The Chattanooga news. [volume], March 18, 1918, LATE EDITION, Image 1

About The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939

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March 23
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VOL. XXX. NO. 218
LATE EDITION
CH AIT A M ( J A, T M N N M- MONDAY EVENING, MAHCI1 IS, 1918.
PRICE: THREE CENTS Kffir5S ?S&
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NO OFFENSIVE
UNLESS GERMANS
AREFORCEDTOIT
American Military Men No
Longer Impressed by the
Threat of Spring Drive.
EVENTS OF WAR REVIEWED
Hostile Preparation in West
Unslackened, However.
Hard Fighting in Progress
! From North Sea to
River Aisne.
Washington, March 18. Germany's
threat of a great spring offensive on
the western front no longer impresses
American military men. In its weekly
review today the war department re
cords the conclusion that the enemy,
in spite cf its vast preparations, will
not take the offensive unless forced to.
This confirms the opinion many offi
cers have expressed for weeks in the
face cf official forecasts to the con
trary from both sides of the Atlantic.
"While hostile preparations for an
offensive in the west are not slacken
ing," the review says, "It is becoming
more evident that the enemy will
launch the offensive only if compelled
to do so by the .exigencies of the gen
eral Btrategic situation."
The nature of the Information on
which the opinion is based is not dis
closed. It is noted that fresh German
divisions rjave arrived on the western
front and the German lines are said
to be approaching the point in density
beyond which it would be impossible
to go without choking communication
lines and hampering free movement
of reserves. Apparently, however, this
concentration lias come to be regarded
an a defensive not an offensive move
ment. Much of the statement Is devoted to
the activities of American troops, now
engaged on five, separate fronts, one
of the sectors lying close to the Swiss
border. The official communique, how
ever, adds nothing to recently pub
lished press reports of the raids and
trench fighting in which-the Ameri
cans have been involved.
' Inactivity Prolonged.
, TTlsp.whcre on the western' front the.'
experts find no evidence of impending
maior activities by either side.,
The
period -of inactivity, the statement
says, is being prolonged. It notes,
however, the indications of Austro
(iirmnn concentrations in 'tho Italian
theatre which may i forecast assaults
on Verona or Drescia as their objec
tives. The statement follows:
"The period of inactivity 1n the west
is being prolonged. Though the raids
now taking place would In the past
have been considered important en
gagements, nevertheless, owing to the
fact that they are merely of minor
tactical value, they cannot be held to
be major operations.
"While hostile preparations for an
offensive in the west are not slacken
ing, it is becoming more, evident that
the enemy will launch this offensive
only if compelled to do so by the exi
gencies of the general strategic situa
tion. While fresh German divisions
are reported as arriving in the we
ft is Important to note that the density
of enemy forces has nearly reached a
point beyond which it will bo imprac
ticable to go. for should any large ad
ditional body of men be massed the
chances are that the, congestion of the
lines of communication will become so
great as to make It impossible to
maintain the flexibility of manoeuver
which Is so essential.
"Our own forces in France have
been constantly in nctlon. our troops
are now In the trenches at five differ
ent points'.
'This week we undertook our first
H'-sauH against German positions tin-:-sisted
by any allied contingent.
Entered to 300-Yard Depth.
"At dawn on March 11. after a pre
liminary bombardment lasting three
quarters of an hour, v.e drove a "highly
successful raid against a German
trench segment. Our men penetrated
the German line to a depth of .ipO
yards. The enemy was driven off after
ii hand-to-hand fight, whereupon our
contingent returned to our lines.
"At throe places in Lorraine Ameri
can troops, acting in co-operation with
small French detachment-i. raided
German trenches. Two of these op
erations were carried out simultan
eously, each on a frontage of some fiOO
yards. After a prolonged bombard
ment the attacking forces were able
to reach their rbjectives. Few of the
enemv were found in the first line
trenches and the attackers swept for
ward into the German second line.
