The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], April 24, 1918, Image 1

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THE BIRMINGHAM AGE HERALD
VOLUME XXXXVII
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1918
12 PAGES
NUMBER 353
GERMAN NAVAL BASES ON BELGIAN
COAST ARE RAIDED AND BLOCKED
Anglo-French Harass Huns With Guns and Raids
British in Daring Exploit Sink Concrete
Loaded Ships in Harbors Which Have
Been Sheltering Submaries
OSTEND AND ZEEBRUGGE SCENE
OF ADMIRALTY OPERATIONS
Sir Eric Geddes Tells in House of Commons
How English and French Co-operated
in Sea Campaign Against Enemy
London, April 23.—British naval forces today raided the Ger
man naval bases of Ostend and Zeebrugge, the admiralty an
nounces. Five old cruisers which had been filled with concrete
for use in blocking the channels were run aground, blown up
and abandoned by their crews.
The admiralty reports that according to incomplete information thus far
received, the raid met with a reasonable measure of success.
The statement follows:
“Early this morning a naval raid w.as
made on Ostend and Zeebrugge, which
are being used by the enemy as de
stroyer and submarine bases. Our forces
are returning and the scanty informa
tion so Car received is to the effect that
the raid met with a reasonable meas
ure of success.”
TVitn the exception of covering ships,
the force employed consisted of auxilary
vessels ard six obsolete cruisers, ifive
of these cruisers, filled with concrete,
were used as block ships and after being
run aground were, in accordance with
orders, blown up and abandoned by the
crews. A further communique will be
issued when reports have been received
from the ships which are now returning
to their bases.
“Xo report of casualties has yet been
received/'
The ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge, j
on the Belgian edast, are the principal j
bases for the operations of submarines ,
in their campaign against shipping In
the North sea and the English channel. 1
They are of great importance to tne
Germans Tor this purpose, and it has
been recognized by the allies *that to de
prive the enemy of them would be one
of the most effective means of dealing
with the submarine.
An attack on these ports by the Brit
ish fleet has been urged, but the British
naval authorities probably regard the
laj^d defenses as too strong to make this
practicable. Various measures have been
adopted to destroy German submarines
on entering or leaving these ports. Field
^Marshal Haig's offensive in Flanders last
summer was generally believed to have
as one of its main objectives the bend
ing back of the German northern flank
so as to deprive the enemy of these two
points.
The Bruges canal is about six miles
lorfg, running from the city of that name
to the North sea at Zeebrugge. This
canal is of great value to the Germans
because the principal base of the sub
marines operating from Zeebrugge is at
Bruges, where there are extensive docks
and shipbuilding yards.
Sit Eric Geddes Tells
Story of Raid Made
On Belgian Coast
London, April 23.—Sir Eric Geddes, first lord of the admiralty, in sup
plementing the admiralty report on last night’s raid against Zeebrugge and
Ostend, said in giving the House of Commons such information as had come
to hand of “this extremely gallant and hazardous raid.”
*‘X ask the members to appreciate
that most of officers and men whom
we have got to get the information
have been fighting the greater part of
the night and that some of them are
not yet in.
"The raid was undertaken under
command of Vice Admiral Roger
Keyes, commanding at Dover. French
destroyers co-operated with the Brit
ish forces. Six obsolete cruisers, all
from 20 to 30 years old, took part in
the attack.
"They were the Brilliant, Sirius,
Iphigenia, Intrepid, Thetis and Vin
dictive.
“The first five of these were filled
with concrete and were to be sunk in
the channel and entrance to the two
ports, if this could possibly be man
aged.
"The Vindictive, working with two
ferryboats, carried storming and de
molition parties to storm the head of
the mole which runs out from Zee
brugge. The Vindictive was specially
fitted for landing storming parties and
was armed specially for the purpose
with flame throwers, Stokes’ mortars
and that sort of thing.
VOLUNTEERS IN PLENTY
"The men employed on the block
ships and in the storming and demo
lition parties on the Vindictive were
bluejackets and marines picked from
a large number of volijnteers from the
grand fleet and naval and marine
depots. There was great competition
for the undertaking, and we could
only use a very small proportion of
those who volunteered.
