Arizona republican. [volume], October 27, 1918, Image 1

About Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930

Image provided by: Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records; Phoenix, AZ

                
THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN
AN INDEPENDENT PROGRESSIVE JOURNAL
TWENTY-NINTH YEAR
20 PAGES
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 27, 1918
I'O PAGES
VOL. XXIX., NO. 137
ALLIES CRUSHING VALENCIENNES
A WFUL STORM SINKS BIG LINER
Plunges on Reef Blown Off
And Goes Down In Ter
rible Blizzard Tale Of,
Men, Women And Child
ren 343 Rescue Ships Un
able To Assist Message
Says "No Survivors' '
4 Feet Snow In 40 Hours
republican A. P. Leased Wire
SEXTTLK, Oct. 2fi. Throe hundred
n 1 f. rlv-thrv persons, most of thorn 1
..bound Alaskans and residents of1
: nken t'-rritory, lost their lives
w in tl'e Canadian Pacific Steamship
wvat. s passenger steamer, Princess
.-'ill .1.1, was battered last Thursday by
tonus, dragged across Vandcrbilt reef,
u .1 il.-ejipi d to tho bottom o Lynn
,t ,il nn arm of the Inside passage, not
:r i'ith c-f fckagway, Alaska.
' No survivors," rend a wireless mes-t-"l;iy
from Juneau, Alaska, telling
. f tde loss.
Shipping men tonight said the loss
:' the Sophia with all aboard was the
worst marine disaster In the history
' t!.t; Pacific coast.
Thn vessel, 2,320 tons cross, has been
p ' .lis in western Canadian and south
r.Mrn Alnska waters since she was
! ..it in 1912.
Carried Capacity Load
Lists of passengers and details of the
' k were not available tonight. The
i s. I. it was thought, was carrying a
. i , 'fi ;y load of passengers, nearly all
ii'-'iners, who had taken the last
-.iii.lioat up the Yukon river, before
c i'C, and bad boarded the Sophia at
suae way. The passengers were among
'. hundreds who left Alaska this fall,
t. spend the winter in the states and
ir:id.i. They had come as far as White
'i r-e bv river boat, and there had
: ir led trains for the Alaskan port.
Wednesday the heavily loaded Sophia
ft S-kagwsy for Vancouver and Yicto
: i. Not many hours out. she ran into
!' ef the first snowstorms of the year.
! a'!y Thursday, in the dark and storm,
. ran hard aground on Vanderbilt
'ef. Idstress calls were snt out and
V Vnitcd States lighthouse tender,
' ':.vr. the United States government
-r.imer. Peterson, and several small
ats went to her assistance. When
flight came it was found the boat;
a resting easy and the weather calm, j
i It wjis decided not to remove the
assencrs. Word was sent to Van-
miver. and the wrecking steamer, Tees,
s Mi the Canadian Pacific steamer. Prin-
ess Alice, were sent north, the wrecker
t" rvi'.l the Sophia off the reef and the
V :'- to get the passengers. These ships
". an ive t the scene tomorrow.
"No Survivors," Message
T storm sprang tin yesterday and
" . winds w hipped down the long, nar
"ir I.vrn canal with hurricane force.
T' e Sophia, in the path of the gale, was
arded against the rocks. On account
f the danger of stranding, the nearby
ps did not dare go near her. Life
-. .-,:s were Impossible, iilthough the
.-:e :i not many yards away. Last
' :et 'he gale increased in fury and
i . i a''y. w hile many of the passengers
: i t, hfted the steamer up, dragged her
:.s the ieef and sent her to the
; "Tom.
The only definite word from the north
'ts'dlng the wreck came today, when
! Canadian wireless service at Vic-er-.i
puked up the following message
r - i the United States wireless station
m .Tunrau:
' I'l-ii.fws Sophia driven across reef
'-ttiicht. No survivors. Seventy-five
eirw, ;i;s I'assengeis. Everything
!. t'V was done. Terrible weather
"evaded. "
'.intain F. L. Locke was In charge of
cssrl.
