The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], April 25, 1918, Image 1

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

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THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD
( VOLUME XXXXVH * _ BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1918 16 PAGfeR NUMBER 354
ENEMY RENEWS BATTLE EAST OF AMIENS
Villers-Brettonneux Occupied hy Huns A fter Fight;
Savage Attacks Continue In Flanders AroundYpres
Present Offensive on Somme Sector Was
Expected, and Allied Forces Are
Prepared for Continuation of
Present Effort
ENEMY IS VERY CAUTIOUS IN HIS
ATTEMPTS TO ADVANCE ON LINE
French and American Troops Are Engaged
in Desperate Struggle at Hangard, Just
South of British Positions—They
Are Holding Strongly
ACTIVITY ON AMERICAN SECTOR
With the American Army in France, April 24.—There is slightly in
creased activity of the enemy artillery in the region of Toul, but the num
ber of shells falling on the American lines is still below normal.
Fifty enlisted men and non-commissioned officers are on their way to
America to help the Liberty Loan.
By the Associated t*ress
After three weeks of preparation in the Somme, during which
time they launched an offensive in Flanders, the Germans have
resumed their hammering at the front door of Amiens. For
days there has been heavy artillery firing along the northern
sectors of the Somme salient and finally the German infantry
began their attempts to advance on the line passing Villers
Bretonneux, Hangard, Hailles and Castel. The first attacks
were repulsed, but subsequent attacks, centered about Villers
Bretonneux, have caused a British withdrawal from this village,
according to a report from Field Marshal Haig. This marks a
German gain of about a mile.
Eleven Miles East of Amiens
Villers-Bretonneux is about 11 miles directly east of Amiens, and is on
the northern end of the latest fighting front. It is situated between the
Somme and Luce riverg, and while it is flanked on the south by low-lying
grounds, it is backed by rolling hills to the west and northwest.
The fighting on the rest of the front,
where the Germans have resumed their
drive toward the allied base of supplies
In northern Prance, has not. so far as
known, resulted in any notable retire
ments on the part of the allies. The
German official report Issued on Wednes
day was silent as to events in this sec
tor of the front.
An attack on this particular part of the
lines in the Somme region had been ex
pected, and it is probable that prepara
tions to meet it had been made, The
British lines held firm in this region dur
ing the last days of the initial drive,
while the Germans were able to forge
ahead farther south until they reached
the village of Caste!, about three miles
from the railroad running to Paris from
Amiens.
Iteeently a French counter offensive at
Castel won back considerable ground
ami it was evident that unless the line
farther north could be advanced ma
terially the Germans had little chance
to make important gains in their opera
tions to the south of Amiens.
This new drive has been made at the
same time that another blow has been
struck at the British and French lines
northwest of Ypres. Savage fighting is
reported at various points along the line
from Bailleul to Merville and Berlin
claims that heights to the northeast of
I Bailleul have been stormed. Coincident
with these attacks there have been as
saults on the British forces near Bethune,
along the Lawe river, but tnese have
been repulsed.
Some of the uncertainty as to the suc
cess of the British exploit in attempt
ing to seal up the harbors of Zeebrugge
and Ostend has been cleared up by ob
servations carried out by aviators. Grave
damage was done to the mole at Zee
brugge, while the hulks of sunken steam
ers are said to at least partially block
the channel leading out to sea from the
port of Ostend.
On the front in France, with the ex
ception of the Somme salient, there4 has
been little fighting of an unusual na
I ture.
Germans Using Tanks
In Renewed Offensive
With the British Army in France, April 24.—The first Ger
man attack along the whole British front south of the Somme
river today was thrown back,' but the Germans returned and
pushed on towards Villers-Bretonneux. With three tanks lead
ing, the Germans got a footing in the eastern fringe of the town,
where the battle still is raging.