Our men remained for nearly an hour
in the German positions and retired
after inflicting murh damage and cap
turing considerable quantity of ma
terial. "There has been a decided increase
in sniping owing to more favorable
weather conditions,
W kept up a vigorous bombard- "on or oni--ii uiimi
. .w. ,,. r,n.ii r.npiatid for the farms will
the re,nr areas opposite our
Toul sector.
"Near the is border, where an
other detachment of our men are in
the trenches, hostile bombardments
were frequent.
"The arrival of our secretary of war
In : rancc Is noted. During the past
week the secretary has had Interviews
with the leading French authorities
and Is about to undertake a -airful
Inspection cf our schools, training
areas, rest camps, as well as those
a l
sectors of the. front where our Torces
are in action.
Much Hrd Fighting.
"The western front, from tbe North
arm to the Aisne. v as tht scene of
nvirh hard fighting.
Tl.e Germans carried nut a number
of air raM against Ixinden and F'.iris.
A'he.l aviator ranld German Indus
tr t nfer of the Rhine region.
"In 'he Italian theatre the arrrvi! ef
more hostile units and the conctntra-
KAISER HAS STRONG HOPE
FOR COMPLETE VICTORY
Amsterdam. Sunday. March
17. "I have a strong hope that
Field Marshal Von Hindenburs
will soon win for us complete
victory on the western front,"
reads a message sent by Em
peror William to the Pomeran
ian provincial council as quoted
in the Lokal Anzeiger, r-, Ber
lin. .
-
NEW ENGLANDERS
ACTIVE AT FRONT
Boston Bay Section Troops
Starring in Chemin-des-Dames
Engagements.
With ths American Army in Francs,
March 17. (Sunday.) (By ths Asso
oatsd Press.) Ths American troops
who have been in action along ' .the
Chemin des Dames are a division com
posed exclusively of New England,
units. The division contains units
from all ' the New England States,
troops from Massachusetts having
been especially active.
The identification of these troops, up
to this time has been prohibited by
the censor. The restriction was re
moved when it was discovered that
the rtars and Stripes, a news
paper published by, for and of the
troops of the American expeditionary
forces, had contained in its latest edi
tion a story disclosing their identity.
English Raid Succeeds.
London, March 18. "English troops
carried out a successful raid last night
south of Acheville and captured several
prisoners with little loss to them
selves," says today's official communi
cation. "Casualties were inflicted on
the enemy in patrol encounters north
east of Zonnebeke.
Hortlle artillery was active during
the night south of the Haqaume-Cam-bral
road and in the neighborhood of
Lens and there was considerable activ
ity ngalnst our forward forces be
tween Waienton and Zonnebeke.
French Very Active.
Tarls. Sunday, March 17. French
raiders were very active last night and
bronght back more than ISO prisoners
in four raids, according to an official
statement by the war offlce today.
The large! raid was made at Cheppy
wood. no-;hwot of erdun,. where the
German trenches were entered on a
long front and where tho French -cap
tured eighty-'prisoners.- The;, other
: i at Vaitnnnii In the
I Ardennes, near Mulancourt, east of
Cheppy wood and north of St.'Mlhiel.
ADVOCATE WATER
- POWER LEGISLATION
Action Necessitated Because
of Industrial Expansion
Due to War.
Washington. March 18. The admin
istratlon'a water power legislation was
advocated at a. Hearing bcrore. me
liouse interstate commerce commis-
Blnn todnv as necessary, because of
industrial expansion duo to the. war.
Secretary Lane, who was to have ap
peared, will speak for the bill later in
the week.
(.'. O. Merrill, of the forestry service,
was the principul witness today.
EMBEZZLEMENT CASE AT
RALEIGH IS OPENED
r.aU'igh, N. March IS. The trial
of .Maj. George L. Peterson, charged
with embezzlement of $7,600 of slate
funds during the time he was paymas
ter-general of tlie .vrin Carolina na
tional guard, began in Wake county
superior court here today. The selec
tion of a Jury was completed rapidly
and the taking of testimony was be
gun. The first witness Introduced by the
state was H. XI. Lacy, state treasurer,
who exhibited vouchers which he de
clared covered the entire amount of
state funds delivered to Maj. Peterson
while the latter was In otllce. Mr.
