The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., August 08, 1918, Image 1

About The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924

Image provided by: Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT

                
The WeatKer Report
The Want Columns
For Bridgeport and vi
cinity: Thunder showers to
night, cooler; Friday partly
cloudy; light west winds.
VOTi 4 KO 1R7 "FIST 17QD Entered as second class matter at the post office
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Additional American Forces Thrown Across Dur
ing Wednesday and Last Night Counter At
tacks by Germans Brilliantly Repulsed by Our
Forces Some Prisoners Taken, But Most of
Foe Retired Fresh German Division Now
Facing Americans.
With the American Army on
10 p. m. (By the Associated Press) The river Vesle was
crossed east and west of Fismes late today by additional Amer
ican infantrymen. West of Fismes the Americans are breaking
up counter attacks by German infantry and are holding their
ground despite the enemy efforts.
In support of the Americans who had crossed the river dur
ing Tuesday night and Wednesday morning a detachment of in
fantry crossed the Vesle under a Franco-American barrage just
before noon today. Two other detachments reached the north
bank during the afternoon. The Germans counter-attacked the
.Americans west of Fismes this afternoon but were scattered
by the American artillery fire. The Americans have advanced
under a heavy fire and in bitter fighting in which the men from
overseas used their bayonets effectively. A few Germans
were taken prisoners, while the others retired.
The stiffest resistance now facing the American infantry
north of the Vesle in the region west of Fismes is from a knoll
north of Bazoches. Here a number of German machine gun com-
i panies have dug in and are clinging desperately to the hill, de-
! spite the fire of the heavy allied guns. One of the American
detachments which crossed the river today reinforced the
; Americans along the Rheims-Soissons highway who are endea-
voring to drive the Germans from the knolL
Among the prisoners taken by the Americans today were
I an officer and several privates from a fresh division which has
'just arrived from the German front in Flanders.
(By The Associated Press)
Allied troops on two widely separated, sectors of the battle
i front are keeping the Germans busy and have carried out local
(advances which may prove of
. uons.
Along the Vesle French and Americans have crossed the
river successfully on a front of about five miles between Braisne
and Fismes. North of Rheims,
! tor, the French have moved four hundred yards between the
railroads running to Laon and
British troops at the apex of the Lys salient have pushed
forward their lines more than half a mile on a front of almost
; five miles between the Lawe and Clarence rivers. Apparently
the German resistance was not great, as Field Marshal Haig does
not report any heavy fighting. It is on this sector that the en
emy withdrew slightly several days ago.
Over the entire front between Soissons and Rheims the ar
tillery duel continues intense.
aiding the infantry north of the
tne uerman mlantry attacks.
only of medium calibre and
(Continued on Page Two)
DEPUTY SHERIFF SU
BY GOME
Another Chapter in Litigation Involving Park City Con
struction Company Allege Steigler Exceeded
His Legal Duty.
Another chapter in the litigation revolving around the af
fairs of the Park City Construction Company, now a bankrupt
concern was recorded today in the suit brought by the company
icrougn us trustee Attorney
Sheriff Wenzel G. Steigler for
FOUR MORE MEN
ENLIST IN NAVY
Four men were enrolled at the Navy
recruiting office on Cannon street and
were sent to the Naval Training Sta
tion at Newport, R. I. They were
Arthur W. Ford, 21 Eerwick street,
Melrose, Mass., apprentict eennan;
Oscar T. Tannier, 237 Hoiiisier ave
nue, city, apprentice seaman; Robert
H. Jamieson, 103 East 6th street,
Topeka, Kansas, apprentice seaman;
Thos. Robinson of 1048 Pleasant
street, city, as machinists' mate and
Louis Sid Wilbur. 480 Noble avenue,
city, as apprentice seams n.
It was intimated today that the
draft may now take men for service
in the Navy as there still appears to
be a shortage In this branch of the
aervlc.
the Vesle, Wednesday, Aug. 7
first importance in future opera-
on the eastern end of this sec
Bethel.