“There were light covering forces
belonging to the Dover command and
Harwich forces under Admiral Tyr
whitt covering the operation in the
north. ^
“A force of monitors, together with
a large number of very small motor
boats, took part in the operation, w hich
was particularly intricate and had to
be worked to a time table and involved
delicate navigation on a hostile -coast
Without lights and largely under un
known navigational conditions de
veloped since the' wai^ with the added
danger of mine fields.
OFFICER WAS KILLED
“I should like to mention that the
officer who developed the operation
was killed.
“The high development of scientific !
use of fog or smoke was one of the •
essentials to success. It was more fog |
thai\ smoke, which, combined with cer- '
tain wind conditions, was essential to
the success of the operation, so as to
protect the operation from batteries
which might have flanked it. ]
“The plan was, after an intense bom
bardment of Zeebrugge by the moni
tors, the Vindictive, with auxiliaries,
was to run alongside the mole and at
tack it with gun fire as they ap- •
proached. Storming and demolition
parties were to be landed. Meantime,
three felock ships assisted by motor
boats were to make for the entrance
to the canal, run aground and be
blown up. Two old and valueless sub
marines, filled with explosives, were
to run against the pile works con- i
necting the mateonry with the shore,
in order to cut off the mole from the
shore.
“At Ostend the operation was more
simple, but the difficulties were con
siderably increased by mist, rain and
# (Continued on Page Seven)
Details of Anglo-French \
Naval Blow to Germans
Awaited in Washington
---•
Washington. April S3.—American na
val officers are awatlng eagerly the
fall story of the successful French
Brltlsh naval blow against the (Ser
vian destroyer and l-boat bases on
the Belgian coast. The Impression pre
vails here, supported by certain facts
regarding American naval prepara
tions, that a carefully planned naval
offensive against the U-boats has be
gan. which Is to be pressed vlzoroas
ly until the under-water raiders are
bottled ap or cheeked to such an ex
tent that their operations will no long
er be a nerlons factor.
There la nothing to indicate that the
navy department hadfs^ny advance in
formation as to the operations at Zee
brugge and Ostend. It is known, how
ever, that officials here have been antici
pating developments in the anti-subma
rine warfare within the next few weeks
that would establish a definite check on
the U-boats. American co-operation in
this effort is being extended in various
wavs which cannot be disclosed.
It has long been the belief of many
officers here that much could be done
toward bottling up the U-boats at their
source—their bases on the Belgian coast.
Suggestions to this end have been many,
including mine fields. Increased numbers
of light surface patrol craft, new de
(Ceatlaoed e* rut Sevas.)
4a
Opportunity Calls You, Young Man; Join the Fighting Men of the Sea
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■4>° : .
% - ;
HEFLIN REPLIES 10
MASON IN SPITE OF
INTERRUPTIONS BY
OTHER MEMBERS
Alabama Congressman Says
He Criticized Illinois Mem
ber Because He Thought
It Patriotic Duty
RECENT EDITORIAL
FROM AGE-HERALD
FIGURES IN DEBATE
Says He Cannot Understand
Why Age-Herald Would
Print Speech of Illi
nois Republican
Washington, April 2.'!.—(Spe
cial.)—Congressman J. Thomas
Heflin of Alabama today re
plied in the House to the
recent attack made upon him
by Representative William E.
Mason of Illinois.
Mr. Heflin arose to a question of
personal privilege and his speech was
rather stormy because of the con
tinual interruptions of other members.
The Age-Herald figured prominently
iri the discussion as the result of a
recent faeetious editorial and because
this newspaper published Mr. Mason’s
speech attacking Mr. Heflin because :
of its sensational character.
COMPLETE SPEECH RECEIVED
The Age-Herald received last night by
telegraph, tolls paid, the complete speech
of Mr. Heflin. Although it came after
(ContlBued M Page Tw»>
Summary of the News
(iKNERAI. NEWS
1— German caval hnses »n Belgian
coast are raided and blocked.
Anirlo-French har»M« enemy with
with artillery and patrol raid*.
German version of attack on
'Americana denied In French of
ficial report.
Heflin delivers speech In reply to
Mason of Illinois.