Dead Women; Four Boats
I Tl.RIA. It. C.. Oct. 26. The fnit
1 Hates lighthouse tender Cedar made I
t- iir!ioesf'il attempt to get to the j
- ! of tho Sophia after she started to'
' k. according to a wireless message
"" the Cedar, received here tonight
"(be body of one woman and four up-
i-rr.l boats were the only sisns of the
M-.ia b-lt at daylight today.
The message from the Cedar follows:
I". S. S. Cedar, via cable Steamer
'";er.i.le; Ced;r standing by at 7 p. m.,
: h. b'it impossible get near vessel on
r.r-omt cf northerly gales and heavy
"is. About "7 passengers lost. Cedar
;et within 4") yards yesterday, but
-oiors would not hold and sea drove
1r away. Last night Sophia told us
Vit thry were sinking. Cedar made
t .1 r- d to hi r through blinding snow.
::!. but could not tind her. Last
.r.l fr.-m Sophia w.is at 5 o'clock.
N. itviois so far as known. I
"", lar returned to scene of wreck!
..nrlv this morning, forced to anchor'
t.ll da light. At 5:30 o'clock. Kurnside
imported only foremast showing. No1
tn ft wreckage or life. Cedar found!
body cf one woman and four boats up- ;
t irned en Lincoln island, no sign of life.
d,ir st II at scene of wreck. The i
Ki c and Wiuge. a gasojine boat, is still
'i the vicinity also I". S. S. Peterson." i
Two Feet ef Snow in 40 Hours '
.TNKAV. Alaska, Oct. !. Indicative
rf tl-e terrific storm which caused the!
'fimer Princess Sophia to plunge from
kT ro.ky ledge on Vanderbilt reef into
ive waters of Lynn canal, were the i
s'nte-rerts made by officers of the ,
nsd..in Pacific steamer Amy which'
tet .med from the scene of the wreck'
'eterday. The officers said two feet I
cf snow fell in 40 hours and a strong'
northeast wind, then blowing, later de- j
eloping Into the blizzard which was'
ifrnsib!e for the Sophia's heavy loss I
ef life. When the Amy left the Sophia,
'hat vessel was resting for about two- j
thirds ef her length on the rocks of the
irf h: h is four miles west of Sen- I
tiel island and half way between Jun
u and Skagway. The Sophia was then
taking cn water. She was surrounded
bv df p water on both sides, but with
onlv her stern over deep water, it -was
thought there was no danger of the
turarr slhling off the rocks. The reef
b covered, however, at half-tide and
il.e heavy seas had prevented attempts
to take off the passengers.
The Sophia's only freight cargo is
aid to have consisted of 40 horses.
At o'clock last night the last mes
mw from Captain Locke of the Sophia
was revived. Today the government
tnder Cedar, which hnd been standing
bv. reported that only the Sophia's
ir.ts wre vlsiUle. The Cedar remained
in the canal to search for bodies.
Prominent People Victims
SKAC.WAV, Alaska, Oct. 26. Many
(Continued on Toee Twq,
EDadl Ytm S2cp
Au Hour LiEiir
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26. The
American public tonight completed
its first period of "daylight saving"
satsified with the results. Although
officially clocks yere not to be turned
back an hour until 2 o'clock tomor
row morning, for the average citizen
the change of time was made tonight
either by turning back the hands of
time pieces or stopping them before
going to bed.
At the naval observatory all prep
arations had been made tonight for
the change in- time. The clocks at
the observatory, by which the nation
measures time, Were not to be turned
back. Tomorrow at noon the ob
servatory will send out 75th instead
of 60th Meridian time.
By order of Director General Mc
Adoo all trains en route at 2 o'clock
tomorrow will proceed to the nearest
station for a wait of one hour and
then resume their schedule.
Beyond the physical turning back
of clocks and watches the change
scarcely will be noticed by the aver
age American.
E
' Republican A. P. Leased Wire
WASHINGTON', Oct. 26. Use of
vaccines in combating or treating
Spanish Influenza has not gone beyond
the experimental stage, so far as the
United States public health service
has been able to learn. In a statement
tonight, the public health service
warned tho public against any of the
"sure cures." being advocated for the
malady, which according to reports
today is rapidly subsiding In all army
camps and is showing a lessening in
crease in many states among the civil
ian population.