Lacy also testified that Maj. Peterson
had paid tnto the stale treasury last
January $7,6(0 to cover the amount of
the alleged shortage.
RENEW EFFORTS TO END
BIRMINGHAM STRIKE
Washington. March 18. Renewed
efforts to effect a settlement of the
metal workers' strike at lilrmlnghani,
Ala., were begun here today by a
committee of strikers' representatives,
headed by P. W. King. Conferences
are being held with officials of the de
partment of labor and with national
labor leaders.
MOBILIZE WOMEN
WORKERS FOR FARMS
Washington. March
1S. MoblIi7a
for industry
be taken up
a conference or women s nieanisui-
tions here March 15, called today
the I'nited States employment sei v
lce. The aim is to build up a reserve
nriiij- to answer emergency calls.
tion of material coming from Germany
i , I in Hi r . a t aa, o n fl m-nat t . f !
.1 t C.l L.hl.h nnlnl tn
Ill,' tJrw 'l .... . I
hostile operations having Verona and i .
Bresca as their objectives.
"In the astern theatre the ehlrf op
eration of the week (ulmlnateri in the
1
capture of Od. .-sa. The uvei.ation "f .
Odessa will no doubt be of economic I
importnnee to the enemy. !
"In Finland f.ghtir.e continue.. Or- ( o Lrad M, n(U A, ,h ri.er.py wood,
man Infantry has landed at Abo and j ,m-T. Hat. y wpt of Malwn-owrt. the
t.he arrival of important ad litional , Krem h lat.- Friday peneirat.-d i. i man
(;rmn forces on the Aland islands isjtr-m hrs on a front of Kr' m ters to a
reported. 'ilrith of 'in tn-ti t. After ib strov n-.g
"In I'.-iVst n ;, T". r 1 1 1 ' i ra-e I th positions the Fr n h returned with
nuslK'.l ttieir inns iiLhietn mil's north lLht in i-om i and wm in.n line
of Jerusalem."
GERMANY TAKES
SIMILARACTION
Will Proceed With Meaj'ires
Against American Property
Within Her RnrrW 'S
i i ivi w ve: ' f
NOTIFICATION IS OffD
Spanish and Swis
dors at Berlin
Word to Unite,
London, March 18. Ths Span
' ish and Swiss ambassadors at
Berlin have been directed by the
German foreign office to notify the
American government that Ger
many will proceed with measures
against American property in Ger
many in the same proportion that,
action is taken against German
property in the United States,
Reuters' Amsterdam corerspondent
reports.
Hitherto,' it is stated in the Ber
lin advices announcing this action,
the German government has re
stricted itself to. measures "abso
lutely neoesssry to prevent enemy
property in Germany being taken,
out of Germany during the war,
and thereby possibly benefiting
Germany's enemies."
Hundred Times as Much,
Washington, March 18. There is i
hundred times as much German prop
erty in the United States as there is
American property in Germany, ac
cording to estimates presented re
cently to a senate committee by A,
Mitchell Palmer, alien property cus
todian. The greater part of American prop
erty in Germany Is represented in
Standard Oil company Interests. Ger
man law now enables the German gov
ernment ta do with American property
exactly what congress now Is being
asked to do with German property in
America. The senate already has
passed legislation authorizing the
alien property custodian to sell the
property holdings of great German or
ganlzations in the United Slates so
they may not serve as the outposts of
kultur after the war.
Virginia Legislature
In Special Session
Richmond, Vs., March 18.- Tho Vir
ginia legislaturs met in extraordinary
session here today to receive special
message from Gov. Davis relative to
the $20,000,00(1 appropriation bill and
other measures. The governor's op
position to the appropriation bill,
which is $3,000,000 in excess of that of
1916, already has been explained. He
is opposed to increasing the state's
expenses, except in urgent cases while
the war lasts.
