Evening Star Newspaper, July 17, 1915, Page 1

. ee > WEATHER. . Prdbably fair and not quite so warm tonight and Sunday; light to moderate westerly winds. Temperature past twenty-four hours: High, 93, at 1 p.m. yesterday; low, 66, at 4:30 p.m. yesterday. = Che Loen 1 ing Star. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” | —_—___—__—_ ONE CENT. PLANOFTEUTONS For full report see page 9. = Last Week's Sworn Net Ciregiation— E Daily Average, 68,560; Sunday, 52,175. No. 20,016. WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1915-EIGHTEEN PAGES. BULLET ENDS LIFE ee EFFORT 10 TORPEDO REPLY 10 GERMANY Gallery Seaton Perry, the older brother, shot himself while in the bathroom of _his home seventeen years ago last Jan- uary. His death was somewhat sur- OF R ROSS PERRY Prominent Washington Law- yer Sends Shot Crashing Into His Own Brain. ILL HEALTH BELIEVED THE CAUSE OF SUICIDE Alone in Office When ‘the Tragedy Is Enacted—Seaton Perry, a Brother, Also a Suicide. R. ROSS PERRY. R. Ross Perry, for many years a leader of the District bar, shot himself in the head shortly after noon today, while sitting alone in his office in the Fendall building, at the corner of John Marshall place and D street. He was rushed to the Emergency Hospital, where he died at o'clock this afternoon. The bullet from the revolver used by Mr. Perry crashed through the right side of his head near the ear and shat- tered his skull on the left side, the bullet probably penetrating the brain. Til-Health Probable Cause. W-health is believed to have caused Mr. Perry to take his life. He had been suffering from nervous- ness for some weeks, it is said. Not Jong ago Mr. Perry fell on the steps of the Fendall building and injured an ankle, and it is only three or four weeks since he recovered sufficiently te go to his office again. R. Roas Perry, jr, son of Mr. Perry, rouyded with mystery, no good reason ever being found for the deed. He was about forty-eight years old at the time of his Weath and’was in business for himself. Charles Perry, the youngest brother, killed himself about thirty years ago. The brothers were said to have all been men of high, strong temperament. EFFORT TD SETTLE COAL STRIKE FAILS Welsh Miners Demand Re- vocation of Decree Applying Munitions Act. NO ATTEMPT YET MADE TO COLLECT DAILY FINES David Lloyd George, Minister of Munitions, May Go to Wales as Peace Envoy. LONDON, July 17, 1:55 p.m. —The: executive council of the South Wales miners having failed, at a meeting held in London to- day, to reach an agreement on the means of settling the coal dispute, left for Cardiff, where it will meet again Monday. An official statement issued by the executive council after the meeting read: “The council met to consider the pro- ceedings at an interview with Mr. Runciman (Walter Runciman, presi- dent of the board of trade) yesterday. =ong Discussion Fruitless, “Several hours were spent in discus- sing Mr. Runciman’s statement: upon the present position of the South Wales coal field. It was found impossible to arrive at any decision that will bring about a settlement, and the council decided to adjourn until Monday at Cardiff.” This means that the minority of the executive council have maintained their demands made to Mr. Runciman yesterday and refused to compromise, and that the executive council recog nized that it was useless to go before the men with proposals unless these were backed by the whole council. The ominous attitude adopted by the miners causes serious apprehension. The miners now have increased their demands by asking the government to withdraw the royal proclamation mak- ing the coal mines subject to the muni- had left his fathe office only a few minutes before the shot was fired in order to get the automobile which was to carry him_and his father uptown. Mr. Perry said that his father appear- ed no more nervous today than he had Yesterday. Rushed to the Hospital. Immediately after Mr. Perry shot him- self Dr. Noble P. Barnes, who happened to be in the building. attempted to ren- er first aid. Detective Smith of the third police precinct, who also was in the building, sent in a hurry call for the Emergency Hospital ambulance. Mr. Perry was rushed to the hospital as quickly as possible. There he was attended by Dr. A. M. McDonald and by Dr. Lewis, superintendent of the hos- pital, and other members of the hos- pital staff. Seaton Perry, a brother of Mr. Perry, who for many’ years was a successful merchant, with his place of business at 9th street and Pennsylvania avenue northwest, committed suicide several years ago. R. Ross Perry was admitted to the} bar of the District of Columbia May 5, 1868. At one time he served as assist- ant United States attorney for the District. He has been regarded as