"It must be remembered," said Sur- i
geon-General Blue In a statement to
night, "that several different vaccines
are being tried. The reports received
do not permit any conclusion whatso
ever regarding the efficacy of these
vaccines' or their relative merits. The
public health service is watching the
experiments carefully, but is not urging
any form of vaccine treatment.
Warns Against Alleged "Cures"
"The health service invites the
public to remember that there is
no specific cure for influenza and
that many of the alleged "cures"
and remedies being recommended
by neighbors, nostrum venders and
others, do more harm than good.
The chief reliance must be on
fresh air, nutritious food, plenty of
water and cheerful surroundings."
Reports received today by the public
health service showed the epidemic to
he subsiding in Missouri, Xew Mexico,
Wyoming and Utah.
The reports received from army
camps continued favorable today and
Secretary Baker indicated his belief
that the army medical authorities have
the situation in hand. It was inti
mated by the secretary that the epi
demic will not further delay military
plans to any extent.
The numbers of new cases of In
fluenza reported rom army camps to
the surgeon-general today numbered
l,fi02. in comparison with 2,375 yes
terday. Pneumonia cases decreased
from 500 yesterday to ?M today. Deaths
reported today were 20ft in compari
son with 241 yesterday. Only two
camps, Cody, X. M., and Kearny, Cal..
reported more than 100 new cases of
Influenza.
TEXAS
KI, PASO, Oct. 26. Department
stores, shops and all other mercantile
establishments were restricted to 23
shoppers at one time tonight., by order
of the city board of health. This or
der was issued late today by the health
(Continued on Tage Two)
PUBL C S WARNED
II 1
BY HEALTH SERVIC
CONGRESS LISTENS
AS MEMBERS HURL
ACRID ACCUSATIONS
WASHINGTON-. Oct. 26. Issuing
of pre-election statements was Con
tinued today by democratic and re
publican leaders and campaign com
.mittees. Representative Ferris of Oklaho
ma, chairman of the democratic na
tional congressional campaign com
mittee, in a "statement tonight,
charges that republican leaders, in
answering the appeal of President
Wilson to his fellow countrymen, re
sorted "to generalities, speaking of
percentages, but carefully refraining
from mentioning the actual votes onf
the great war bills."
An incident that occurred during
today's session of the house, in
which Republican Minority Leader
Gillett called attention to what he"
termed a violation of house i-ules by
Representative Heflin of Alabama,
In securing the insertion of the presi
dent's appeal in the Congressional
Record, under the rule permitting
him to extend his remarks, was
pointed to in a statement tonight by
Representative Fess of Ohio, chair
man of the national republican con
gressional campaign committee. The
incident which occurred during the
discussion of the report on the mili
tary deficiency bill, was character
ized by Representative Fess as illus
trating "the obstructive methods In
legislation employed by certain ele
ments from the south."
Ferris Accuses Republicans
Representative Ferris declared
Ill 1 1 ,E 1111
F
-I
New German Divisions Are
Rushed to Reliebe Pres
sure Allies Form Arch
To Outflank Valenciennes
Republican A. P. Leased wire
COPENHAGEN, Oct. 26. Gen
eral Ludendorff, first quarter
master general of the German ar
mies, has resigned.
COPENHAGEN, Oct. 26. A tele
gram from Berlin says:
"The kaiser has accepted Luden
dorff's resignation and declared
that the lower Rhenisch infantry
regiment No. 39, whose command
er General Ludendorff long had
been, shall bear his name."
Republican A. P. Leased Wire
WASHIXGTOX, Oct. 28. The Ger
man defense lines on the most vital
sector in France the Argonne-Meuse
front are beginning to crack under
the strain of steady pressure by French
and American troops. An early break
ing of the German resistance, and the
advance of the French and American
armies on a wide front toward the
great trunk railway, which is the im
mediate object of the allied operations,
is predicted by many officers here.
