The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., October 15, 1918, Image 1

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

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WILSON DOOMS IMSIER GERMAN Y - PLEDGES ; MIlKf
: : : ' - . ' Y -
N UNDYING WORDS
"'The destruction of every arbitrary power anywhere that can separately, secretly and of its single choice disturb the peace of the world; or if it cannot be presently destroyed at least ts redaction to
virtual impotency. " ' v - , , . . "
"The power which has hitherto controlled the German nation-is of the sort here described.' : ' . - -.
"It is within the choice of the German nation to alter it. The President's words just quoted naturally constitute a condition precedent to peace, if peace is to come by the action of the German people
themselves. , . ' ' v
"The President feels bound to say that the whole process of peace will, m his judgment, depend upon the definiteness and the satisfactory character of the guarantees which can be given in this funda
tal matter." From President Wilson's answer yesterday to Germany's appeal for peace. -
mental
The Weather Report
1 BUY BONDS THE
WAY OUR BOYS ARE
FIGHTING
For Bridgeport and vicin
ity: Fair and continued cool
er tonight with frost; Wed
nesday fair and warmer.
4 and Evening Farmer
TfT- C I TA 14 4 T?Qf 1 TOO Entered as second class matter at the post office
Ui-i. Oi iVJ. XLiO-L. J. I ,t Bridgeport. Conn., under the act of 1879
BRIDGEPORT, CONK, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1918
Subscription rates by mall: Dally $6.00 per year. One
month. Daily 50 cents. 179 Fairfield Ave.. Bridgeport
PRICE TWO CENTS
' i -
Unconditional S
urrender
eneral Interpretation
res.
on's Reply
American and Allied Officials Say Only Through
Absolute Surrender Can Enemy Now Prevent
Terminating Evidence of Defeat, Invasion of
Germany Put It Beyond Power of Germany
to Reap Benefit From Insincere Move Toward
Peace.
Wilson Offers Stern Terms to Autocracy
Washington, Oct 15 Unconditional surrender by Ger
many was the interpretation put on President Wilson's answer
to the German plea for peace by both American and Allied mili
tary officials here. Only by absolute surrender, they said, can
the enemy now prevent the terminating evidence of his defeat
invasion of Germany.
It was Field Marshal Von Hindenburg and not the Prince
. Maximilian who caused the German government to accept
(President Wilson's peace terms and seek an armistice, accord
ing to advices which reached Washington today.
There is no doubt among officers that sooner or later the
enemy will be compelled to accept these uncompromising
iterms. The German army is being pounded to death in the
field, they decelared, and the only thing Germany can hope to
pave from the wreckage is to prevent the war being carried
across her borders, and that can be accomplished only at the
price of putting herself as utterly at the mercy of the victors
as did Bulgaria.
Military opinion appeared to be in full agreement that in
nunciating the policiy that absolute safeguards and guaran
tees of the "present military supremacy" of American and Al
lied forces must control any armistice agreement. President
Wilson had placed it beyond the power of Germany to reap
any benefit from an insincere move toward peace.
The question of .the agencies to be employed in framing
armistice conditions naturally will come up only when Ger
many has complied with the President's other requirements.
It seemed probable to officers, however, that the military
board of the Supreme war council at Versailles would be the
natural agency. The council itself is composed only of the
premiers of the Allied nations and President Wilson. The mili
tary and all other boards of the council are advisory only and
their recommendations must be ratified by the council to be
come effective.
Without question Marshal Foch, the supreme commander,
and the Field commanders, Generals Petain, Haig, Pershing
' and Diaz would be fully consulted and the resulting definite
terms of surrender in all probability would be at once ratified
and laid before Germany as the only pries for respite from
attack.
"i The general elements of the terms appear to all officers.
It was pointed out that, it was the situation of today at the
front that constituted the supremacy which the President
speaks. The situation which must be adequately safeguarded.
As competent military judges see that situation the German
army is in desperate straights, particularly for man power.
There also is striking evidence of waning morale.
Many officers have feared that by some diplomatic trick
ery the enemy would secure enough time to fall back on the
Rhine, shorten his lines, redistribute his forces, reconstitute
his stocks of guns and munitions and prepare for a long defen
sive battle. President Wilson's reply has shown the enemy, it
was said, that this program no longer is possible to him. He
must fight it out now or surrender.