2— Clemeneenu return, frogi front
, with abaolute confident-. In out
3— Great outpouring; of bond aahaerlp*
tiona expected thla week.
9—Vehement nttnek la made on Prea
Ident by Sherman of Illinoln.
I.OCAI. NEWS
5—Many delesatea attend Sunday
at-hool convention.
Wtlllama to addreaa hard on re men
Chemical aoclety member, will
vlalt Birmlnarham.
Rotary luncheon at Hillman today.
FEATURES
4— Editorial comment.
n—Society and Dolly Dalrymple.
8—Spohta. r
11-JlMketl.
Hindu Shot Down In
U. S. Court Room By
His Fellow Defendant
Slayer of Ram Chandra Also Falls Dead From Pistol of
Marshal—Sensational Climax to End of Trial of Men
Charged With Fomenting Revolt in India
San Francisco, April 23.—A sensational climax to the prolonged trial of
32 persons charged with conspiring to foment revolution in India was fur
nished today when Ram Chandra, Hindu publicist and revolutionist, was shot
to death in federal court by Ram Singh, a former employe and fellow de
fendant. While Singh still pressed the trigger of his automatic pistol he,
too, was shot and killed by United States Marshal James B. Holohan, who
fired across the room over the heads of attorneys.
The trial started November Jo and
the case went to the jury tonight.
Belief that Ram Chandra had di
verted to his own use proceeds from
property which Ram Singh had turned
over for use in the proposed revolu
tion is said by federal officials to
have prompted the shooting.
The trial since the opening has
seethed with excitement and animos
ity among the defendants to such an
extent that all were searched for
weapons daily when entering court.
The United States district attorney,
John W. Preston, had finished his
closing argument, which Mrs. Preston
was present to hear. Just before the
shooting Judge William C. Van h leet,
announcing that he would charge the
jury in the afternoon, had left tlio
bench and entered the chambers, and
spectators and lawyers ri#' to leave
the room. At one side of the bar the
defendants, clustered together, and at
the opposite side, by the jury box,
Marshal Holohan watched proceedings.
Ram Chandra rose and started
across the room. Ram Singh also rose,
raised his pistol and began firing.
Ram Chandra s>ggered forward and
fell dead before the witness chair
with a bullet In his heart and two
others in his body. At the same mo
ment Ram Singh fell. Holohan, a man
of great stature, had shot once with
his arm high over his head, so that
the bullet should clear nearby coun
sel. The shot broke Ram Singh’s neck.
Soldiers, who have be£n on duty
in court since the trial opened, imme
diately blocked the exits. Judge Van
Fleet hurried back into court, ordered
all defendants taken into custody and
the courtroom cleared. Then he be
gan an investigation which developed,
he said, at the afternoon session of
court, that Ram Singh had obtained
his weapon during a brief recess in
the morning session., when he wan
dered out into the corridor for a mo
ment.
Investigations tonight ran along
many lines. Including the possibility
that other defendants knew in ad
vance of the shooting. Santoh Singh,
a defendant, was Interrogated and at
the afternoon session he was sur
rounded by deputy marshals. Kvcry
| scrap of paper used today by the de
fendants for the incessant notes which
they pass around and tear up, waa
sought and examined.
At Singh’s first shot spectators, de
fendants, counsel and others in the
room darted for cover, overturning
chairs and tables in their flight.
Soldiers and deputy marshals rushed
to all exits with drawn revolver* Or
der was soon restored.
Ram Chandra was perhaps the most
widely known Hindu in America after
i the departuio of his associate, liar
Dyal, who jumped bail here when ar
rested on charges of violating neutral
ity and fled to Switzerland.
Washington, April 1*3.—The casualty
list today contained 42 names, divided
as follows:
Killed In action, 2$ died of wounds,
Ij died of disease, 4; wounded se
verely, 0: wounded slightly, 27.
Three officers afe named: Lieut.
Ilernnrd F. >Ic\eal was wounded se
verely and Lieut*. Thomas M. Holmes
arid Harry 13. MO ell were wounded
slightly.
The list is as follows:
Killed in Action
Privates Frank G. Kane, Daniel L.
MeGaffigan.
Died of Wounds
Private Win ford Ploof.