The Allied artillery has been
river by breaking up some of
Enemy guns in use appear to be
it is believed the Germans have
rreaenck Morgan against Deputy
$4,000 damages
Steiger was the sheriff selected by
Barnith Sachs, a real estate operator,
to attach material belonging to the
Park City Construction Co. in the suit
he entered against the company for
$60,000 because of their failure to
fulfill the contract he h.-td with them
for building 20 houses on a plot of
ground owned by him in Stratford.
Included was a Ford car. a laree
numher of barrels of l!me and other
Duimins materials whose total value
amounted to nearly $4,000. It is al
leged in the complaint that after the
attachment was made the company
went into bankruptcy, which auto
matically released the attachment.
Demand was made on Steigler to
return the material which he refused
to do. The complaint further states
that the deputy sheriff not only ex
ceeded his legal duty, out that he al
lowed this material to become dam
aged T.-hiie in his possession. Hence
the suit which is returnable to -the
September term of the superior court.
RAFT BOARDS
MEET TO STUDY
REGULATIONS
Gather at Noon at Univer
sity Club to Talk Over
Next Registration.
At a meeting of the chairmen of
the various local draft boards in the
city, held today at the University Club
on Golden Hill street at 12:30, plans
were formulated to handle the regis
tration of the men who will come un
der the new selective draft law calling
for all males between the ages of 18
and 45.
Instructions regarding the enroll
ment of the men to be designated in
the new draft proclamation, procur
ing of registrars, and other details for
handling of this work were today re
ceived by the local boards.
It is estimated that fully one and
one-third times as many more reg
istrars, clerks, etc., will be required
on this new enrollment. As hereto
fore the various local boards will have
immediate direction ond supervision
over the registrations of the various
voting precincts In their respective
Jurisdictions.
When the President's proclamation
will be issued, which will probably be
early in September, the plans formu
lated at today's meeting of the local
boaards will provide for efficient
handling of this new gigantic task.
i
POLICE PREPARE FOR
BURGLARY EPIDEMIC
Warning Received That Gang
West Haven Shore Is Headed Toward
Bridgeport.
According to police officials
mitted at the home of E. E. Hinkle, the steel magnate, Gordon
Place, Greens Farms, last Saturday night when more than $3,
000 worth of jewels and $400 in cash, were taken is the fore
runner of-a series which will be attempted in this district from
now on by a gang of professional cracksmen now working this
way.
SINGERS WANTED
FOR PATRIOTIC
RALLIESIN PARK
War Bureau Issues Appeal
For Men to Aid in Arous
ing War Spirit Here.
The Bridgeport War Bureau today
Issued the following appeal to men
who sing:
"The Bridgeport War Bureau wants
600 men who sing to attend the pa
triotic services held in connection
with the band concerts and lead the
community singing of patriotic airs
and war songs. This is a patriotic
service of Importance and one that
may be performed with pleasure by
those who enjoy singing. We be
lieve that community singing adds to
the inspiration of these meetings but
find that many indifferent singers
hesitate to join In the songs unleis
others "lead off." To give these
people a chance to express their pa
triotic feelings in sang we want ev
ery man who can sing and can attend
these meetings to be present and help
in the good cause. We shall be glad
to have the names of those who will
u.tnnleai. fnr tit Kfirvi'P.ft. htlt Tnnfr
of all we want their attendance and
help at the concerts. SlngerB, here
Is a chance for you to help. Will
you do it?"
Building Up Crews
' of Merchant Marine
Washington, Aug. 8 With the view
up the crews for merchant ships,
Chairman Hurley, of the Shipping
Board today ordered that the deck
crews of vessels operating from At
lantic and Gulf ports, shall be com
posed of four ordinary seamen, grad
uated from the board's training school
to every six able seamen.