Should Germany as a nation cry "Kamerad" H must be
treated in the military view substantially as the individual
German soldier who. surrenders is treated;' it must be disarmed
and guarded.
' Disarmament of a nation means demobilization. To pre
' vent any possibility of re-mobilization, military necessity
would require Allid occupation of strategic points of commun
ication. To insure suppression of submarines, occupation of
- submarine bases also would be essential.
Guarding, in this sense, would mean absolute control of
the military approaches to Germany, Belgium,and the way
to the Rhine valley. The great fortified zone of Metz-Thion-ville
erected by the Germans as an offensive threat in French
border at the same time guards the way to the Rhine in the
south. Allied occupation of this fortress, officers believe v. ould
bo a certain requirement.
r . (Continued on page 12)
"From the Secretary of State to the Charge d'Affaires of
Switzerland, ad interim, in charge of German interests
in the United States: x
"Department of State, Oct. 14, 1918.
"Sir: In reply to the communication of the German Gov
ernment, dated the 12th instant, which you handed me today,
I have the honor to request you to transmit the following:
"The unqualified acceptance by the present German Gov
ernment and by a large majority of the German Reichstag of
the terms laid down by the President of the United States of
America in his address to the Congress of the United States
on the eighth of January, 1918, and in his subsequent addresses
justifies the President in making a frank and direct state
ment of his decisions with regard to the communications of
the German Government of the eighth and twelfth of Octo
ber, 1918.
" 'It must be clearly understood that the processes of evac
uation and the condition? of an armistice are matters which
must be left to the judgment and advice of the military ad
visors of the Government of , the United States and the Allied
governments, and the President feels it his duty to say that
no arrangement can be accepted by the Government of the
United States which does not provide absolutely satisfactory
safeguards and guarantees of the maintenance of the present
military supremacy of the armies of the United States and of
the Allies in the field. He feels confident that he can safely
assume that this will also be the judgment and decision of
the Allied governments. . ,
" 'The President feels that it also is his duty to add that
neither the Government of the United States nor, he is quite
sure, the governments' with which the Government of the
United States is associate as a belligerent will consent to
consider an armistice so long as the armed forces of Germany
continue the illegal and inhumane practice which they still
persist in. At the very time that the German Government ap
proaches the Government of the United States with proposals
of peace its submarines are engaged in sinking passenger
ships at sea, and not the ships alone but the very boats in
which their passengers and crews seek to make their way to
safety; and in their present enforced withdrawal from Fland
ers and France the German armies are pursuing a course of
wanton destruction which has always been regarded as in di
rect violation of the rules of practices of civilized warfare.
Cities and villages, if not destroyed, are being stripped of all
they contain, not only but often of thejr very inhabitants.
The nations associated against Germany cannot be expected to,,
agree to a cessation of arms while acts of inhumanity, spolia
tion, and desolation are being continued which they justly
look upon with horror and with burning hearts.
" 'It is necessary, also, that there may be no possibility of
misunderstandingj that the President should very solemnly
call the .attention of the Government of Germany to the lan
guage and plain intent of one of the term's of peace which the
German Government has now accepted. It is contained in
the address of the President delivered at Mt. Vernon on the
Fourth of July last.
"'It is as follows: "The destruction of every arbitrary
power anywhere that can separately, secretly, and of its sin
gle choice disturb the peace of the world; or if it cannot be
presently destroyed, at leasJUits reduction to virtual impo
tency.' The power which has hitherto controlled the German
nation is of the sort here described. It is within the choice of
the German nation to alter it. The President's words just
quoted naturally constitute a condition precedent to peace,
if peace is to come by the action of the German people them
selves. The President feels bound to say that the whole pro
cess of peace will, in his judgment, depend upon the definite
ness and the satisfactory character of the guarantees which
can be given in this fundamental matter. It is indispensable
that the' governments associated against -Germany should
know beyond a peradventure with whom they are dealing.
"'The President will make a -separate reply to the Royal
and Imperial Government of Austria-Hungary.'
"Accept, sir, the renewed assurances o my high consider
ation. ("Signed) ROBERT LANSING."
I
Enemy Reported to Be Evacuating Ostend, Send
ing Large Boatloads of Troops A way. From
Coastal Region Forces Under King Albert
Now Within Two Miles of Important Rail Cen
ter of Courtrai French Take Roulers.