one of the foremost members of the Dis- trict bar. A Native of Washington. He had played a leading part in many celebrated cases before the local courts, He was sixty-nine years old, and was born in Washington, where he made his residence ail his life. He was edu- cated at Georgetown College and abroad. Mr. Perry for seventeen years was chief counsel for the Capital Traction Company, resigning last January. Among the famous cases in which he took part was the so-called Potomac flats case. The last big case in which he was attorney and over which he worked assiduously was the Hutchins will case recently terminated. He es as counsel for Walter Hutch ir, Perry was engaged on this for five months. The trial ended April. Victim of Heart Attacks. While engaged in the Hutchins trial, friends said today, Mr. Perry suffered several heart attacks. very serious, they said, but they never-; theless caused him great worry. Mrs. Perry, his wife, and R. Ross Perry, jr. survive Mr. Perry. The Perry home is at 1635 Massachusetts avenue northwest. Forrerly it was on F street between 6th and 7th streets. R. Ross Perry, jr., is an attorney and ‘Was associated with his father. Mirror to Assure Aim. Conversing with friends last night. Mr. Perry appeared in good spirits and digeussed plans for going away from Washington for the summer. He had recently told other friends, it was said teday, he believed that when a man was incurably ill he should be killed OF permitted to kill himself. He ex- Pressed the fear that he himself would get old and useless. ‘The indications are that he had been contemplating shooting himself for several days. That he went about the act deliber- ately after his son had left his office to } force the fines against the 150,000 strik- They were not! tions act. Proposal Is Rejected. President Runciman of the board of trade rejected this proposal at a con- ference last night, and a meeting held in London today failed to secure any ground for an adjustment. The extremist leaders declare, how- ever, that it is a question no longer of a 5 per cent increase in wages, but the abrogation of the royal proclamation which subjects the miners to a fine of $25 daily for striking. No effort yet has been made to en- ers, which the leaders construe as an evidence of the virtual impossibility of carrying out the plan. No Disorders at Mines. Reports received this morning from all the Welsh centers show that the strike continues to cause much agita- tion but no disorder. There is a possibility that David Lloyd George, British minister of mu- nitions, will go to Wales with a view to making an attempt to obtain a set- tlement of the strike. He has been asked from many quarters to use his personal influence in this matter. He has not yet decided what he will do but it is believed that he will go. EXOSE LAW PROVISN TOBE TESTED IN COURT Question Affecting Hotels Having Less Than Fifty Rooms , for Guests. Whether a hotel not having fifty or more bedrooms for guests has a right to a license to sell intoxicating Mquors is the next question at issue in the ex- cise prosecutions being conducted by the corporation counsel. The charge of violation of the Jones-Works excise law against Marks’ Hotel, 10th and E streets northwest, is set for trial Wed- nesday in the District branch of the Police Court before Judge Pugh. Assistant Corporation Counsel Ste- phens, in charge of the prosecutions, |stated today he is taking a typical |case in each of the various alleged violations. Mr, Stephens said there are only thirty-seven rooms -all told at Marks’ Hotel, whereas the law says a liquor license shall not be issued to a| hotel having less than fifty bedrooms for guests. Other Hearings July 28. The other alleged violations charged against saloonkeepers, involving the measurements between their places and houses of worship, public schools, col- leges and universities, are set for trial July 28. Mr. Stephens said that all decisions et the automobile appears from the fact that Mr. Perry took a mirror from the. wall and used it'on his desk in order to make his aim sure. Director of Riggs Bank. Mr. Perry wus a director of the Riggs National Bank. and for a number of years he was counsel for that bank. Be was.formerly a director also of the ‘Washington Gas Light Company, and {married Miss Reble Lowe of STEAMSHIP ORDUNA Submarine Made Attack July 9, But Missed, Say Cap- tain and Passengers. TWENTY-ONE AMERICANS ABOARD BRITISH LINER No Warning Given and Pursuit Fol- lows in Which Shots Are Fired at Fleeing Ship. NEW YORK, July 17—The British passenger liner Orduna, with 227 passengers aboard, twenty-one of whom were Amer- icans, was attacked without warning by a German submarine at 6 o'clock the morning of July 9, sixteen hours out of Liverpool, on