The Germans attacked along the line of Villers-Bretonneux,
Hangard, Hailles and Castel. Villers-Bretonneux was the storm
center Accompanying the storming infantry were the three
tanks, which at the latest reports had battled forward into the
eastern outskirts of the town. _
London, April 24.—Field Marshal Haig reports that the Germans have
tnkpn Villers-Bretonneux.
The text of the statement' reads:
••About 6:30 this morning, after a
violent bombardment, the enemy at
tacked our whole front south of the
Somme ar.d the French on our right,
and was repulsed.
"Ijater in the morning an attack on
our positions in this sector was re
newed in strength and, although re
pulsed with loss on the southern and
northern positions of the front, made
progress at Vlllers-Bretonneux, where
the lighting has been severe through
out the day. By evening the enemy
had gained possession of the village
and the fighting was continuing.
••Other attacks by the tl emy this
morning on the north bank of the
bornme and north of AlDert were re
pulsod. Wo secured a few prisoners.
"By a successful local operation car
ried out tills morning northwest of
Festubert a post, captured by the
enemy in this locality on the 22d. was
regained. The hostile garrison offered
strong resistance and lost heavily. We
captured a few prisoners and four ma
chine guns.
“Early in the morning the enemy de
livered a strong local attack without
success against our new positions east
of Itobecn. Our line was maintained
intact and 8f prisoners were left in
our hands. Additional prisoners were
secured.in successful minor enterprises
in the forest of Nieppe and in the
neignborhood of Meteren."
Franco~American Line
In Picardy Attacked
-—■---f
Paris, April 24.—The battle on the whole front south of the Somme and
on the Avre lasted all day and still continues, according to the war office
announcement tonight. The Germans gained ai footing in the woods to the
northward of Hangard-en-Santerre and also in the eastern outskirts of the
village, which the French desperately defended.
Several enemy assaults were shattered near Hailles, and attacks at Sene
cat wood and Hill 82 also failed.
The statement says:
“An Intense bombardment of the
Franco-American positions south of
the Somme and on the Avre was fol
lowed by a German attack carried out
all along the front by considerable
forces at 5 o'clock in the morning.
The efforts of the enemy were direct*
ed against liangard-En-bantcrre, the
region of \ Hallies and Senecat wood.
"South of the Avre the battle, which
lasted alf day, continues at the present
hour. 14 Is particularly stubborn In
the regloin of Hangard. After a series
of furto"- -**
♦Co
assaults the. enemy sue
Itlaaed oa Page Inn)
THERE’S *«/. UNPLEASANT PRESSURE ON THE OLD MAN’S CORNS
-. -ttJ : . : r— ". . —---:n=
CON-SUMER,
RAILROAD SHOPS IN
LIMA, OHIO, BURN;
LOSS IS $500,000
Fire, Thought to Have Been
Incendiary, Was Still Rag
ing at An Early Hour
This Morning
Limn, O., April 2.1.—'Three firea,
breaking out almultnneoualy in the
Lake Krle and Weatern shop* here
last night, had practically wiped out
the faOO.OOO planf and were still rag
ing early today.
Water preaaure w«» reported rut at
aonie unknown point, while federal
agents anid a hoae wan eat in two
plaeea with a knife. One man waa
taken into custody by the poliee.
Three firemen were missing early
today, one in the hospital unconscious,
and a workman was seriously injured.
Fire Chief John Mack was badly cut
and several others injured.
The railroad shop fire followed a
blaze at the same place two hours
earlier in the evening. Later, railroad
officials said, flames were discovered
at three’different places in the plant.
They spread rapidly. Another firo
broke out in a distant part of town.
Ten to fourteen locomotives needed
in war work, a new train of troop
coaches just completed in the shops
and many other coaches, as well as
a score or more of box cars, were de
stroyed.
Ten thousand dollars* worth of lib
erty bond subscriptions were burned
in the office of the shops.
Medal for Mrs. Dewey
Washington, April 24.—Mrs. George i
Dewey, widow of Admiral Dewey, was
presented with a medal today by the i
members of the Associated Veterans of
Farragut's Fleet. Secretary Daniels and '
several naval officers who served with
Admiral Dewey were present.