Died of Disease
Cook Homer Bybee.
Privates James Frederick Courtney.
George Lyeth, Joe Payne.
Severely Wounded
Lieut. Bernard F. McMeel.
Sergt. Henry C. Schmanz.
C'orpl. Casmir P. Kubish.
Mechanic Joseph P. Wittc&mp.
Privates Charles F. Allen. Walter A
Antoniewiez, Michael J. Cleary, Tony
Piazzito, Flem Stapleton.
Piekarski, John Thompson.
Lleuts. Thomas M. Holmes, Harry D.
McNeill.
Corpls. William Carstens, George F.
Egan, William LaFlamme, Edward J.
Slightly Wounded
Privates Joseph J. Aleskandrowlcz, Eu
gene M. Binion. .James W. Burke. Henry
C. Burt, John Erickson, Bernard F. Er
win, Raynor A. Fairty, Frank E. Henry,
Herbert F Melvin, Rooert J. Nicholson,
Thomas Okleja, Harry N. Rainey. Harry
E. Reed. Frank T. Savage. George F.
Schirick, Arthur L. P. Tarr, Foster
Thomas. Harold B. Walker, J. Edwin
Wickman, Neal F. Wood.
GERMAN VERSION
OF TOOL SECTOR
BATTLE IS DENIED
IN FRENCH REPORT
Shock Troops Did Not Re
turn to Their Positions
Unobserved
WERE DRIVEN BACK
BY INTREPID FORCES
OF GEN. PERSHING
Victory Over Enemy in Sat
urday’s Fighting Was
Complete, Says Offi
cial Statement
Washington, April 23.—The Grrtnan
claim that llic aprclal shook troop*,
which penetrated Into American anil
French line* in front of the villnge of
Seirhrprey last Saturday rclurneil to
their ponltion* unobserved nflcr light
ing that Inntcd Inlo Sunday. 1* denied
In n dl»pnteh today from France, quol
Iiik an official French note. The fight
ing reunited in complete auccc** for
the French and American*, the note
*nld, the enemy being energetically
forced back to hi* ot»n line*.
The dispatch also discloses that in
their dashing counter attack, which
drove the Germans from Seicheprey.
the Americans took prisoners.
"During the night of the 20th and
21st toward 5 o’clock in the morning,'
says the note, "after a bombardment
of unusual violence, including the use*
of toxic shells, an enemy force equal
ing a regiment, reinforced by shock
troops, specially trained and brought
Up with this operation in view, threw
themselves energetically into the at
tack on a front of nearly two kilo
metres. The enemy succeeded In pen
etrating into the French lines as far
as Seicheprey, which was hotly de
fended by the Americans.
’’Immediately our Intrepid allies,
passing in tlicir turn to the offen
sive, made In conjunction with our
troops a brilliant counter attack which
put them once more in possession or
Seicheprey and permitted them to take
prisoners. A furious combat on both
sides continued all day'.
“At night the enemy, who had suc
ceeded in spite of the vigorous oper
ations carried on by the American ele
ments. in holding the Itemieries wood,
was driven out by an energetic coun
ter attack executed by French and
American troops.
“The close co-operation of the two
armies once more brought mifl-velous
resutts which gave us complete suc
cess. The ground we previously had
occupied was completely recaptured
and the enemy, energetically forced
back to his own lines, left prisoners
in our hands and many dead is trout'
•\f our barbed wire.”
BIG GUNS BOOM
FROM BELGIAN LINE
TO CITY Of RHUS
No Big Infantry Actions
Reported Anywhere on
Front of Offensive
BRITISH MAKE GAINS
ON LINE AT ALBERT;
CANADIANS ATTACK
Enemy, in Their Prepara
tions for Renewal of Great
Battle, Are Not Al
lowed to Rest
I.(union. \t*rIt E»—The British iSMh.-tl
ground tndnj rant of HoImmmi, ncecrd
inu to l id,I llarxlml Haig'* Mporl l«
nicht, and improved their pnmltlott
n round tteterein. > utnefOtln primmer*
wore raptured.