Official .statements indicating that
new German divisions are being poured
into this sector, clearly show the anx
iety of the German high command
over the situation. Genera! March,
commenting today on the military sit
uation, brought out very clearly the
efforts the enemy is making to meet
the American advance.
"In front of our own troops in the
Argonne," he said, "a very large mass
of German troops bad been concen
trated, since it is imperative for the
enemy to protect the railroad line
which runs from Mezieres to Metz."
General March pointed out that the
front, held between the Oise and the
Meuse by the allies, roughly parallel
this great railway system throughout
its length and "threatens it at all
points."
Franco-Americans Fight Bitterly
From other sources it was learned
today that more than 30 German di
visions have been identified in the
narrow sector northwest of Verdun,
where American and French forces
continue to work their way slowly for
ward despite bitter resistance and
strongly fortified enemy positions.
The French have obtained a flank
ing position on the east bank of the
Alsne river, in the western outskirts
of the forest of Argonne, while to the
east of the Meuse, the operations of
American troops indicate that the line
is being extended and straightened In
preparation for a wide assault, when
the enemy defenses have been suffi
ciently reduced. There is good reason
to believe that some part of the sec
ond American army is holding this
eastern extension of the Verdun front
At no other point on the whole
western front, with the exception of the
center arch of the line from the Serre
to the region of Valenciennes, are the
German forces massed in strength
comparable to that being employed on
the Meuse. The operations of the
Eritish and French to the north, it is
pointed out, bear a direct relation to
the situation on the Meuse, since the
enemv cannot spare reserves from the
center, in the face of the drive, to
back up his hard pressed left flank.
It is this, coupled with the improving
tactical situation in the Argonne that
leads observers here to anticipate the
beginning, at any time, of a new drive
on the Meuse front.
o
M00NEY CASE IN HIGH COURT
WASHIXGTOX, Oct. 26. The su
preme court, in a petition filed by
counsel today, was asked to review the
case of Thomas J. Mooney, sentenced
to death at San Francisco for murder
in connection with a bomb plot. The
petition will be formally presented to
the court on November 11.
twice as many republicans as demo
crats in the house, voted against the
resolution declaring war on Ger
many, while three republicans and
three democrats opposed it in the
senate. He said 160 republicans and
one democrat in the house and 21
republicans and no democrats in the
senate opposed the shipping bill.
Addresses were made by Colonel
Roosevelt and Senator Lodge during
the congressional campaign of 1898,
Representative Ferris said, urging
the country to support President
McKinley during the Spanish-American
war.
Representative Heflin of Alabama
violated the house rules. Represent
ative Fess, in his statement charged,
by obtaining leave to print in the
record "a partisan statement not in
existence when the leave to print
was granted."
"The speaker stated the rule of the
house in accordance with Mr. Gil
lett's contention, and proceeded to
put the motion to strike out of the
Record the part which violated the
rule, when Heflin attempted to ob
struct further business of the house
by making a point of no quorum,"
the Fess statement said. "The six
billion dollar deficiency bill, the or
der of business, was held up. Mr.
Gillett. realizing the situation, and
not willing to permit the southerner
to thus obstruct the war program,
withdrew his motion."
BENEATH STRAIN 0
mm
Independence
Hall Crib of
Baby Republic
Republican A. P. Leased Wire
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 26. A
new-born democracy was pro
claimed here today for the 65,000,
000 people of the oppressed nations
of middle Europe.
Assembled in Independence hall,
the accredited representatives of
these states promulgated a decla
ration of independence in the very
chamber in which the declaration
of 1776 was adopted by the colon
ists. To proclaim that the 18 Slav
states of the German emperor's
once subservient "Mittel-Europa"
have shaken off the yoke of domi
nation, the mid-European union
had a new liberty bell cast and a
new national flag was unfurled
alongside the stars and stripes, on
the roof of Independence hall.
As the new bell pealed, Professor
Masaryk, president of the mid
European union, read the declara
tion from the steps of America's
birthplace of freedoms Previously
the document had been signed by
the representatives of the new fed
eration, composed of Czecho
slovaks, Ukrainians, Lithuanians .
and Jugo-Slavs.
