and
immediate return home of the Czech
soldiers.
Committee of Action in Charge.
AMSTERDAM, November 2.?The
governor of Trieste has handed over
the commune's affairs to the "commit
tee of action," composed of socialists,
national liberals and Slovenes.
German-Augtrian Peace Plans.
AMSTERDAM, November 2.?The
German-Austrian state council, accord
ing to a dispatch from Vienna, has is
sued a proclamation to. the soldiers at
the front, saying that the government
has been taken over by the national
assembly. The assembly will imme
diately conclude peace and begin the
orderly demobilization of the army, the
proclamation declares.
ViennA Pears Disorder?
COPENHAGEN, November 2 (by the
Associated Press).?In the Austrian
capital Thursday the movement in
favor of a republic was still strong,
but no definite decision had been
reached. The people of Vienna, the
correspondent says, appear to be con
tent for the moment with the fact
that the new German-Austrian gov
ernment is exercising all legislative
and executive powers without refer
ence to the emperor.
Some action will soon be necessary,
however, the correspondent adds, be
cause crowds mainta^i a steady vigil
before the parliament buildings, and
some "have a distinctly bolshevik
character."
The Austro-German deputies who
addressed the crowds had the greatest
difficulty in making the soldiers un
derstand that the new government has
n?t the power to bring about peace, but
most await events. Large assemblages
of soldiers were held Thursday evening
in various parts of the city and some
of them "were under the influence of
very radical elements."
The new state council has adopted
the old colors of Battenberg?red,
white and red?for German-Austria.
News from the front reaching VI
" (Continual!
? *
D. C. BOY DESCRIBES
BIG FIVE-DAY DRIVE
Camp Meade Battalion Takes
Part in Heavy Fighting
in France.
Members of the 312th Machine Gun
Battalion, composed of the first Dis
trict of Columbia selective service
men to be sent to Camp Meade, re
cently completed a victorious five-day
drive on the western front.
The battalion "came out pretty good,
not many hurt," according to a letter
from Sgrgt. Sidney W. Wellborn just
received by his mother, Mrs. Julia W.
"Wellborn of 1437 Monroe street. His
sister, Miss W. Wellborn, is the "Maj.
Billy" of the provost marshal gen
eral's office, famous throughout the
country for her knowledge of draft
affairs.' '
"Tell BiU she should see this kid
brother of hers do what they call
'digging in,'" Sergt. Wellborn wrote.
"The.five days we were advancing we
had to dig in every night, and yours
truly .was never the last one to get in.
I wish you could have seen us, with
five days' beard and mud about two
inches thick all over us."
Sergt. Wellborn Unhurt.
Sergt. Wellborn received not a
much as a scratch, he said, adding:
"All I got was dirty, and, believe me,
I got that"
If the Washington churches, opened
I today for the first Sunday in several
weeks, owing to the influenza, could
I have the boys of the first-line
trenches in the city, the edifices would
be crowded to the doors with the sol
diers.
"It would do you church people good
to see the way the boys flock to the
churches after coming back from the
front," Sergt. Wellborn writes. 'Wow!
I guess the good Lord does not know
what to make of it. An attack does
surely change a fellow's view of life.
"The weather here is getting pretty
snappy, so that our overcoats are
very much appreciated, and they were
much more than appreciated when we
were in the trenches. Sure is some
class to sleeping in a trench with the
rain beating down on you, but you
may be sure we don't have any trou
ble Bleeping. Any place I lie down
In is my bed, and I can surely sleep."
Sergt. Kelly Slightly Injured.
Serert. Wellborn mentions that Sergt.
"Jack" Kelley, also of this city, got
a little shrapnel in the thumb and
back. "He did not get it until the,
day we were being relieved. He will
be back with his company before
very long."
The two men were chums here, ?nd
were among the first men drafted
from the District, going to Camp
Meade with the first contingent Sep
tember 29, 1917. Sergt. Wellborn was
a member , of Company B and Sergt.
Kelley of Company C. They were
among three men from each com
pany selected to go to France ahead
of their comrades to receive special
training.
"Abdicate Immediately," Demand
of Thousands, Who Storm
Eoyal Palace.