(By The Associated Press)
In Flanders anad from the Oise to the Meuse the Allied
troops continue their vigorous blows for important gains. As
the French press on in the Laon-Aisne region, the Allied offen
sive in Belgium and the American operations west of the Meuse
are being renewed today with success.
Smashing through the network of railways in western
Flanders, the Belgian, French and British forces under King
Albert now are within two miles of the important rail center of
Courtrai. .The Allies also dominate with their guns the rail
road running from Lille to the Belgian coast by way of Cour
trai and thus hamper, if they have not cut off, all communica
tion between Ostend and Lille.
The German resistance in Flanders appears to be only for
the purpose of delaying the Allies until the evacuation of Bel
gium can be completed. The enemy is reported to be evacuat
ing Ostend and to be sending large boatloads of troops away
from the coastal region.
ATTENTION BBJDGEPORTERS!
The Spanish influenza epidemic
raging throughout the country,
has completely drained the supply
of nurses in the city of Bridgeport.
There are a number of patients
at the Isolation hospital and in
private homes who are suffering
because of the lack of adequate
nursing. The Department of
Health has taken every available
means to obtain men and women
to combat' the epidemic. The
need for nurses, both trained and
untrained, is desperate. Citizens
who can possibly help are asked
to volunteer for patriotic and hu
mane reasons. ' Help keep arms
and ammunition flowing to the
boys on the other side, by aiding
in fighting influenza. You will
keep the Bridgeport factories
open. Get in communication with
the Department of Health, First
Bridgeport National Bank building.
The na,vy Is in urgent need of sex
tants, either old or new.
Between the Oice and the Argonne
the French are pressing the enemy
hard. East of the Oise the French
are within a half mile of the Serre
along most of it's length and have
advanced between five and six miles
from Laon. Even the Aisne is fast
being lost to the enemy as a means
of defense. The French now threat
en Rethel having captured Nanteuil-sur-Aiane,
two and one half miles
west of Rethel and about the -same
distance east of Chateau Porcein.
Keeping step with the American
operations east of the Argonne, the
French are advancing west of the
forest. West of Grand Pre General
Gouraud has moved north of . the
Aisne and taken the towns of Olizy
and Termes, straightening out a bulge
in the Allied line.
Between the Argonne and the
Meuse the Americans are battling for
ward today through the German ire
entanglements. Tanks have been
brought up especially in the region
west of Roir.agne. As on Monday, the
Germans are resisting stubbornly, but
satisfactory progress is being made.
IS is rumored that British monitors
have entered Ostend, but this report
is -without confirmation. Should it
(Continued on Page 12.)
TRAN
PORT AMERICA SINKS
DOCK; NO LOSS OF LIF
Hoboken, N. J., Oct. 15" Shortly before the American troop
transport America, formerly the German transatlantic passen
ger steamship Amerika was about to sail today for Europe
with soldiers and supplies the vessel foundered at her pier
here.
ir.
(HOC
SHIPBUILDERS TO
'EED UP WORK
Washington, Oct. 15. American
shipbuilders were called upon by Sec
retary Daniels today to Speed up their
output of destroyers to meet the men
ace of the new and greater subma
rine effort which Germany is known
to be planning.
Amsterdam, Monday, Oct. 14.
There is good reason to believe that
the German submarine warfare will
reach a climax during the winter, ac
cording to the .P.heinisch Westphalian
Gazette, which says it will pioduce a
cricis of unanticipated dimensions in
entente countries.
SAILORS LOST
Washington, Oct. 15. Paul L. Mar.
veil, of Wareham, Mass., quartermas
ter.ls missing from the U. S. S. Seneca
and John T. Mathers, of Washington,
Iowa, electrician, has been reported
lost from the steamship Lake City,
sunk In collision Sept. 31, the depart
ment announced today.
GETS SENATORIAL- NOMINATION
New Haven, Oct. 15. Thomas ' F.
Falls of Milford, was nominated for
senator by the Fourteenth District
Democratic convention last night.
f ESTABLISH FOUR HOSPITALS
' .
Washington, Oct. 15 Hospitals
have been established by the Ameri
can Red Ore's in Ttalv at' "Milan.
Rome, Genoa and Florence.
In the early morning darkness,
while the troops aboard were Bleep
ing the America settled with her keel
in the mud leaving only three of her
eight decks, together with parts oi
her funnels, above water.
So far. as was known up to noon
there was no loss of life. Earlier
reports were that between thirty and
forty of the crew ha perished after
being trapped in the boiler room.