The purpose, it was announced, is
to give men now entering the mer
chant marine a better opportunity to
absorb quickly, under actual seagoing
conditions the- knowledge which will
make them good sailors. -
and Evening Farmer
BRIDGEPORT, CONN., THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 1918 SSjSA SSMW SS&.SSS
Captain and 23 Members of
Crew Landed at Norfolk
. Today, Is Report.
SHIP FORMER DUTCH
VESSEL TAKEN OVER
One Boat With 18 Members
of Company is Still Un
accounted for.
New York, Aug. 8 Information
that the American steamship Merak,
3,224 tons gross, was sunk by a Ger
man submarine off Cape Hatteras on
Tuesday night, was received today in
Marine insurance circles here. One
small boat containing 18 members of
the crew still is unaccounted for.
The captain and 23 members of the
crew have been landed at Norfolk.
The Merak, one of the former Dutch
cargo vessels which were taken over
a few months ago by the United States
Shipping Board, was on her way
from an American port to Chile car
rying coal.
Washington, Aug 8 Sinking of the
small unarmed American steamer
Merak by a German submarine off- the
coast of North Carolina was reported
today to the navy department. No
details were given.
WAR STAMP SAXES.'
The War Savings Stamp Bureau for
today is as follows: Connecticut,
$25,892.74; district post offices,
$503.14; local, $8,817.69, making a
grand total of $35,213.57.
Recently Operating Along
the burglary which was com
This opinion was expressed when
word was received here that the sum
mer colony in the vicinity of New
Haven had suffered heavily from the
work of second story men.
Reward of $500 has been offered by
E. E. Kinkle for the arrest and con
viction of the thief or thieves who en
tered his home and a detailed list of
the loot taken by the cracksmen has
been published by the authorities.
The majority of the articles stolen
will have to be either broken up or
melted in orjer to get rid of them as
they are practically all individual de
signs. The activity of burglares in this
section of the country at the present
season is no novelty as it hanDens
regularly every year. It was ex
plained by the police hat the men
who plan the breaks are among the
highest class of criminals and no
house is broken into unless it has
been thoroughly mapped and if possi
ble one of the gang -Is employed
atnong the help. The break may not
occur while the crook is employed in
the house, but be or she obtains the
information which will be used
months afterward by the actual
thieves.
Captain E. O. Cronan in alluding to
the burgary in the Hinkle home,
said: -It is one of the cleanest jobs
I have ever investigated and was the
work of high class cracksmen. it
was given out at first that it was the
work of amateurs, but there is no
further use In concealing the fact
that the break was accomplished by
men who were experts in their line,
and must have been thoroughly fa
miliar, not alone with the plans of
the house, but with the habits of each
! member of the household
Fortunate
ly the jewels which formed the loot
happen to be of such a peculiar de
sign that it will be only a matter of
a short while before they are located.
"The one big reason I think the
work is that of high class profession
als is that thousands of dollars' worth
of family silver arid gold pate was not
touched by them as the articles would
be too bulky to carry off: Nothing
but jewels which could" be put in a
vest pocket, and money, was even
thought of by the cracksmen and it is
only the high Cass ones that will
work that way."
According to other information re
ceived it appears that the thieves
missed a very rich haul for it was
only the morning before the bulglary
E. E. Hinkle placed jewels valued at
about $60 060 in a safety deposit Vault
in New York city, It- was undoubted
ly this big booty the cracksmen were
after when they entered the home la
the early hours of Sunray fioraing.
WORK COMMENCED
ON GOVERNMENT
HOUSING PLANS
Mayor Wilson Formally
Breaks Ground for First
Set of New Buildings.
MANY INTERESTED
SPECTATORS PRESENT
Development at Connecticut
and Carroll Avenues to
Have 108 Homes.
Mayor Clifford B. Wilson turned
the first shovelful of earth this noon
on the site at the corner of Connecti
cut and Carroll avenues, upon which
the Bridgeport Housing Company are
to build 108 of the 608 homes to be
built with the government appro
priation of $3,000,000.