Several members were not .present
today when the roll was called in the
house, having announced their Inten
tion Saturday of remaining at home,
while others seemed euger to hear
what the governor had to say concern
ing their work during the regular ses
sion which expired by limitation on
March 10.
Gov. I.ivis recommended a 'reduc
lion of the .yearly appropriation for
prohibition law enforcement from
$50,000 to $40,000. H declared, how
ever, ho win Id sign 1 bill If Ihe as
sembly Ins ted on the $50,000 a year
appro.. "'.ititn, the fund for the next
two ytuis being $100,000. The gov
ernor also urged a reduction of
$1.227,8BO In tho biennial appropriation
bill.
EXPECT FINAL VOTE SOON
ON WAR FINANCE BILL
Washington. March IS. The admin
istration's bill to establish a wur
finance corporation, already passed by
the senate, was before the house again
today with-leaders confident of a final
vote early this week.
hi-- i & J
FRENCH GAIN ENEMY POSMONS ON
WIDE FRONT TO DEPTH OF 800 YARDS
(Associated Press Review.
French and German troops hsve been
engaged in heavy fighting on both
sidee of the Mouse in the Verdun sec
tor. West of the river the French
hsve gained the enemv Dosltlone en a
(front of about 1,400 yards to a depth
of 800 yards, while east of the river
the Germans were unsuccessful
in
Sunday the Germans sent heavy
forces against ths French positions St
Samognoux, north of the Bois de
Cauneres and near Beionvaux. They
entered the French line at various
Polr"S.
Violent French arfellery fire
inflicted heavy casualties on the at
tackers and they were unable to hold
onto tho trenches thev had aained.
The front east of the Meuse has been
th - r - r. - mk . . . I A I ( . - a
durina ,h. mon,h.
The Frenc h nw n-mn west t-t the j
river wns made ut Malsnourt. west
guns. Kjt cf l.hrlms, in the Cham
i
- 1 Mght I
Russ Towns Occupied
German Troops Advance but
Lose Point 200 Miles
From Moscow.
London, March 18, German
troopr have occupied Bakhmatch
and Konotep (in, the province of
Tchernigov, about 350 miles south
west of Moscow), but were forced
to retire, from Briansk (in the
provinoe of. Orel, 200 miles south
west of Moscow) tuwsrd the main
base, acoording to an - Exchange
Telegraph dispatch from Moscow,
dated Saturday. , Austre-German
troops are, mo'. on Woroshba
and Kharkov, capital of the prov
ince -cf tho same name and about
400 miles south of Moscow. Orders
have been given to evacuate Khar
ov. 16 DEAD RESULT
OF EXPLOSIONS
Violent Shocks at French Fac
tory Affect EVery Quar
ter of Paris.
Pans, Friday, March 15. Two vio
lent explosions today' In a factory at
La Courneuve, north-f Paris, caused
tho death of sixteen persons and the
injury to a large number, mostly
slightly, according to an. official .an
nouncement made tonight,
Later it was said the number of dead
wao thirty. The causes of the explo
sions have not yet been definitely de
termined.
l.a Coiyneuve In seven kilometers
from the cathedral of Notre llnme, in
the direction of St, Penis. American
lied Cross Bnd army ambulances were
among.the first at tho scene of the ex
plosion. American soldiers approached
to within a few hundred yards of the
huqned buildings and carrlod the In
jured across fields to vehicles waiting
to move the victims to hospitals in
Paris and the suburbs,
Sohool Windows Shattersd.
An American army officer dressed
the wounds of a child cut by flying
glass nearly a mile from the scene of
ther disaster. The child was one of
soverut score In a sohool In which ev
ery window whs shattered.
Firemen were unable to approach the
burning factory nearer than 800 yards.