her way to New York. An- nouncement of the attack was made by the ship’s captain. Thomas McComb Taylor, and passengers when the Orduna reached here today. A torpedo was fired at the steamer and missed by ten yards. Twenty minutes later a subma- rine rose to the surface, possibly a different submarine from the one that launched the torpedo, and for half an hour thereafter pursued the steamer, firing shells which whistled over the decks above the heads of passengers. standing there with their life belts on. Ten minutes before the attack a satl- ing ship with two American flags painted on her side was seen ahead. Captain Taylor became suspicious of this craft and began maneuvering his ship. Then came the attack, the first warning“ of. which was the streak of a torpedo which whirled through the water and missed the Orduna’s stern by ten yards or thereabouts. No Inkling of Attack. Save for a single cryptic wireless message received yesterday, the Cunard line had heard no word from the Or- duna since she sailed from Liverpool. This message, which, because it was unexpected and un ; puzzled Cunard line officials, gave no inkling, it was sald, of the attack by a submarine. The message was sent by Capt. Taylor and contained the in- formation that. the Orduna would dock at 11 o'clock today. In addition Capt. Taylor said that the Tuscania was then 1,012 miles from shore. For a long time the vessels of the Cunard line have sailed the breadth of the Atlantic with their wireless ap- paratus little used. Importance, there- fore, was attached to Capt. Taylor's wireless, although officials were at a loss to understand what the captain sought to convey to them or to read between the lines. No Suspicion Aroused. The fact that the Tuscania was men- tioned, it was said today, had aroused no suspicion, in the light of the Or- duna’s experience, that she, too, had been attacked. When the Orduna left Liverpool July 8 she passed out of communication with all the rest of the werld. It was doubtful, officials here said, whether the British admiralty had even been informed of the attempt to torpedo the vessel. Thirty of the passengers were in the first cabin, 112 in the second cabin and 85 in the steerage. In advance of the vessel's docking officials had no list, they said, of those aboard. Lifeboats Ready to Launch. Stewards ran below and aroused the passengers. With clothes hurriedly fastened haphazard they made for the upper deck. There they were assem- bled near the bridge. Lifebelts were adjusted and lifeboats swung out. The crew stood ready to launch the boats. From a submarine off the starboard quarter there came a shell which kicked up a miniature geyser in the Orduna’s wake. The submarine had the range. Capt. Taylor turned the stern of the vessel toward the assailant and or- dered all speed ahead. Within from two to five minutes another shell, this time passing over the heads of the as- sembled passengers, was fired. As it overshot the mark’ its landing place was marked by a rising column of wa- ter. A third shell passed overhead, and so close that it seemed to clip a lifeboat. Capt. Taylor ordered the passengers to go to a lower deck. They obeyed, and the lifeboats were adjusted lower still so that the passengers might step into them without delay. The shelling con- tined, shots falling about the steamer at intervals of from two to five min- utes. : Pursued by Submarine. For about half an hour the sub- marine pursued the liner with the span. of water between them lengthening each minute. Seven shots were fired in all. Four of them passed over the decks. The other three fell close to the ship. Then the submarine, distanced, gave up the chase. Early risers who had left their berths to enjoy the fine morning were with the captain on the bridge when the at- tack was began and witnesses the en- tire episode. Among them was Baron Marcus Rosenkrantz of Denmark, who Atlanta, Ga. The baroness was with him on the trip, but did not witness the attack. “Ask the passengers what happened,” Capt. Taylor said, when the Orduna docked here today. “I am attached to the royal naval reserve, and therefore cannot discuss the matter. Ask Baron Rosenkrantz; he saw the whole thing.” “But there is one question, Capt. Tay- lor, that you an answer, and you alone. Were you attacked without warning?” “I did not have even the slightest warning of the attack,” he replied. “Beyond that I will say nothing.” of the court in the cases will be ap- pealed by either the prosecution or de- fense, and that he expected all of them will be before the Court of Appeals by October. When Judge Pugh ruled y: terday that the Metropolitan Club could sell liqtior upon authority of the license issued by the excise board Mr. Stephens immediately gave notice of appeal. Passengers Commend Captain. The next day a meeting of the pas- sengers was held in the saloon and the following resolution adopted by twen- ty-three of them was handed to Capt. lor? 3 DRAFTING THE THIRD NOTE TO GERMANY. GAINS IN ARGONNE MENACE TO FRENCH ‘Berlin Says Crown Prince Gradually Is Cutting Line of Communication. BERLIN, July 16, by wireless to Say- ville, N. Y.