Pnr i*. April -3.— \*l«lc from heavy
nrtillcry duel.-* ni*nr llamiard-F.n
S«nfern* nod op?*I «»f Ao.'on, TiiOMdaj'
(taMNCti quietly nloni; the !• rom'h front.
tii'cordiiiK; to disc l‘’rpnrh offipinl com*
miiiiieatlon Issued tonight. There were
no Infantry enfj;nfcei»»ent*.
Loudon, April -II.——The British ut
(nek Innt nitfhl north of Albert nil*
carried out on at front of about lOtM)
yard*. Reuter’* correspondent at Brit
!*h headquarter* report* tl V‘ «» «i}'
wince m«i* made to a depth of 1150
! yard*.
- ; .v... .
London. April 23.—On the Somme,
j front, north of Alberl. the British lP*t
i "W their line b; i\ ^«v
| ce^fitt lor«U optfraJfdn, *V 1* an- .
uouneed officially. They took 00 prls
) oner*.
I < nnndinn Army Headquarter* in
‘ France, April 23.—(By Canadian I*re**,
1 Limited.)—The Canadian* during the
| last 12 hour* have ruided the German
| line* ait *even place*, kummcU the enemy
J with thouMamd* of Inehrymntory nnd
] lethal shell*, harassed him by *pcrial
artillery Nliot*, *wept 111* trenches with
machine nun and rifle bullet* nnd ham
mered III* front line with (reach mor
tar*.
Rome. April 23.—Lively patrol ac
tion* occurred in the l*ONina valley,
*ny* today’* official communication.
An effective artillery fire wn* direct
ed aKidiiNt enemy troop movement be
tween Col Cuprille and Col Della Iter
rettn.
On the remainder of the front uoth
iiiK of importance occurred.
London, April 23-X Turkish offi
cial communication issued April 22 and
received here today say*:
""•* «h* fijchflnK our way to liar*
tin the Cnucn»iiN) and have occupied
Onurjreti, 30 kilometre* northeast of
Hu turn.”
WAR NEWS SUMMARY
New York, April 23.—From cables re
‘ceivcil the Association Press makes the
following summary of the war nows:
The Uritisl) have not permitted the
halt in the lighting along the western
buttle front to keep them Inactive. With
their landsmen on the alert, watching
keenly and waiting for the next move
of the German Infantry in France and
Belgium, British naval forces, reinforced
to some extent by French war craft,
have carried out a startling and daring
maneuver which, if it should prove to
have been successful, may play a marked
part of the future of the war. No less
objective was sought titan the blotting
out by one sweeping blow of Germany's
submarine menace from the bases at Zee
brugge and Ostend by the sinking across
tho exits from the harbors of large
old-time cruisers, laden with cargoes of
concrete to make them more difficult of
removal.
BATTLE FRONTS
Along the entire battle front tho state
of comparative quietude that has existed
since last Thursday continues. The only
activity, except for small attacks here
and there. Is being carried out by the
artillery. The German guns have been
Ipaylng particular attention to tho sec
tors around Ypres, Kentmel and the
Niappe forest, upon which large numbers
of high explosives and gas shells have
been thrown.
North of Albert the British, in a local
attack, improved their position and took
prisoners and additional captives wer«
made by them near Itobecq and Wyt
i sehaete. Attempts by the Germans to
raid French trenches between Lcssigny
and Noyon were repulsed.
ANOTHER DRIVE EXPECTED
Notwithstanding the lull there is ex- ■
pectancy in the allied camps of the near
approach of another great attempt by
the Germans to break through their
lines. All precautions have been taken
by the various commanders and every
where the fronts have been strengthened
In anticipation of further onslaughts.
In both tho British and the French
armies the soldiers are waiting patient
ly, confident that they will be able to
give a good accounting of themselves '
against any attacks the Germans may
make. *
Kuinor has it that relations between
Holland and Germany are strained: that
Germany has delivered an ultimatum to
Holland demanding the right to transmit
civilian supplies, sand and gravel and
war materials on the Hutch canals and
railways. In Holland, it is said, the
feeling is that acquiescence would be
equivalent to Hollands abandonment o(
neutrality.
Advices coming out of Germany are
that the German newspapers are prepar- j
ing the people for a declaration of war
by Uruguay and Argentina against Ger
many at an early date.