"Liberty for all the world and all
the inhabitants thereof," is in
scribed on the new liberty bell,
which is a reproduction of the bell
that rang out America's declara
tion of independence.
o
F
Not Personal Representa
tive of President Accred
ited Tp War Council To
Deteiinine Armistice
Republican A. P. Leased Wire
COPENHAGEN, Oct 26. A
great demonstration in favor of an
independent Hungary occurred in
Budapest Friday. Thousands of
people assembled outside of the
parliament buildings and demon
strated in favor of peace and a
Karolyi cabinet. Two hundred of
ficers took part in this manifesta
tion. COPENHAGEN, Oct. 26. The
Berlin Lokal Anzeiger says a new
note will be sent by Germany to
President Wilson as soon as pos
sible. A crown council, under the
presidency of the emperor,. lasting
several hours, reached this deci
sion Friday.
The note, it is asserted, will point
out the changes which have taken
place in the German constitution.
TOKIO, Friday, Oct. 25. (By the
Associated Press). Unqualified
admiration of President Wilson's
attitude toward Gemany is ex
pressed in official circles. The re
ply is praised highly as deserving
the most profound attention of all
the belligerent nations fighting a
common enemy, who is a deliberate
transgressor of the cause of peace,
justice and humanity.
President Wilson's note is con
sidered to be fully comprehensive.
His refusal to treat with the Pruss
ian rulers of Germany, according
to opinion here, is as explicitly and
unmistakably expressed as to
arouse admiration worthy of a lead
ing champion of international jus
tice. The reply is considered to be
worth treasuring as a most valu
able addition to official war-time
correspondence.
PARIS, Oct. 26. The newspapers
regard the arrival of Colonel Edward
M. Mouse as of great importance to
the belligerent powers, associated with
the United States, as a step to attain
ing political unity which is considered
to be equally as important as military
unity.
"The only positive declaration in
terviewers were able to obtain from
him," says La Liberte, "was that he
arrives as the official representative
of the United States and the presi
dent. It is no longer a question of a
private mission, but an official repre
sentation accredited to the European
allier. This is important. Henceforth
the United States will be represented
at the inter-allied council of Versailles
in complete fashion no longer for
military affairs only."
Wiseman to Co-Operate
LONDON, Oct. 26. The most -important
event in diplomatic circles in
England, this week, was the arrival in
London from Washington today of Sir
William Wiseman, who has been act
ing at Washington as liaison officer
between the British war cabinet add
the Washington government. Sir Wil
liam, on his arrival, immediately went
into conference with Lord Reading
and members of the cabinet. Within a
few days he will proceed to Paris to
join Colonel House now on a special
mission from the United States.
It has been learned that the day
prior to sailing, Sir William had a
long conference with President Wil
son. On the occasion of Colonel
House's previous visit to Europe about
a year ago, Sir William was one of his
closest advisers and he was very close
to Colonel House while in the United
States.
No News From Turkey
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26. There is
no official information here to con
firm any of thev various Interesting
rumors coming out of European coun
tries, regarding developments in Aus
tria-Hungary and Turkey. An offer
of surrender from Constantinople has
been expected momentarily for days,
(Continued On Page Two)
HOUSE
FRANCE
AS DELEGATE
fill
THE UNITED STATES
Solvency of German Empire
Source of Acute Anxiety
AMSTERDAM, Oct. 26. Public anxiety over
the solvency of the empire apparently is becoming
acute in Germany. The hoarding of money has be
come so rampant as to cause great inconvenience.
There has been a general run on banks. To close ac
counts and the theft of hidden funds is of daily oc
currence. With its staff depleted, by the war and grippe,
the German treasury is turning out new currency at
top speed, but according to the Lokal Anzeiger of
Berlin, it melts like snow when the sun shines and
the customary back-flow into the state coffers has
ceased completely. The Reichsbank in the third
quarter of the year issued the unprecedented amount
of four billion marks in new monev, or nearlv twice
the amount issued in the same period last year. In
the first three weeks in October alone, the bank is
sued one and one quarter billions of marks in new
money.