—Included in the news items given out today by the Overseas News Agency was the following: “German military tacticlans point out that the German victory in the forest of Argonne, in France, is of spe- cial importance, as it shows that the connections toward western France are gradually being cut. “The large amount of war material captured by the Germans in the last battle illustrates the importance which was attributed to the positions by the French commanders. The French, however, were unable to resist the ter. rific offensive of the crown prince’s army.” \ Details of French Losses. The Overseas News Agency an- nounced today that the German au- thorities have succeeded by various means, especially by questioning the numerous prisoners~taken, in securing “accurate figures of the French losses in the great Arras battle. “These,” the agency announcement says, ‘eached the grand total of 74,800 in killed, wounded and captured, distributed as follows: Third Corps, 15,000; 9th Army Corps, 6,000; 10th ‘Army Corps, 10,000; 17th Army Corps, 4,800; 20th’ Army Cerps, 10; 2ist Army "Corps, 8,000; 23d Corps, 11,000; 48th Division, 6,00 Division, 3,500. Minimized by London. LONDON, July 7.—Crown Frederick Wflliam’s drive in the Ar- gonne forest now is accepted as a small success in gaining a few yards of terrain, but as a failure in attain- Prince ing its real object—a decisive penetra- tion of the French line. QUITS THE GREEK CABINET. Christakis Zographos, Recently Made H Foreign Minister, Has Resigned. LONDON, July 17, 8:50 a.m.—fhris. takis Zographos, Greece, has resigned, according to an Athens dispatch to the Exchange Tele- graph Company. Although King Constantine's physi- cians declare his condition is satisfac- tory and that he is convalescing nor- mally after his severe illness, they have ordered him to abstain from all partic- ipation in political discussions. M. Zographos became foreifn minister in the cabinet formed by. M. Gounaris in March, after the retirement of M. Venizelos as premier, when the’ ‘king declined to accept his views regarding j eqee to us- the proper attitude for C sume in the wir. . $15,000,630 FOR =OKD UWNERS. Automobile Company Announces Re- fund to Buyers in Last Year. DETROIT, Mich., July 17.—The Ford Automobile Company yesterday after- noon announced a refund of approxi- mately $15,000,000 to owners of Ford automobiles who have purchased their machines since August 1, 1914. August 1, 1914, the company an- nounced that if 300,000 machines were sold during the purchaser would receive a refund of from $40 to $60. The 300,000 mark was reached, yesterday afternoon. The com- pany says the refund is strictly in the nature, of the profit-distribution policy jof the company. Army | foreign minister of, ensuing year, each RUMANIA DEFIES GERMANY. Refuses to Permit Passage of M nitions for Turkey. LONDON, July 17.—The correspond- ent at Copenhagen of the Exchange Telegraph Company quotes the Vor- waerts as announcing: “Rumania ‘has emphatically refused to comply with Germany's demands to allow weapons and ammunition to tra- verse Rumania for Turkey.’ May Take Over Iron Trade. LONDON, July 17.—The Cologne Ga- [zette, a copy of which has been re- ceived here, in commenting on the German government's plan to control the coal trade of Germany, warns the ccuntry that the government may be obliged to take a similar step with re- gard to the iron industry. | WATCH FOR | THESE FEATURES TOMORROW “THE GIRL OF THE NUTMEG ISLE,” a thrilling new serial by BEATRICE GRIMSHAW. RICHARD HARDING DAVIS writes of yrison reform at Sing Sing. “MR. ROBERT GETS A SLANT,” another TORCHY story by SEWELL FORD. i “HOW GREAT CLEARING i HOUSE IN PARIS DIS- | TRIBUTES AMERICAN WAR RELIEF DONATIONS.” A two-page spread of photographs of “INTERESTING PEOPLE.” “THE A-B-C OF AMERICAN DE- FENSE—OUR HARBOR DE- FENSES.” “JUST AS BRAVE AS MEN”— Famous Woman Aviators. “ROMANCE IN THE HISTORY H OF OUR DEPARTMENT OF i STATE.” “WHAT THE HOTEL AGAINST.” STERLING HEILIG tells row alt Paris awaits Zeppelins, the “NIGHT BIRDS OF WAR.” CHARLES M. PEPPER writes of Huiti and the establishment of a fiscal protectorate. IS UP ASHMUN BROWN tells how a farmer boy r2s¢ to be the com- panion of kings and rulers of the world. & Washington woman helps Ameri- can women to become intelligent home makers and mothers. FRANK G. CARPENTER describes @ trip across Paraguay by rail. Former ‘Washington — newspaper- man contributes “FEAR AND | COURAGE UNDER FIRE IN : NORTHERN FRANCE” if “,PRAINING COOKS FOR UNCLE SAMS SOLDIERS AT THE WASHINGTON BARRACKS.” “NEW DEVIOES FOR WAGING WAR ON FLIES.” “SUMMER CAMPS FOR LITTLE ONES AND THEIR TIRED MOTHERS.” ‘And, remember, these are but a few of the features of The Sunday Star WORST OF FLOODS ~ BELIEVED AT END Cessation of Rain Results in Improved Conditions Through- out Ohio District. COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 17.