Summary of the News
' GEMSRAI. SEWS
1—German, renew battle ea.t of
A mien a.
Brttlah islve around nt Vlllera
Oretonacnx.
French nnd A merlon n. arr attacked
at Hanaard.
Bia fire la l.lnta, O.
Air observation .how. raid on
naval bn.-. on HelBlO" coo.t
wa« aacceaa.
JtlcAdoo reit ..cm to talk politic, on
loan campdlan.
Appeal I. made to Iona worker,
not to lea.cn effort..
iL—Crowder announce, rauip. for neat
draft.
on Overman bill coming at
oaee.
11—John D. Ryan will direct aircraft
prod action.
LOCAL MEWS
6—Retail hardware dealer, to elect
office iv. ’
Blratlaaham’a honor floe will float
front pole la Capitol park.
Friday, April 26. Is Memorial Day
for aoathera heroea.
T—Federal reaerve hank, are vain
able «• aoverameat. .ay. Ham
lin la addreaa.
FKATVRES
4—(editorial eoatmeat.
O—Society and Dolly Dalrymple.
M~*SWrt«.
15—Market..
Air Observation Shows
British Naval Raid
Complete Success
London, April 24.—Air observation shows a clear break of 20
yards in width in the Zeebrugge mole at the inner end and that
a sunken object blocks the greater part of the channel in the
harbor of Ostend, according to an official bulletin issued by the
admiralty.
Dover, Eng, April 24.—The crew of one of the British submarines which
was used to destroy the German piers at Zeebrugge during yesterday morn
ing’s raid were rescued, according to a member of the crew, by an escorting
destroyer.
The sailor said that after the de
stroyer slipped the submarine at the
entrance to the barber the underwater
boat made straight for the target. A
time fuse was set and the crew aban
doned the craft a few' moments later.
The submarine struck the objective
and blew up. The sailor said the pier
was blow n to pieces.
Berlin. April it. -{\la Gonuon.i— in
the British naval raid Tuesday morn
inn on the German submarine bases on
the Belgian coast the German admir
alty announced that in addition to five
British cruisers sunk near the coast
throo destroyers and a number of mo
torboats were sunk by the fire of the
coast batteries.
Germans Trying For
Limited Objectives Only
With the British Army in France, April 24.—Hard fighting developed
this morning on the southern battle front, the enemy attacking south of the
Somme along the line of Villers-Bretonneux, Hangard-en-Santerre, Huilles
and Caste]. Early developments indicated that the Germans were trying
only for limited objectives.
On the British sector Villers-Breton
neux, which nestles on a ridge over
looking the long stretch of the Somme
valley, was the storm center, and here
the enemy for the first time since the
war began had tanks in action. Three
of these engines of war accompanied
the storming infantry, which at latent
reports had battled forward into the
eastern outskirts of the town, where
severe fighting took place.
From the French sector came word
thiit ill $ Germans had made very slight
progress. J
TJhe assault was preceded by a heavy
bombardment about Villers-Breton
neux. At the conclusion of this prepara
tion the Germans suiged forward along
the whole British front south of the
Somme, although it seemed evident
that they had Villers-Bretonneux as
their ultimate goal because of its dom
inating position.
FIRST ATTACK REPULSED
The first attack was thrown back,
but the enemy immediately came for
ward again, and tills time mot with
more success. In the face of heavy ma
chine gun and rifle fire the t.ermans
pushed on toward the town, thoir three
tanks leading. The British gave way
slightly and the enemy got a footing
in the eastern fringe of the town.
Farther north a little above the Al
bert region, the British infantry put up
WEAXLESS
w j«> msasroii,
-5
A
| an SOS for artillery protection
about 1 o'clock this morning and what
appeared to promise a serious attack
began to rhow. Jt turned out to be
nothing more pretentious than an at
tempted raid, however, and the British
artillery smashed the enemy infantry
as they were leaving their trenches
Between Robecq and Olvencliy-Lez
I.abassee there was also consideraDio
enemy shelling this morning and the
Germans made a small attack In an at
tempt to take a post near Givenchy. But
this movement was quickly stopped by
the British fire. The British carried out
minor operations at Givenchy which
resulted in the recapture of a strong
post which the enemy held.