Survivors declare Ihfl aectnert wa
1h4 .eolrtnwt
tins to a man droppf
ftifVbot of - per -
mission fuses which sot off a box, of
grenades. Most of the workmen, real
izing the danger, espaoed.
All roofs and windows within a cir
cumference of miles of the building
were demolished while buildings col
lapsed from the violence of the ex
plosion. In overy quarter of rails
windows were shattered ami furniture
overturned.
in a public school at Aiibervllleres
thero was a panic and four girls died
from fright.
Nearly 1.000 persons are shelterless
as the result of damage to tlielr homes.
Regarding the assistance given by
Red Cross and American soldlets, the
municipal councillor of Hourgct, near
where the explosion occurred, said:
We must pay homage to thn manner
In which the American Hod Cross or
ganized assistance. American sol
diers Khowed devotion not. to be for
gotten In finding the Injured, giving
first nld In moving the unfortunates i
to oarer localities and transporting
those who hail escaped to a hotel set I
aside for them."
CORRECT REPORT
OF JAPS KILLED
Washington, March 1s State de
partment dispatchee today from Pek
ing put the number of Japanese killed
in fighting at Blagovieihtchenek at
six and the wounded at two. Press
dispatches from London put the num
ber killed by the bolsheviki at 150,
although later dispatches from Tien
tsin, via London, gave the number as
three.
pagne fieiman troops gained mo
mental lly s footing in French positions
west of Vnudi Hlncourt. but suffered
heavily under a French counter attack
which restored the situation.
llaidlng B'tivlty on the Itilllsh front
has died down somewhat and the Ger
mans for tin- moment at least lmv
given up tioir strong raids on the
Ynrea-Ari.n line. The artillery flic
here and In the fambrnl area, however.
Is lt.tnsr. Hiillsti airmen persist In
their botnhmg raids against military
Fair and Warmer, Says Billy P.
It's almost time
for baseball snd
sportive H. V. I's.;
to drwiop spring
tune fever, and
for flskv dogwood
trees: It seems
the winter's over,
and the siip be
gins lo stir, so to
h- In fashion,
l.i'lv. tin dig out
your summer fur.
w ra'iir r I
iiul Tu JV.
mtt'l w.ninir lu
MS
i fey, UGH.
1 lie
SEALING OF PACT
IS DENOUNCED
Russian Ambassador at Wash
ington Declares His Po
sition on Treaty.
HIS COUNTRY THREATENED
Decries Conditions Imposed by
Germany To Continue Co
operation With Allies.
Washington, March 18. Russia's
aseeptanea of the German peaoo terms
was dsnouncsd hero today by Boris
Bakhmeteff, the Russian ambassador,
who last November formally repu
diated tho bolshevik government.
Tho conditions imposed by Ger
many, thn ambassador says, threaten
the existence and Independence of
the country. The embassy, he de
clares, will continue to advocate co
operation with the allies in the wur
on Germany.
Statement Follows.
The embassador made known
his position in the following state
ment: "A sinister pact of submission
hsa closed the circle of happen
ings that have laid Russia open
to the aggressor.
"The conditions Imposed by the
enemy are such that the very ex
istence of an Independent Rus
sian national organism appears to
be threatened and the cherished
hope of liberty to be vanishing.
"In these days of supreme trial
for the country, tho Russian em
bassy artlrms its deep conviction
that the people of Russia cannot
accept, as a definite solution of
their struggle for liberty, this set
tlement of violence brought forth
by conquest, anarchy and despair.
Thn present turn of events, this
most bitter phrase of the great
crisis. Russia Is passing through,
la not Its ultimate outcome and n
now task of national redemption
arises before thn people of Rus
sia, the vindication of the very In
dependence and freedom of the
fount ry, the reunion of the Rus
sian commonwealth, the libera
tion of Russia from disrupting
and enslavement.
Inspired by Ameriosne.