AMSTERDAM, November 2.?Shout
ing "Down' with Wilhelm. ? Abdicate
immediately," a crowd of several thou
sand persons, despite the efforts of
the police to disperse them, succeeded
today in reaching the royal palace at
Stuttgart. Some mounted the palace
rulings, clamoring for the deposi
tion of the emperor, according to the
Weser Gazette. After several scrim
mages and an exchange of shots
mounted police managed to drive the
mob away.
The demonstration was the sequel
of a meeting of independent socialists
at which resolutions were passed de
manding th? establishment of a social
ist republic?
At a meeting of the progressive
party at Munich, Prof. Quidde, a
deputy in the landtag, declared:
.. "The vital interests of the German
people demand the emperor's abdica
tion."
A resolution was adopted demand
ing that the emperor abdicate in or
der to attest to the sincerity of Ger
many's conversion Into a people's
tini-i. ? ?- i
URGES SOLDIERS
MAN STREET CARS
Federation of Citizens' Asso
ciations Sees Use for Men
Unfit for Fighting.
I .
WANTS FREE TRANSFERS
The District Commissioners -will be
asked by the Federation of Citizens'
Associations to apply to the War De
partment for soldiers ?who are unfit
for fighting service to operate the
street cars of Washington.
This recommendation was approved
at the annual meeting' of the federa
tion in the board room of the Dis
trict building last night. The proposal
was made to the federation by Wil
liam MoK. Clayton, chairman ef the
committee on public utilities, who as
serted that the car companies argue
they cannot get enough motormen
and conductors to operate all of their
cars as a reason for the present state
of service.
Against Paying for Transfers.
Mr. Clayton -reviewed the hearings
before the Public Utilities Commission
on the petition of the companies for a
straight five-cent fare. He added that
the issuance of transfers between com
panies at certain crossings to" be desig
nated by the Commissioners will be a
victory for the federation. Mr. Clay
ton said that if any attempt is made
to put a charge of 1 or 2 cents on
these transfers his committee will file
objections.
Charles S. Shreve of the Mid-City As
sociation retired as president of the
federation, ana W. B. Westlake of the
Connecticut Avenue Association was
elected to succeed him. Other officers
elected are: Vice president. George H.
Russell, Park View; treasurer. Georg'e
W. Evans, West End Association, and
secretary, Leland T. Atherton.
J. P. Crawford Beads Report.
J. P. Crawford of the Connecticut
Avenue Association, chairman of the
public health committee, read a report
on the proposition of whether the fed
eral government should after the war
regulate food and fuel. He concluded
with the recommendation that such a
policy would be unwise, and the rec
ommendation was approved.
Revocation of thelicense of produc
ers of milk who live outside of the
District for violation of the health
laws and milk regulations, while the
producer in the District could not be
punished in the same manner, was
disapproved and legislation was rec
ommended that will place Both classes
of producers on the same footing.
Pastuerizing of all milk, keeping
the same in condition prescribed by
J.he health department and the con
trol of the manufacture of butter,
cheese and ice cream by the health
department was favored.
Regulation of the size of the loaf
of bread in one pound or multiples
of a pound and a standard price to
discourage profiteering and the scal
ing of the size of the loaf was favored
in the report.
Mr. Shreve Reviews Work.
Retiring President Charles S. Shreve,
reviewing the work of the federation,
pointed out the activities of the fed
eration that have been acted upon by
Congress, the municipal government
and elsewhere as follows:
Efforts to have repealed the unjust
Borland law; question of adjustment
of water taxation; question of one
railway system only, in the District of
Columbia; free and universal transfers
on said street railways; drafting of a
comprehensive Torrenz land registra
tion law; free text books in the high
schools; for a separate board of
appeals; prevention of carrying fire
artns in District of Columbia, unneces
I sarily; more sanitary appliances in
many of the public schools; policemen
and firemen's pensions and increased
salaries; increased pay for school
teachers; two-platoon system in the
fire department; fostering the rose
growing movement; questions .. of
building zones and unsightly buildings;
movement to enlarge the police force
and fire department; enlarging the mem
bership of the Home' Defense League;
i policy featuring local men for purely
I local offices; to prevent the stealing
of fixtures from houses and punish
ments therefor; the Intangible tax
law. and efforts to have some either
repealed or made more just and
equitable; voted in favor of prohi
bition in the District of Columbia;
favored the arbitration of disputes
between street railways and their em
ployes; most comprehensive investi
gation, review, report and Action in
matter of present existing fire insur
ance rates in the District of Columbia;
took action with other bodies condemn
ing profiteering; considered question of
public ownership of public utilities in,
the District of Columbia, which is still
under consideration; demonstrated, witl;
(coutmueu o.. /. -.unci i*uae.)