A large number of interetsed spec
tators were present including many of
the best known business men of the
city, and several were called upon to
speak. The remarks of W. H. Bam,
manager of the Bridgeport Housing
Company, and George M. Eames, vice
president, are in another column of
the paper.
There were many comments on the
desirability of the lots for the pur
pose and much interest was displayed
in the plans of the houses which were
shown by the architects. Men were
at work driving stakes and marking
out the land, and workmen were toe
ginning to clear the land before the
crowd who had been watching the
ceremonies dispersed.
Among those present were the di
rectors of the Housing Company, the
Chamber of Commerce fflcioals, sev
eral of the United States Bureau of
Housing and Transportation repre
sentatives, and several from5 the Col-well-Wingate
Company, who were
awarded the l- contract for the con
struction of the buildings. Water pipes
and sewer pipes are already on the
site, and everything possible is being
done to make a record in the con
struction. JUDSON PROPERTY
IS TAKEN OVER
BY GOVERNMENT
Land on Boston Ave. Seized
For Housing Under Or
ders of Labor Dept.
At noon today Judge Newton M.
Schwab, who has been appointed re
quisition officer, with two witnesses,
put up a sign on two acres of property
fronting on Boston avenue which be
longed to R. M. Judson, reading "U.
S. Property. No Trespassing." The
decision to take this step was reached
this m'prning by Edward Murphy,
official negotiator of the TJ. S. Bureau
of Housing and Registration and was
based on the order of the Secretary of
Laoor.
The commandeering of the property
was decided upon after it was foun
to be impossible to arrive at any
arrangement with Mr. Judson. At
the present time he is an inmate of a
sanatorium in New Tork state. In a
personal letter from Mr. Judson he
named a price for this pieee of land
which was over double the value
placed upon it by the government ap
praisers.
A communication was sent in an
swer but no reply has been received
Mr. Judson will receive in cash 75 per
cent, of the price named1 by the gov
ernment appraisers. If he is dissat
isfied with the amount he can enter
suit in the courts for the difference
between the money he received and
the amount which he believes to be a
just valuation of his land.
FIND GRAVE OF
LIEUT. ROOSEVELT
With the American Army en the
Vesle, Wednesday, Aug. 7. (By The
Associated Press.) On a wooden
cross at the head of a grave at the
eflge of a wood at Chainsj, east of
Fere-en-Tardenois, is this inscription i
"LIEUT, QUINTTN ROOSEVELT,
BU'HIKD BY THE GERMANS."
ScriSB eewapesers announced sev
eral days ago that Lieut, Roosevelt,
who disappeared during an earial
combat on July 17, had been buried
by the Germans at Cbaraery, but un
til today the -.grave was wot iSeeoY-.
ered. It was found by an American
aviator. The inscription is in Eng
.lish. , ' - - - '
LIVER BL
ROUT OF 2
Early Reports Show Advances of About Two Miles
South of the Somme Attack Started at Dawn
Today on West Front in Picardy East and1
Southeast of Amiens French First and Brit
ish Fourth Armies Engaged in Onslaught
Satisfactory Progress Reported in the Early
Stages of New Battle Effort to Break Enemy
Line Between Montdidier and Soissons.
(By The Associated Press)
British and French troops attacked this morning from Al
bert, northeast of Amiens, to Montdidier, on the Avre, southeast
of Amiens, the front of attack being' approximately 28 miles.
Meagre reports from the field indicates that the Allies,
have advanced to a depth of about two miles south of the
Somme, and probably have taken the villages of Marcelcave
and LaMotte-en-Senterre.
It is reported from. Washington that it is not believed
American forces are engaged in the present fighting. Ameri
cans were holding the line at Cantigny, some time ago, but .
were withdrawn and sent to the Aisne-Marne salient, where
they participate in, the recent victory over the Germans.