"To this broad task of libera
tion, conceivable only with co-operation
and direct support of the
utiles to this achievement, which
should rally, without difference of
liicuone, an inose wno strive TO
4 - , jrtaMtshment of a -pmrtlcMiy
united and economically Inde
pendent Russian democracy, will
the embassy In Wnshlnq-ton con
tinue to consecrate all Its endeavor
and effort, ilmling a source of In
spiration and confidence In the
noble snd hurtful attitude of
sympathy and asslstnnce which
the .American never cease to
manifest to Russia In the hours of
lier darkest trinl."
Hindu Charged
v With Fleeing Justice
New Yolk, March ' 8. Hiiilendi a
Nath lihnz, a Hindu, under Indictment
In the federal courts In Man Francisco
with Franc Hopp, former tiertmin con
sul, and others on a churgn of plotting
a military uprising In India, was ar-
lested here today dunged with being
a fugitive from Justice foitcthcr will
a Young woman named Akiic SiihmI.
ley.
H. C. OF L EQUALLED
BY HIGH COST OF DYING
Washington, March H The hlh
cost of dying was suggested by an In
'Itllry today to llin Internal revenue
bureiiu. A I j 1 1 1 1 1 whs very 111 at one
limn last year and Ms wife was told
lie bad only twenty-four hours to live.
With unusual furetlioiiKlit slm inn 1e
funeral arrangements and oidirr.l on
elaborate casket. T'i man recovered
and the uiub -rlnker refused to take
back the casket except at HO b sa thnn
the purchase ptice. Now the man
who illd not li wants to know
whether the f 10 Is an allowable deduc
tion in ftguilng his Incom taxes.
targets and have MCioiinted for twn-ty-thiee
inure German mu hlnrs.
On the American sectots st Toul snd
I.unevllle there has been no change In
the situation. American patrol Imrtlen
are -till visiting the enemy lines and i
reluintriK with valuable Information
n the Toul I rout Ihe Amerban sr.
Illlery fire has bwn very heavy, the
gunners shelling billets and works over
an area approximately nix miles wld'
and two miles deep. Fast of I.une
vllle also th- artillery bonilordiin ut
bus ! i ii heavy.
Having occupied Odessa and Nil.ol
rv. important nttvul Mini main polls.
the Gi rtnana In southern Itussla. con
tinue their advance nrntliwsid from
the ItliK k Sea toward Kherson, an Im-
IHirtnnl itimmerclal center and capital
of the province of the same name.
The all-l!nlfin congress of Soviets
has dei luted Moscow tol.e the Itusslsn
capital and it Is said that nit ajovern-
mnt snd military effects have been
removed 'rom I'rtrorrsd The t.oi
abevik leaders although thny urged
and obtained ratification 'f 'he German
peace, are raid to have little hope that
Ihe 'rsty will bring pence ana nre
railing upon the local s.ivleta tu foi m
military oigmir.itlotn fh wbl'-h bi
Ollll-at the Geiln.lhS should th'lr In.
ssK.n continue lurth'i in the bail
of ltueeia.
GERMAN TROOPS OCCUPY
IMPORTANT RUSSIAN CITY
Greatest Wheat Storage Center, Seventy, Miles
Northeast of Odessa, Also Recently Captured, .
Falls Into Enemy Possession Berlin Gives :
Out War Office Announcement.
rlin, March 13.- -(British ; .'. '.ally w-clci. pre.)
"In southern Ukraine, Nikolayev hat been occup ied," the
war office announces.
The official German statement confirms a press dispatch
received yesterday from Petrograd saying that in addition to
Odessa, the Germans had occupied Nikolayev. It is a city of
bout 1 00,030 inhabitants, seventy miles northeast of Odessa,
and is the greatest Russian wheat storage center. It has a
navy yard.
COMPLETE PLANS
PENDING REPLY
Ready for Acquisition of Dutch
ShippingAnswer Ex-,
pected Tuesday.