? i * * ? ?
AMERICANS PIERCE
LAST HUN DEFENSE
LINE ABOVE VERDUN
Smash On to Average Depth
of 2% Miles on a Front
of Fourteen.
ITALIANS TAKE 80,000 FOES;
HAIG CONTINUES HIS GAINS
By the Associated Press.
WITH THE AMERICAN FORCES NORTHWEST OF VER
DUN, November 2.?The German forces are giving way before
the pressure directed against them by the Americans. The Ger
mans tonight are'in retreat beyond the Freya positions.
More than sixty cannon, scores of 77's, dozens of ISO's, nu
merous howitzers of various calibers and hundreds of machine
guns were captured by the Americans during the advance o?
Friday and Saturday. Vast quantities of ammunition and war
material of all kinds fell into their hands.
Gen. Pershing's forces this afternoon captured Fosse. This
represents an advance of four miles from the starting line through
Bayonville.
The Germans gave little, if any, indication of an impending
retreat until this afternoon. All morning long the Americans on
every part of the front had met with stubborn resistance.
Opposition on Flanks.
The opposition was especially de
termined on the left and right and
the American center had pushed for
ward considerably farther than had
either wing. Though the center had
intended to continue and to attain
its day's objectives, it was apparent
there would soon have to be a pause
If the troops were not to be flanked.
So certain were the military com
manders that the Germans would not
break that the chief .of staff of the
troops in the center belittled the re
port arriving about 2 o'clock this
afternoon that the town of Fosse had
been taken.
One hour later, however, reports be
gan to come thick and fast. The
first showed that resistance against
the American left had unaccountably
ceased. Then came reports indicating
that the right wing wu moving
?hind at marvelous speed.
Resistance Kelts Away.
The first intimation that the enemy
was retreating came from the 4th
French Army, which was advancing to
the northeast. Within a short time
various American units from all parts
of the line announced that they also
were advancing and were finding
the resistance, which was so marked
all morning, melting away on the
right. Even troops in motor trucks
had not been able to catch up with
the enemy.
"The Americans were not slow in
following the advantage on the left
wing, which had met with the most
serious resistance, and began to press
forward immediately In the Bois des
Loges on the heels of the Germans,
clearing up all who lagged behind.
They pushed their line northward for
nearly a mile. Champigneulle, a
strong point in the Freya defense line,
had been taken earlier in the day and
the troops who had rushed in pressed
forward, and swept hrough Verpel,
after partly surrounding the town.
Not Halted by Bain or Mud.
Through rain and mud the Ameri
cans advanced toward Thenorgues. a
mile and a half north of Verpel. The
enemy had been expected to hold
there, for it was a strong position,
but very little resistance was met
when the village was entered.
Troops farther to the right contin
1 ued their victorious inarch and fought
their way beyond Buzancy to Fosse
a strong point nearly seven miles
beyond yesterday's starting point and
two and a hall miles north of Baon
ville.
Last Organized Defenses.
Bayonville is an important strategic
point, known as the heart of the
Freya Stellung. With its capture the
American troops had broken the Ger
man last organized defenses. The
troops on the right, who had been
able to advance only just past Clery
le-Grand yesterday, caught the mys
terious signs of the sudden giving
way of the Germans and pressed
forward and into and passed Clery
le-Petit. They overcame the linger
ing machine gun resistance in Bar
ricourt wood and captured Vlllers
Devant-Dun. Here the enemy launched
a counter attack which failed; then
the Americans moved forward agfcin
and occupied Doulcon.
Depth Of idVUN.
The total advance averages more
than two and one-half miles on a
fourteen-mile front, but was con
siderably greater at points. Nu
merous prisoners and heavy gunt
were taken and the enemy left many
ammunition dumps so hastily that
they could not be destroyed.
At 5 o'clock this evening the Amer
ican advance west of the Meuse had
progressed to a line north of Bolfi
des Doges; northward to west of
Thenorgues; north, northwest of
Buzancy to Fosse: northeast to
Nouart; thence to Villers-Devant-Dun
to one kilometer north of Doulcon
to the Meuse: thence following the
Meuse.