This new attack, launched just three weeks after Field
Marshal Foch's masterly counter offensive against the western
side of the Soissons-Rheims salient, has been expected since the .
Germans were driven back to the Aisne and the Vesle. It was
not believed the Allied commanders would permit the initiative
to pass to 'tne enemy after the stunning defeat administered to
him along the Marne. Foch is known to be an offensive fighter
and it has been predicted that a new blow would fall on the
German lines before they had time to reorganize their shatter
ed divisions behind . the Vesle and the Aisne.
The Germans seem to have had knowledge of the plans of
the Allied commander in chief for during the past ten days
they have' carried out three local retirements in the northern
sectors of their line- two of these withdrawals being in the
Picardy. salient, one on each side of AIEert, along the Ancre
river, and the other along the Avre river, north of Montdidier.'
In each case the enemy retired to positions before which rivers
form partial protection.
The fighting in Picardy recall the great offensives carried
out there by the British and French in 1916, and the German
"strategic retreat to the Hindenburg line in February and March
1917. The British bad forced their way during the fall east
(Continued on Page Two)
PROMISED S
RELIEVE HEA
Bridgeport Sweltering Under a Temperature Close to the
Record for City Only One Shop
Closes Down.
Although thunder showers are promised tonight by the
weather sharks, no definite relief from the grip of the torrid
wave is in sight and the mercury stands about the same today
as yesterday with a tendency to go a little higher if anything, v
JUDGE WARNER
FINDS FOR TOWN
AGAINST YAGN
In a decision handed down today by
Judge Donald .Warner in the sutt of
Conrad Wegner against the town of
Darlen, he finds for the defendant
town on both counts. Wegner owns
property near Noroton and Linden
avenues" In the town of Darien, and
alleged that -the sluiceways built by
the town in those streets greatly dam
aged his property which was flooded
In consequence.
He also asserted that the change of
grade in Noroton avenue made it ex
tremely difficult -to get to his prop
erty and eaused damage to his green
houses. He asked that an injunction
be granted to prevent the town from
operating the sluiceways and also, for
damages,.
Judge Warner finds that the tewn
was well within its rights in con
structing the .sluioeways and that if
anything the property was benefitted
by them, . He alsa decides that the
change is grade was a damage te the
plain titf,. Wegner, but that the de
mand for damages is not properly
mad and therefore he must find for
.the defendant town on both counts-
rissslflel adverting- In
:hls uewrpi!r ! efieciSva,
co matter what you may tie
tire to advertise. Try It one
and gee.
PRICE TWO CJSKTS
IS HHY '
SPELL
Three people were prostrated by th$
heat yesterday afternoon but this fig.
ure falls far below the usual crop ot
prostrations for this district undei
similar weather conditions. Physi
cians attached to the city hospital!
look upon the situation as -belsc
record breaking on.
Yesterday afternoon a few left tfcMi
work in the ship yards and munltioi
shops owing to the intensity of th
heat, which at the Lake Torped
Boat Co.'s plant registered 10 de-v
grees. "
It was reportod today that th(
foundry of the Crane Co. had Close.,
down early owing to the intensity ol
the heat, but up to 2 o'clock thjs af
ternoon this was practically the onlj '
plant out of tho 200 in Bridgepon.
which had decided to quit. Thli
speaks volumes' for the grit of th
workers and when it is taken int
consideration that out of the tw(
hundred plants in Bridgeport, 145 ar
engaged In turning out war materia
some idea of the determination of th;
workers to keep the wheels turning
can be had,
O i a I i Y. . .
In double shifts all day yesterday an
$300 was about tho average amount a
business done by fountains of al"
sizes, '
The parks and open spaces In th
city were visited by about 125, 00(
people yesterday and special ears hai ,
to be put on the trolley lines lead,
ing to the beaches and parks te c -commodate
the crowds - that wePf
gasping tor a breath of fresh air. '
0 MILES