The government has been compelled to make
war loan coupons legal tender. It aJso proposes to
issue a simpler form of paper currency and the mu
nicipal governments in Berlin and other centers have
been authorized to issue temporary token money.
Fears are growing that if the official appeals to re
frain from hoarding are not heeded, the whole econo
mic structure of Germany may collapse.
EXPRESS RATES
lira st i
Republican A. P. Leased Wire
WASHINGTON, Oct 26. New ex
press rates involving average increaees
of about ten per cent, applied mainly on
short hauls, will be initiated shortly by
the American Railway Express com
panv, with the approval of Director
General McAdoo, to raise $24,000,000
added revenue, haif of which will go
t,o the express company to meet con
templated wage advances, and the oth
er half to the railroads for transporting
express matter.
The interstate commerce commission
today approved the methods of applying
higher rates, but suggested that some
plan should be worked out between
the company and the railroad adminis
tration, to give all the added revenue
to the company, intead of dividing it
with the railroads, according to terms
of the existing contract.
Director General McAdoo tonight an
nounced that the suggestion would not
be followed on the ground that the rail
roads are entitled to a proportionate
share of any new revenue, on account
of the higher cost of hauling express
shipments. The railroads now receive
50 per cent of every dollar deceived
by the express company for transport
ation.
Raise Charges at Once
The express company will proceed
immediately to raise charges, but these
rates will be subject to review by the
interstate commerce commission, on
complaint of shippers.
The r.ew rates should be a maximum
of 17 cents per hundred pounds higher
on first-class shipments, and 12 cents
on second-class, in so-called first zones.
or short hauls, generally less than 100
miles. For longer hauls, first and sec
ond class rates will bo advanced 12 and
8 ents a hundred pounds, respectively
as maximum. In addition, ten cents per
hundred pounds, regardless of distance,
would be added to commodity rates.
The express company has estimated
that, of the $23,679,000 which the pro
posed rates should produce, $17,037,000,
or more than two-thirds, would be
drawn from transportation in the first
zone.
The entire $11,180,000, which the ex
press company would receive from the
increased revenue, is to go to pay higher
wages to employes who did not share
in previous wage advances.
o
E
ESCAPE TORPEDO
Republican A. P. Leased Wire
AN ATLANTIC PORT, Oct. 26.
Officers of a steamship arriving to
night said they had witnessed the
probable destruction of a German sub
marine by an American destroyer,
when three days out from a British
port. The submarine arose to attack
the liner, but the American destroyer
swooped down on the enemy craft be
fore it could fully submerge. Three
depth bombs were dropped and the
officers said they thought a hit had
been scored.
Among the passengers on the steam
ship was a party of American editors,
who had gone abroad to study the
political and economic conditions of the
allied countries. In the party were
Mark Sullivan of Collier's Weekly, Ed
ward Bok of the Ladies Home Journal,
Edward Sedgwick of the Atlantic
Monthly, Alfred Holman of the San
Francisco Call, Dr. Albert Shaw of the
Review of Reviews, Charles Towne of
McClnre's, Richard Oulahan of the
New York Times, L. W. Ninan of the
Milwaukee Journal and Dr. Charles R.
Van Hlse, president of the University
of Wisconsin.
TEDDY 60; STILL FIGHTING
OYSTER BAY, N. Y., Oct. 26. Colo
nel Theodore Roosevelt, who will be
sixty years old tomorrow, will cele
brate his birthday at Sagamore Hill
with members -of, his family.
ions
i
HS IGNORE
RUN ORDER TO
NOLO MEUSE
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY
NORTHWEST OF VERDUN, Oct 26,
2 p. m. (By the Associated Press)
The American position in the Bour-
gogne wood is such that the Germans
no longer are able to harass the Ameri
cans with machine gun fire from the
ridge at the edge of the Voods.
in the center of the line west of the
Meuse, the GeTmaft artillery is bom
barding the American lines heavily
with high explosives and gas shells.