• South of the Clarence river four tier
man companies which essayed a local
attack were repulsed.
Birmingham and Richmond
Only Southern Cities Now
In 100 Per Cent Class
Washington, April 24.—< Special,)
Birmingham and lllchmond, alone of
all southern cities, were officially
placed thin afternoon by the treasury
department In the 100 per cent class,
composed of municipalities which have
subscribed their quota of the third Lib
erty Loan. w
While Birmingham has exceeded Its
quota, the excess amount Is not offi
cially reported. Atlanta la not yet In
cluded In the list of cities which have
measured up to expectations.
Archbishop Ireland Suffers Relapse
81. Paul, April 111.—Archbishop John Ire
land, who returned to St. Paul recently
from Florida, where he recuperated from
a breakdown, has suffered a relapse. It
was announced at his residence today..
Slight Improvement was noted this aft
erftoon, physicians said.
;<noo i
TO TALK
“Democrat Doesn’t Look
Any Better to Me Than a
Republican,’’ Says
Secretary
Albuquerque. X. M., April 24.—"A dem
ocrat doesn't look any better to me than
a republican,’" said William G. McAdoo,
Secretary of the Treasury, in refusing to
address a party of prominent democrats
after his Liberty Ixntn speech here to
night. “I am on this trip to sell Lib
erty Bonds, not to play politics. I have
three sons in the service. I think more
of them than politics.’’
In introducing Mr. McAdoo, the Liberty
Loan chairman spoke of him as posslnly
the next President of the l.’nited States.
Mr. McAdoo took exception to the re
mark, and, addressing the audience, re
pudiated the assertion, reiterating that
he was not playing politics, but selling
bonds.
“We need the bonds to win the war,” he
Washington, April 24.—The camunltj
lint today contained 42 nnmcN, divided
an follows*
Killed In action, 6; died of wounds,
»; died of disease, II; wounded severe
ly, 10; wounded slightly, 12.
Lieut. Renvelle Wheat is the only offi
cer named in today’s casualty list, lie
was slightly wounded.
The list follows:
Killed in Action
Sergeant3 Joshua K. Broadhead, Orville
G. Fuller.
Corporal Frank P. Gordon.
Privates Charles W. Foote, Felix M.
Oliva. Reger Wilson.
Died of Wounds
CorpOFivl Frank D. Brooks.
Wagoner John C. Rurwell.
Private Charlie B. Knutesen.
Died of Disease
Sergeant James A. Mulligan.
Privates Guiseppe Baldi, Clarence Ba
shaw, Leroy Cook, Ben Newell, Ora New
ton Tidd, John N. Fweeten. Winifred K.
Vaux, Karl Wagoner, John Hodges
Weston, Donald H. Munn.
Severely Wounded
Corporal Vinal B. Rideout.
Privates Steve Adorns, Hormidas Pes
rochers, John W. Gosminski, William F.
Loper, Kdward H. Monahan. Thomas
Morrison, Louis H. Palmer, Garrard Still
ings, Carl L. Witham.
Slightly Wounded
Lieut, itenvelle Wheat.
Battalion Sergeant Major Joseph E.
Housewor'h. Jr.
Bergt. Charles W. CockerlU.
Corporal Arthur D. Muirhead.
Buglers Frederick D. Hurrell. Earl H.
namaise.
Privates Walter E. Cheever. Raymond
E. Crowell, John Crawley, William J.
Graham, Gaze Gurnsey, Anthony Kowai
czyk, John R. Stoddard.
Montono Resigns
London April 24.—Viscount Motono,
Japanese minister for foreign affairs,
has resigned, according to a Reuter
dispatch from *okio.