Berlin Admits Reverses.
BRRLIN. November 2, via London
?American divisions, attacking in
dense columns between the Aaisne
and the Meuse, have penetrated the
German positions between Cham
pigneulle and Aincreville. according
to the official statement from general
headquarters today. The Americans
have gained some territory beyond
Bayonville.
A powerful artillery preparation
preceded attacks carried out by the
French and Americans for the pur
pose of securing an opening on the
Aisne.
During the night of Friday Valen
ciennes was evacuated without moles
tation.
ITALIANS NEAR TAGLIAMENTO;
PASS FOE FRONTIER IN TRENTINO
By the Associated Press.
ROME, November 2.?Eighty thou
sand prisoners and 1,600 guns have
been captured in the Italian offensive,
the war office announces.
Italian cavalry is advancing rap
idly toward the Tagliamento and Por
denon, eleven miles west of the Tag
liamento, has been captured.
Northeast of Pordenone the Italians
have passed the Celiina-Meduna river,
six miles west of the Tagliamento.
The Italian 4th Army has ad
vanced northward in the Trentino as
far as the Sugana valley, the Aus
trian frontier being passed Friday
evening.
In the vicinity of Belluno the Ital
ians are pressing up the Cordovole
valley toward Longarone.
Northeast of Feltre Alpine soldiers
have crossed the Piave near Busche.
In the mountains east of Brenta the
Italians continue in pursuit of the
enemy. On the Asiago plateau the
Austrians are resisting, but the Ital
ians have carried the heights of Monte
Cimone and Monte Lisser.
American Operations.
WITH THE ALLIED ARMIES IN
VENETIA, Friday, November 1 (by
the Associated Press).?The 332d
American regiment, which is operat
ing with the 31st Italian division of
the 10th army, tonight vas crossing
the Livenza river in the direction of
Tiezzo. The Americans, who were
commanded by Col. W. M. Wallace,
passed through Roverbasso, southwest
of Sacile, this afternoon.
During their advance the Americans
had been fired upon by Austrian ma
chine guns using dum-dum bullets.
Maj Somerville of Seattle has for
warded a number of the bullets to the
headquarters of the American mili
tary mission. The bullets were manu
factured two years ago and each car
tridge has a steel jacket containing
four square slugs.
The Americans are in pood health.
Gen. Treat, the American com
mander in Italy, today presented to
King Victor Emmanuel a congratula
tory message on the Italian victory
from Ambassador Page.
Forced to Restrain Troops.
ITALIAN HEADQUARTERS EAST
OF THE PIAVE. Friday, November
1.?The reconquest of the northeast
ern section of Italy, lost to the enemy
last year, continues without halt. The
victorious advance has put such fire
into the blood of the Italian soldiers
that their superior officers must re
strain them from rushing into dan
ger unnecessarily.
The pressure of the Italian on the
north of the battlefront east of the
Piave has forced the enemy to con
tinue his hurried retreat.
j The road to Udine is in itself a
battlefield. The double row of high
I poplars along the road has been cut
| to the ground by the Austrian?
bridges have Jieen destroyed and
I trenches dug across the road to hin
Ider the Italian advance. Heaps of
wreckage and the debris of war are
scattered along the road in in
describable confusion. At Intervals
there are long lines of carts, filled
with furniture, clothes and " ether
valuables which the Austrian* fixC
removed from occupied villages, but
which they had been forced to atauo
don.
The Italian soldiers advancing
eastward are the same men who last
November fought a desperate rear
guard action from the Isonxo line
westward, until ther finally stopped
the enemy offensive on the Piave."
These troops now have more than
thirty-five miles of liberated land be
hind them and every mile is strews
with evidences ?f tfce desperate
fighting.
BRITISH FORCES CAPTURE MARLY,
GAINING EAST OF VALENCIENNES
By the Ataselated Pica. ters tonight. The Tillage of lfariy
U)NDON, November ?.?Further In- was captured and British detachment*
portant rains were made by the Brit- entered St Saulve.
ish troops exst of Valenciennes. Field The Anjrlo-F"renoh forces in t'-r-r
?Marshal Haii reports Croa i..i__i?j?a?ei<iaj" iu if! i??ra soaahsA