On the right the enemy hade an un
successful counter attack during the
night. - irom i to 6 o clock this morn
ing they shelled the American lines
there heavily, the bombardment at
times reaching the intensity of a bar
rage, but there was no further infan
try action. One new division and one
new regiment have been identified as
having been added to the German
strength against the Americans. The
division is a second-class one, which
Is reputed to have traveled more than
any other in the German army. It has
successively been on the eastern front,
the Italian front, on the Somme and
before St. Mihiel. The regiment be
longs to the crack 2Sth German divi
sion. Violent ; enemy reactions continue
east of the Meuse and there has been
desperate fighting aVa along the line.
The American position now runs
through the clearing between the Bel
leau wood and the Etraye wood. The
enemy determination to hold the high
ground east of the river is shown by
the fact that he has thrown in one of
his last remaining reserve divisions to
check the American advance in the
Belleau wood, where the enemy is
counter attacking persistently.
The following document has been
captured:
"The enemy's crossing of the Meuse
is to be prevented absolutely. Should
he succeed in crossing, he is to be
thrown back into the Meuse at once.
The enemy must not get a foothold on
this side of the Meuse under any cir
cumstances." The last three words were capital
ized. Not only in a defensive way, but by
counter attacks, the Germans are
fighting desperately to carry out this
order. This is shown by the futile at
tacks made Friday in the region south
of Bantheville wood, north of Roppes
wood, and in the valley north of Ban
theville. Germans Lack Materials
PARIS. Oct 26. (Havas) The fall
of Valenciennes is imminent, if it has
not already occurred, the Petit Paris-
ien says. "The chief stronghold of the
second German line is gone, its center
invested. It is the object of direct as
saults and local outflanking move
ments, which will soon smash it,", the
naper continues. "The operations of
General Debeney's army north of
Guise and those of General Mangin, in
the direction of Marie, constitute an
increasing danger. The Escault line
may be considered as lost: the Sambre
line will be taken shortly. We can
foresee that the enemy will retreat to
the Meuse.
The Matin says: "The German army
has no material, lacks munitions, has
not sufficient reserves to continue a
long battle, and has no tanks with
which to attack. .The spirit in the
enemy rear is at a low level, while the
spirit at the front Is bad. This has
been proven by army orders which
have fallen Into our hands. We would
be false to our ideals if we failed to
take advantage of the situation."
MrliiT "BISMARK
I STATUE TO GET
I BRONZE FOR WAR
NEW YORK, Oct. 26. The New
York "metal market," which ex
changes war savings stamps for
metal of all kinds, received today
a bronze statue of Bismarck. It
will be melted down for use in the
manufacture of cannon. . .
" 'P
British Drive Across Rail
way In Giant Encircling
Maneuver Huns Stub
bornly Resisting Until De
fense Line Is Ready In
timate Details of Hard
ships Told By Released
Captives of Bertry Wo
men Prisoners In Jail
. WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE AND BELGIUM. Oct. 26
(2 p. m., by the Associated Press)
Heavy fighting continued today in the
Valenciennes area, particularly along
the Ithonelle river, south of that city.
The. enemy was battling grimly this
morning to retard the British advance,
which from its speed threatened to
! bottle up Valenciennes before its de
fenders could withdraw.
It seemed certain today that Valen
ciennes could not hold out much longer
Yesterday the British drove forward
across the Le Quesnoy -Valenciennes
railway, the Germans being forced to
withdraw from their strong positions
and fall baclf to new defenses along
the Rhonelle. Le Quesnoy was close
ly beseiged this morning by the at
tacking forces.
Southward the British army had
pushed forward a considerable dis
tance and forced its way through En
gelfontaine after severe fighting.
Hate to Yield Valenciennes
The British attack north of Valen
ciennes had carried them forward to
an average depth of two miles. The
villages of Moen and Heestert were
captured and Splchtestraat and Driech
approached, and the troops which
stormed Moen rushed on to the line
of the river at Bossuet and Autryve.