—The pas- sage of last night without any consid- erable rainfall resulted in improved conditions early today throughout the Ohio flood district. Although many thousand acres of land remained under water today, practically, all rivers either were stationary or falling, and, with; clear weather generally prevail- ing, it was believed the worst had been passed. The damage throughout central Ohio will mount into the millions, as thou- sands of acres of wheat and oats have been ruined. corn and other crops washed away. The loss of five: lives is renorted. The Scioto and Olentangy rivers be- gan receding here early today, bring ing ease of mind to anxious watchers, especially in the flood-stricken district in the west side, where thousands re- mained up all of last night. Many of} them were engaged in moving their belongings to higher ground. Levees jalong the Scioto river in this city, which began leaking yesterday after- noon, were repaired during the night and this morning were reported to be holding fast against the strain put upon them. ; Several large factories in this city re- mained closed today on account of the flood. It was estimated that more than {1,000 men were temporarily thrown out of employment. At Delaware the Olentangy riv jAlum creek were receding tod normal conditions were in prospect. |The Muskingum and Licking rivers, { which: went on the rampage yesterday, ! were reported falling: today. |, At Kenton, where @ large part of the town was under water yesterday, im- Proved conditions prevailed today.’ The damage there will aggregate $300,000. Ottawa River Drops. LIMA, Ohio, July 17.—Ottawa river at Lima has dropped as rapidly as it arose, and by tomorrow should be at jits normal level. Employes of the city service department are still statione: jat the bridges, Keeping wreckage trom piling up. Limited traffic has been permitted across all bridges. Families are coming down from high- er land and moving back into their homes in the lowlands. In portions of the city not touched by the flood much {damage was done by flooded cellars, where articles stored were ruined. |Late last night-the police were called to rescue a half @ozen families ma- rooned on a small island. The force ot. the water was weakening the houses, and they feared they would be | swept. downstream. Damage at Harron, eight miles east of Lima, also was’ severe. Fifteen houses were damaged or demolished, and the Methodist, Church was de. stroyed. Damage to crops in that sec- tion will amount to thousands of dol- ars. Kansas City Firms Warned. | KANSAS CITY, Mo, July 17.—Big {packing concerns and other business interest®.in the west bottoms here were warned by the government weather bureau today to prepare for a twenty-eight-foot stage in the Kansas river at Kansas City by Sunday night. Tesidents of the lowlands east of | Kansas City also were warned to ex- \pect a thirty-foot mark in the Missouri Iriver. Serious. damage is feared should the rivers go as high as pre- dicted. The Kansas river here this morning stood at 23.5 feet, a fall of two-tenths of a foot over night. The Missouri was at 27.5 feet, a rise of two-tenths of a foot since yesterday afternoon. Scattering rains fell in the Kansas river shed last night. The first death in the swollen waters occurred at Seneca,_Kan., early today. An infant which is alleged to have i advertisement in the American Ma- chinist, made on behalf of the United States government, showed, according to the report of Assistant Solicitor Edwin Quigley of the Department of Commerce, who made the investigation, READY FOR CABINET) TO DEAL RUSSIANS: Drafts of an Answer to Be Laid Before President and Advisors on His Return. NEW NOTE TO REASSERT U. S. RIGHT ON HIGH SEAS This Government Not to Subordinate the Lusitania Case or Move for Mediation of “Sub” Warfare. Developments in the issue between the United States and Germany await- ed today the return of President Wil- son from Cornish, N. H. The President is to take up with Sec- retary Lansing and others of the cabinet several drafts of an answer to Germany's recent reply to the American note protestins against the German method of submarine warfare. The President will confer with Secre- tary Lansing Monday. The cabinet will meet Tuesday. $ The new note will reassert the right of Americans on the high seas. It probably will be brief. Until either Great Britain or Ger- many requests’ specifically mediation on the subject of submarine warfare and contraband, officials hold that the American government will make no move in this direction, and that this government will not subordinate the Lusitania case or the assertion of its rights at hints from Germany. f Germany Willing to Mediate. Much stress was laid on Germany's willingness to have the United States mediate in an effort to restore recogni- tion of the principle of freedom of the seae by Count von Bernstorff, the Ger- man ambassador, in an informal inter- view with Secretary Lansing, but high officials, recalling that one effort to mediate on the subject of submarine warfare and contraband already had failed, indicated that the step would not be repeated unless specific request was made by one or the other of the belligerents. 2 Inasmuch as Count von Bernstorft had no instructions from his govern- ment and brought no communication from his foreign office, his visit, some officials said, was unlikely to change the purpose of the United States to take into consideration solely what was said by Germany in its last note. The ambassador exchanged views with Secretary Lansing on all phases of the question, and sent a long report to Berlin. The interview, it was believed, might have tangible results during the course of later negotiations, since the Ameri- can viewpoint was explained to some extent by Secretary Lansing. Confident Rupture Will Be Avoided. The ambassador expresctd confidence last evening that the situation between the two countries was not critical, and that a rupture of relations seemed im- possible because of the desire of both governments to avoid it. He said he be- Heved there would be no repetition of at- tacks without warning on passenger vessels of belligerent nationality, and based his optimism on the fact that German submarines recently had ex- ercised great precautions. ‘When asked if oral assurances that Americans would be safe on unresist- ing and unarmed belligerent Ships would be acceptable, Secretary Lansing told inquirers that if such assurances were given by direction of the German government they would be as satis- factory as those of a formal char- acter. As yet he has had nothing from Berlin on this phase of the situation since the last note arrived. President and Secretary Confer. CORNISH, N. H., July 17.—President Wilson was in communication today with Secretary Lansing repanting the German situation, including the cénfer- ence held yesterday between the Secre- tary and Count von Bernstorff, the Ger. man ambassador. There will be no fur- ther developments in the situation, how- ever, until the President returns to Washington early next week. The President played today what was probably the last golf game of his pres- ent visit. Members of his family will remain here after his departure for Washington. The President will return here later if posstbie. President Wilson yesterday virtually put in shape the views on the German situation which he will communicate to Secretary Lansing and other members of his cabinet on his return to Wash- ington. The President has obtained in a gen- eral way the ideas of the Secretary of State on the position to be assumed by the United States. REPUDIATED BY ENGLAND. Has Not Ordered Explosive Shells ‘Which Cause Agonized Death. LONDON, July 17.—The British gov- ernment has officially repudiated con- nection with an advertisement which peared in the American Machinist May 6 concerning a new kind of high explosive shell, described as capable of causing wounds which result in death in terrible agony within four hours if not attended to immediately. “The government,” says the official repudiation, “have reason to believe the advertisement was not genuine, but was published with deliberate in- tention of creating a false impression. No order for an explosive of such de- scription has been given by the gov- ernment.” An investigation of the company erted the that the company manufactured no bombs or shells but turned out ma- chines for use metal. plained that the advertisement was a mistake, and that it would not appear again. in drilling holes in The company, it was said, EMBARGO ON GOLD EXPORT. Swiss Government to Keep Its Pre- cious Metal at Home. PARIS, July 17.