Troops were placed on guard out
side the pier. The cause of the ac
cident remained a mystery to navy
department officials.
The submerged America, next to
the largest of the government's trans
ports, was within sight of persons
crossing the lower Hudson river on
ferryboats. The vessel appeared to
be resting on an even keel. Tug
boats" and government vessels with
cranes began operations to raise her.
The America of 22,622 tons gross,
has a capacity for carrying 8,000
troops and a crew of 1,20 j men. Of
the troops It was said that only 200
or 800 were on board at the time. All
the coal had been placed in the bunk
ers except a small portion to' have
been loaded today.
The ship went down In 25 minutes.
It Was said". Red Cross workers
were summoned to administer to the
shivering soldiers and relief supplies
arrived In army trucks throughout
the forenoon.
Regarding possible loss of life, a
naval official here in authority, said.
"Only incomplete information is in
the hands of the authorities of the
port Any loss of life must be de
termined by a checking up of the j
muster roll," j
This official and other investigator? j
stated that no circumstances of a sus
picious character had been learned
of but that the inquiry was continu
ing, . '
One theory expressed in naval
Quarters was that in the hurried coal
ing and scupplylng of the ship during
. (Continued on Page, 12.)
GRIP CASES NOW
TOTAL 1,509; IN
NEED OF NURSES
36 Have Now Succumbed
to the Malady in
Bridgeport.
ILL SUFFER BECAUSE .
OF NUESE SHORTAGE
Factory Employes To Be In
spected Regulations for
Trolley Cars.
Influenza continues to gain v
stronger foothold in Bridgeport.
For the 24 hours ending at 9
o'clock this morning, 274 new
cases were reported to the De
partment of Health and the
total number of cases in the
city to date now number 1,509.-
Two additional deaths occurred in
the past 24 hours, bringing the total
of thoses uccumbing to the malady to
86. The health authorities are now
fighting with their backs against the
wall, and in face of a steadily increas
ing number of cases, are pleading with
the people of Bridgeport to exercise,
the utmost care and caution in pro
tecting themselves and others.
One of the saddest aspects of the
situation in this city, and one which
the authorities admit is entirely be
yond their control, is the fact that It
is now becoming impossible to give
thep atients proper care. Then uprs
ing care. The nursing situation was
termed "desperate" by Health Officer
Dr. Walter H. Brown today, who said
that he has used . every available
means to obtain sufficient medical at
tendants, both trained and untrained,
with but little success.
"This is not only a municipal emer
gency," said Dr. Brown. "It is a na
tional one. Bridgeport is one of the
largest munition centers in the coun
try, and it would be deplorable If in V
sufficient medical attention was to ffs .
up the production of arms and am
munition for the men at the front.
Thus far, our factories have not been
very hard hit, but we are trying to
prepare for this greatest emergency
and ask for nurses. We not only lack
them at the Isolation hospital, where.
persons who are strangers in this1
city, and those who cannot get ade- -quate
attention at home areb eing '
treated, but It is Impossible to get
a private nurse in the home of a
sufferer who is able to pay a iiirge
amount for the services. I realize that
other localities are in the same con
dition as Bridgeport and we mnnot
expect aid from any other quarter.
Trained and untrained people of
Bridgepo; t must volunteer to . take
care of the ill. Under present condi
tions there will soon be a number of
persons suffering for lack of proper
attention. It is up to the men and
women of this city to signify their
intentions to aid in alleviating their
pains. Both medically trained and un
trained persons are urgently needed."
The Manufacturers' Association is
the latest Bridgeport organization to
take up the fight against the now
dreaded disease, and as a result a
bulletin has been sent to every fac
tory in the city, It is the belief of the
health authorities thaf if enough peo
ple who are kept under strict super
vision, the influenza epidemic will be
checked. . '
WANT FRANCE TO
STOP SHELLING
LAROE TOWNS
Amsterdam, Oct. 15. The German
government has proposed 4o France
that, in common with her Allies,
France undertake to refrain from
bombarding large towns of northern
France and enter into an agreement
with Germany to permit, at any rate,
a iportion of the population of Valen
ciennes to pass Into the French lines,
says an official statement from Ber
lin. ' '
The Berlin government, in making
this proposal, represents itself as un
able to prevent the eastward flight of
the population of Valenciennes. The
proposal was made through the Swiss
government. V