From statements of prisoners and
liberated civilians, it would appear
that the Germans intended to hold
the present line around Valenciennes,
only long enough to complete the
preparation of the defenses along th
Maubuege and Mons line, to which
they will retire shortly. Civilians re
port that troops were set to work on
this line some time ago.
There was a battle in the Artres
Famars sector, just south of Valen
ciennes. British cyclist patrols reach
ed Artres at four o'clock in the after
noon. The Germans threw in a vigor
ous counter attack along a consider
able front, but their advanced troop
were forced to fall back to the line of
the railway. West of Famars the en
emy made another fierce counter at
tack: they came up against Scotch
Highlanders, who not nnK- rem,ic,i
the attack but drove the Germans back-
to tha line of the railway.
The enemy suffered heavy casualties
here.
Find Camouflaged Trenches
Counter attacks attsT-,nt r
Engelfontain ; were easilv rr,icH
Maresches was heavilv
the enemy and the advance, at least
temporarily, was held up here by a ter
rific machine, gun fire from the town,
in endegies, which was captured,
tne British found a well -concealed
system of camouflaged trenches. The
"nuie village was barrieal orf
wired and held a formidable obstacle.
Wnlfn aviHnntl.. -
-;"""J "as meant to be held,
lesterdays advance south of Vai
ciennes was rendered hard bv the ex
tension of the flooded area. The Brit-
were lorced to work around this
inere was hari r;ov,i-
rrtA . bticniji west or
Conde, and according to latest reports
hnMh- S battlin? fiercelv to
hold this posrtion with a ring of forts.
the PhonenPt -b' the British t0 cross
Senmri "6 r,'Ver het Artres and
a h nJt t0day Was blekp
fJ jtZ achi"e gun and artillerv
fire from th .ru" u-"u
h,,t , "-nK. or the river.
, the "acking troops rushed ahead
and established themselves along a
bne running from northeast of Sep
meries to just south of Artre,
In the fightiner ahom- un! .
intimate Details of Hardship
Further evidence of t.
Vi,-j u u - lne Germans is fur
nished by recently released resident
ot Bertry, near Le Cateau. They state
that they were fed almost entirelv
from supplies imported for relief from
America, latterly administered by the
Spanish government. The rations seem
to have been issued at fairlv regular
lnterv.iln ani .- . r6.'"'lr
clc suiiicient to keen
y dKSOul ther. The food was
brought by the French local authori
hes from Caudrv. Bread was drawn
twice a week, the individual ration be
ing about 300 grammes a day. This
hred n-8"1 heaVy bIack German
bread. The American wheat sent for
civilian relief, which was of excellent
quality, was confiscated bv the Ger
mans as soon as it reached the mills
at alenciennes and a low quality of
rye flour issued instead.
All crops in the last two vears were
confiscated and any civilian found cut
ting gram was fined, usually about SO
UlaFKS.
No fresh meat ever was issued to
civilians. It either was salted or pre
served. American powdered milk, oc
casionally, was issued in verr small
quantities. Coal was rationed, about 50
kilograms being allowed each house
every three months.
Some idea of the prices paid for
foodstuffs in rations is shown by the
following: i
Prices Charged Enormoue
Fat cost 270 francs for 600 grammes:
coftee. 4., francs for 200 grammes: su
gar, o0 .francs for 230 grammes: peas.
a2 francs for 400 grammes: lard. 225
francs for 500 grammes: salt meat, 120
francs for 400 grammes; salt, 4 francs
for 200 grammes.
German requisitions on civilians
were never ending. They centered
chiefly on clothes, brass, copper and
livestock. All w- - clothing and mat
tresses were requisitioned, except a
small supply actually in use. Linen
also was taken. All brass and copper
articles were demanded shortly after
the arrival of the invaders. Sewing
machines and the like were called in.
Frequent searches were made to see
that everything had been given up, and
persons defaulting were heavily fined.
One, woman. w,ho had not delivered
three chickens, was fined 125 francs.
Most of tlio horses were taken a year
ago and only a few were left for the
most urgent work. Early this month
the remaining horses and all other
,Uvcstock..werBremjoye2. Tl;e -morals
t