—The Swiss federal council has decided to prohibit the ex- portation of gold in any form, says a Havas dispatch from Bern. Another Havas dispatch from Bern states that the editor of a newspaper son of Benjamin Wichim was drowned | at Neufchatel, France, now occupied by when a buggy in which Wichim, his}|the Germans, has been ordered before wife andthe child were’ riding was}a court-martial for publishing an overturned stream. while fording # smallfarticle in which he violently. Germany. ACRUSHING BLOW Huge Enveloping Movement Has Riga and Warsaw as Its Objectives. FOE WITHIN 80 MILES OF GREAT BALTIC PORT Coast Is Left Desolate by the A vancing Germans, According to London Advices. Petrograd Admits Czar’s Forces Have Been Compelled to Yield at Certain Points on the Line. LONDON, July 17, 12:28 p.m. —A new German offensive of huge proportions, with Riga, a great Russian seaport and the seat of the governor general of the Baltic provinces, as its ob- jective is revealed in the latest official statements issued at Petro- grad and Berlin. Military experts here construe the offensive to be a vast envelop- ing movement, in which the Ger- mans are making a herculean ef- fort to destroy the Russian army. Zighty Miles From Riga. Both the German and Russian com- munications agree that the German forces are at the Windau river, near Goldingen, which is only eighty miles from Riga, the great strategic com- mercial metropolis in the Gulf of Riga and on the upper Baltic. An -official statement received this morning from Petrograd adds details of sanguinary fighting all along the new line in efforts to hold back the German advance, which now is being concentrated on Riga and on Warsaw, while tke Austro-Hungarians are mov- ing northward from the Dniester river. Left Trail of Desolation. Advices reaching London today say that the Germans left a trail of deso- lation along the Baltic sea from Memel to Libau, where the villas, hotels and stroyed, about the only exception, it is said, being the palace of a Polish nobleman, whose cousin married an American woman. being used as a military beadquar- ters, in which Prince Henry of Prussia and Field Marshal von Hindenburg re- cently conferred on the new offensive toward Riga. Russian lines are holding well imme- diately to the north of Warsaw, where the greatest force of the Teutonic move against the Polish capital is seemingly being exerted, according to the latest statement from Petrograd. Reports Attacks Repulsed. Attacks by “important forces” west of the River Orzyc have been repulsed with heavy losses, the Russians claim, and in sections where gains were made by the Germans their further advance was ar~ rested: ‘A withdrawal of the Russian forces be- tween the Pissa and Orzyc rivers to new lines along the Narew in the face of Gen. von Hindenburg’s attacks is admitted by Petrograd. Continuation of the German advance in Courland alsojis conceded. Field Marshal von Mackensen’s army that swept through Galicia is giving signs of renewed activity in pursuance lof the assumed plan of the Teutonic {forces to attack simultaneously all along the sweeping $00-mile front from the Baltic to Bessarabia. Unofficial re- ports through Geneva declare that at the lower end of this line Austrian troops who crossed the Dniester have been driven back to the other bank, where their retreat is being turned into a rout. Occupy Austrian Trenches. GENEVA, Switzerland, July 16, via Paris (delayed by censor).—The Trib- une prints the following di its correspondent at the front: “The Austro-Hungarian forces which attemptec to dislodge the Russians from-positions along the Vi have been repulsed with heavy The Russians, attacking in turn, oc- cupied a mile of the Austrian trenches. “Fresh Russian batteries which have arrived and which have been posted on the Sereth river have begun to bom- bard the passage across the Dniester river, south of Zalesczcyky, obliging the ‘Austrians to recross the river. Their retreat is being converted into a rout by Russian bayonet attacks. “East of Horodenka the Austrians oc- cupying the left bank of the Dniester have been dislodged after a fierce hand-to-hand struggle. “On the Stripa river the Russians led in_temporavily arrest- jan offensivi SHOWS BRAVERY OF GERMANS. Berlin Points to Award of 3,500 BERLIN, July 17, by wireless to Say ville, N. ¥.—“As illustrating the brav- ery of the German troops in the present war,” says an announcement made to- day by the Overseas News Agency for transmission, “the fact is noted that since the war began 3,500 iron crosses of the first class have been distributed. “The regulations require that a sol- dier must have earned the cross of the second class before the cross of the first class can be conferred upon him.” —_>—__——_— Germans Release Dutch Steamer. LONDON, July 17.—A dispatch te Reuter's Telegram Company from Am- sterdam says that the Dutch steamer Batavier V, which was seized by @ German warship in March and taken into Zeebragge, and which wah cae: ed released by the German ‘court, Zeel at noon. lo ATTLE OF 800-MILE FRONT . casinos are alleged to have been de-~ The palace is now °