Washington, March 18. Plans for
enerstion of the Dutch shipping winch
will be aoquired by the United 8tates
lid Great Britain, either through vol
untary agreement or by requisition,
were going forwsrd steadily today,
while, the governments waitsd ths re
ply of Holland the demand that she
aooede to the terms of the eontract
which Germany blocked or suffer ten
ure of all her tonnage in American and
British waters.
Holland's reply, which has been ills
patched to London, In expiiclt-d by of
ficials to conclude the ncotlHtlons
there today. Helxme of the ships In
American waters will be delayed, how.
ever, Until the reply Is iwelved hern,
which limy pot tin until tomorrow.
Operation tt the' ships will l under
Control ct the shipping aboiird. An
nouncement of the trr.de to which they
will be put hsa been withhold, b .t it
Is understood that must of them wilt
bo used under" the American flag and
iideiiuutely armed, to cany looil
through the war sune to (he allies.
Provide American Ssiloie.
As im)H as word is received here of
1 1 i I in 1 1 il h uecision. trie nnyy iiepuri
un lit will put men on timid the ves
sels to take I in iiih I possession. It Is
understood that the imvy ilepnrti rut
will provide suttlcleril Amerlcuu sail
ors, possibly from ths nnvul reserve, to
comply with tli American laws, tlir
remainder of the news to be mad i up
of Dutch sni loin.
About eighty 4 Milch ships of proba
bly 60,000 tons will bii tiikeii over by
I ne American govei imieiit. Home of
tliriu already are In the American
S'tvlce nn.ler n nun ., -day nxieemi lit
made with H illaiid two months aito,
Transfer Packers'
Case to Kansas City
Washington. Match H.- Ttnnsfer of
tin- govt l nini u'.'s pin king Investiga
tion from I'hlciiKo lo Kansas (.'My with
the first heailnss tomorrow was an
nounced today by lln federal tunic
commission.
New Flan for Basing
Draft Goes to Wilson
Washington. M.111I1 1. A plan tu
basn the disll iiiotii On I egisl i ut Ion
nil. I liability to service, Instea t of on
the nuinhei of men III class I n pro
posed by I'rovost Marshal General
t'rowiler. will be laid before fienhlrnt
Wilson tonight by Itrpresenluttve
lent. of Alahnmn. chairman of the
house military affairs committee, snd
Representative hbellinliei gel , ol Ne
braska, who declined to coni iir In the
committee's favorable' repm t or. a bill
sponsored by ttie admlnisl i ut ion and
by t Jen. Cl otd r.
It' ln m Main i- Hhsllc nhetger said tie
would point out lo the president that
the administration's plsu would wotk
lllieiialltles In ti" nuinlier of fighting
men given dv the iiirrereni smies nnn
would have temptation open to lo
at '
boards to class too many men as net
estiary for wotk nt home.
Believe U. T. Student
Among Casualties
(Sperlal tn The ,'
Knoivllle, Mitt'-h IK James It.
Stewart, whose name appears in
a rasimllv list from Gen. retailing.
Is thought to b a Tinni -aseati. A
I nlvarslly of Tennessee student bv
that narim from liil.-v Hie, lift
my
i ith
miles from Memphis, tnhsted
the engineer totps several months
Sgo.
MEASURE FOR RAILROAD
WAGE LIFT TO BE DELAYED
Washington. M.ir. h 1 - Ceconiuieii
datioh by the tabioud wage eonimi
slon tor ltn tease In l"v for r.illtoad
emploe ae.-med likely l,1av to be de
lae.l until next week, although a de
rision had bee. i exrel t by Thut
day. The commlioii still Is compil
ing figures liming on wugta sod the
coat of living and no iln Hietl hn l- eil
mode regard!" ini nam lor any
iliiicl of t ml
cpv cncDrrrcn
Ul 1 UUJ1 lAalliV
AT WORK WITHIN
AMERICAN LINES -
Important Telephone Wires in '
Sector Northeast of Toul
Found to Have Been Cut.