V
\
SECRETARY M'ADOO
MAKES APPEAL
TO WORKERS NOT
TO LESSEN EFFORTS
“We Must Not Stop Fight
ing When VVe Reach
Minimum,” Says
Official
SOLDIERS IN FRANCE
ARE NOT MAKING THAT
KIND OF FIGHT IN WAR
At Present Rate Slight
Oversubscription is Evi
dent, But This is Not
Enough
Washington, April '24.—An
other plea for local campaign
committees riot to stop working
after communities reach their
Liberty Loan subscription
quotas went forth today from
Secretary MeAdoo, prompted
by recurring reports that work
in's in sonic towns were satis
fied with 100 per cent records.
"If we stop fighting when wo ha
reached the minimum of the Liber
Loan," said the secretary in a st*vN
rnent, "we Tire not comparably sup*
in# our Koim in France who air./
in*i -for the minimum L'. ' f'6r ‘tbf*"V
maximum of American rights and
world liberty."
At the rate the coutnry is subscribing
this week, the loan will be slightly over
subscribed, but treasury officials arc hop
ing not for a slight over-subeription,
but for a total of at least of $5,000,
000,000. The aggregate of reports up to
(he opening of business today is $1,790,
178.150, which is $152,000,000 more than the
total announced last night. The average
dally subscriptions necessary until the
end of the campaign are $120,000,000 to
make the $3,000,000,000, and $3.’,000.000 to
make $5,000,000,000. This shows why the
treasury is anxious for more speeding
up.
TWO DISTRICTS "OVER”
The Minneapolis and St. Louis federal
reserve distrites were officially reported
tonight as having subscribed 103 to 102
per cent, respectively, of their quotas,
and headquarters recognized the claim of
the St. Louis district of having gone over
the top first.
TEXT OF STATEMENT
Secretary McAdoo's statement urging
committees to continue work, salt!:
"I requested W, 000,«00,O'*) as tho mini
mum that the government ought to have
with the hope, and expectation that it
I would be largely over-subscribed, and
I,hat every Liberty Loan committee would
exert itself to secure the largest for
possible over-subscription. I hope the
Liberty Loan committees will energeti
cally continue the campaign until its
close in order to secure not only the
(Continued on l’ngc Three)
British Admiralty Will
Issue Monthly Report
on Ship Losses in Future
London, \pril 24.—The admiralty has
announced the cessation of the weeh
ly return of shipping losses and the
substitution of li monthly report on
the Thursday following the 21st of
each month.
The monthly statement will give the
gro*s tonnage lout and the tonnage at
sailing* to and from porta in the 1 lil
ted Kingdom.
\ table i mm tied tonight rIxcm the
Icsses of tlritlsh. allied and neutral
! merchant tonnage tine to enemy tto
\ lion and marine ri«k Mince the begin
ning of 11)17. 'I’he Iommcm for the quar
j ter ending in March, 1017, were: licit**
iMh, till,MO, and allied and neutral, 1.
I <110,070. For the quarter ending in
June: llritiMh. 1.3111,370. and allied and
neutral 2M034. For the quarter end
ing September: IlrltlMh, 052,038, and
allied and neutral, 1.404,473. For the
quarter ending In December* llritiMh,
782^80, nnd allied and neutral, 1,
27i\843.
The Iommcm for the quarter ending
March, IOIS, were: Ilrltl.Mli. <187,570, and
allied and neutral, 1,1-3.510.
Clearance In nnd out of the porta
of the 1 nited Kingdom were very
Mtendy. The total for last March wan
7,2115.200 ton*.
Longr-Range Bombardment
of Paris Continues, But
No Casualties Are Reported
f‘uri.. April 24.—The long-ra»«*
homhartlmcnl of Paris continued today.
There were no victim,.
Italian Ship Losses
Rome. April 21.—One steamer of
more than 1500 tons and one steamer
of less tonnage were sunk during the
week ending April 20, according to
the official statement on losses by
mine or submarine Issued tonight.