With the American Army in France,
Sunday, March 17. (By the Associated
Press.) 'American intelligence officers
report evidence leading to the conclu
sion that possibly a spy may be at
work within the American lines north
west of Toul. Esrly this morMng an
American sentry saw Nashee of a sig
nal light from a window facing In the
dirsction of the enemy lines. Hs fired
through the window and daehed into
the houee, but failed to And any ens.
Four hours earlier sums Important
telephone wires within the American
line's were found to hve been cut.
An American patrol lost night en
tcred Ut tuiwny trenches at xipa end
of the sector and penetrated thorn for
ome distance .Mllwut-dimcalty. Much,
valuable Information waa gathered. As
they were about ready to return they
established contact with the enemy,
who opened flrei with a machine fun.
Ths Americans Jumped to a safe po
sition and hurled grenades, silencing '
the gun. .
Ite.turtilng lo the American' side of
No Man's laind, the raiders brought
back with them a German rifle breech,
protected by a metallic, cover over the
rniu.le, and a snap clip cover, both of
which opei ate quickly and efficiently,
Olllcers declared It was the best thins;
of Ihe kind they had ever seen for pro
tecting rifles. The mechanism was
turned over to the Intelligence depart
ment with a recommendation that the
attiichmenl be furnished American
t loops.
Bombardment Effective.
fun patrol on the other end of ths
sector reported that the enemy first
Hue was held strongly. Whlla the
tablets were Inspecting the German
positions the enemy Pied upon them
nc vera I times with rifles and machine
guns, whl. h are unusual at that point.
I Mir artillery effectively bombarded
billets, troops and new enemy works
nt I .a ha yt tile. St. Haussant, the village
j of Montsee, lllcli"court. In the Quarate
pi" llesrrve. along the I'annes-Moiniiid
I loud and a considerable number uf
I I loops northwest of liuxleiea. They
, also battered to ple.es another lottery
of gas projectors which had been art
up In a double line of trenches.
The enemy lias shelled various part
of our positions rather heavily, many
Kits shells bung mixed with high tx
plosive ones. Some American soldiers)
wh" happened to be near or who
walked through the shelled areas aft -eiwsid
said there were Indications the
rnnmv wns trying to Isolate one of our
positions with shell Are. The visibil
ity was eiceptlorially good today and
the weather was like Summer. A great
number of wagon trains and small
, i iiniii ,.r flrrttian, a-ca ui.n wftlkintf ,
'behind the rneniv lines.
Several times during the day th
nlr was crowded with airplanes and
on one occasion several enemy planra
wiiii- overhead at Ihe same time. Air.
planes from the tear of our linea. car
r In American observers, maneuvered
get In a fUhl With the enemy ma
chines but they were unsuccessful.
met leu ti antlalrcruft rnns drove off
n number of enemy machines and kept
Ihe others high 111 the air.
Hold Mecklenburg Trench.
VtiptI'Hi observers had hern su
cerul In accomplishing much work
which the re.etit ground he had pre
vinted They obtained badly wanted
photograph ant observed certain
things , k of the German line.
A nieiii an tro,ip In the Ijjneville
sector have been subjected tv. fairly
benw bombardment during the past
twenty. four hours, but have been str
ing the rnemy as murh received,
l atrols nt two point established con
tact with the enemy Isst night and
entlv this morning. After brief firing
the German retired.
American soldiers s-e stilt holding '
the Mecklenburg trench taken two
d.ivs ago. and which It t row permit- '
ted to name. The antiaircraft guna
ent of I.tinevtlle were extremely busy
today In driving cfT enemy atrplaqe.
CONTRACT SURGEON COMES
TO CHICK AM AUG A PARK
Contart Fiirgeon Malcolm A. Itlias,
of St. ' vini repor'ed to Camp Vrden
Mclean Moe.Uv morn! 'T f . the pur
pose cf examining the c- lets for nerv
ou and rnrntsl diseases. Lr. litis is
u,uaitud at bai racks 1-C.