New Britain Herald Newspaper, February 4, 1918, Page 1

HERALD BEST OF ALL LOCAL NEWSPAPERS I'TAIN HER PRICE THREE CENTS. NE‘X/ BRITAIN CONNECTICUT, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1918. —TEN PAGES. CHIP ON SHOULDER OF ENEMY GUNNERS . S0ON KNOCKED OFF Prussian Arfillerists, Spoiling for - Fight, Find Americans Willing to Test Strength and Aim STORM OF SHELLS REPLY T0 SIGNAL FOR ATTACK Red Rocket, Ascending From Ger- man First Iine and Calling For Barrage, Finds Uncle Sam’s Men Prepared Mix-Up—Heavy Mists Prevent Resumption of En- gagement—Italian Heroes Tetes. For the American Army in . France, Feb, 3, (By The Associated Press) —American officers are elated over the results of the sfirst artillery auel between American and German gunners, which followed & prelimin- ary shelling by the Germans Saturday evening. In official reports to the headquarters of their organizations the infantry commanders today pald ’tribute to the promptness with which the artillery responded to the call for a barrage and to the effectiveness of the artillery fire. Acrial reconnaissances today ghowed the American gunfire has had a very destructive effect. It is known at least threo ,dugouts were demolished, with some casualties. In a regimental headquarterg vills ago shelled by the enemy, many buildings were wrecked completely or in part. among the officers, With enemy probably The whistling of the two big shells gave warning of | coming bombardments and offi- | | PRGPAGAN];A, HE CLAIMS of a period of shelling which had ex- | tended gradually along several Kilos | the cers and men sought shelter in the .dugouts. The bombardments of the headquarters village came at the end meters of the front. The German artillery opened tha engagement with a desultory bom- bardment of the American trenches at a certain point, firing many shrap- . nel shells. In the midst of this a red rocket, calling for a barrage, aseended from the German first lines, | Before the German artillery could respond, the American 758, summoned inte aetion by a signal from the first line, laid a curtain of fire along the enemy fire Jines. Then began battle of the gunners. intensity of German fire was met im- mmediately by the Americans who not | only showered shells on the original | sector, but quickly extended their ac- tivity to a wide front. Within 20 minutes the 75s and lar- ger pieces were booming all along the valley, the shelling finally spreading to a town in which regimental head- | quarters was located. As darkness settled down the guns became quiet. Heavy mists again overhung the American sector today, Consequently, there was little artillery work and no aerial activity, Ttalian Headquarters Northern Italy Feb. 3, (By the Associated Press)— The Sassari brigade of young Sardin- ians, which distinguished itself by cut- ‘ting its way up the Col dl Rosso last Tuesday, came out of the trenches to- day, It was an event which stirred the neighboring country and the peasan- try, with children and babies, came from 50 miles around to sce these young heroes. The city was gay with ~flags, the walls were covered with posters, *“Hail, Sassarl heroes,” and children carried flowers to strew along the route of their march. The brigado marched 20 miles from its trenches and it was an inspiring sight as the boyish-looking soldiers came down the road. Their helmets and uniforms were still splashed with the mud of the big fight, but they marched proudly and appeared happy Yover tha enthusiastic tribute. Brigadier Gen. Ferrigo, command- er of the brigade, marched at the head with a group of wounded offi- cors wath heads bandaged and arms in slings. Then came the machine gun sections and the long ranks of sturdy vouths. One regiment was command- ed by a major who took the place of - the eolonel who was killed in Tues- day's fight. A squadron of airplanes hovered overhead, scattering confetti on the vietors. General Pecori Giraldl, commander of the First army, was at the head of the reviewing party. He was accom- panied by officers of the Allied staffs, high government and municipal offl- cial and representatives of civil organ- izations, while the thoroughfares wero ) thronged with cheering peaple, Belgians Silence Enemy Batteries, Paris, Feb. 4—The Belgian official statement on military operations is- ewed last mid-night reads: “During the last twe days our artil- lery has silenced several enemy bat- teries and captured outfits of destruc- tion and reprisal nst enemy or- ganizations and defenses in reply to and firing bhefora An enems viator wa artillery bomb Dixmude. ire On Ninth Page). (Continued There wera no _casualties | the | The increased | first draft. cantonments on February 6,575; Upton, 7,500; Dix, Besides the regular Devens and Upton. LAST INCREMENTS OF FIRST DRAFT TO MOVE ON FEB. 23 Washington, Feb. 4—Provost Marshal General Crowder today announced that the movement of the last increments of men selected in the first draft will begin on February 23 and continue for five days. This will complete the operation of the first draft, as all states will have furnished the full quotas. The movement will bring the strength of the Na- tional Army up to 685,000 men contemplated in the The numbers of men which will be started to the 7,000; Meade 6,000; Lee, 3,000; Jackson, 3,383 (negroes); Gordon, 2,800 (ne- groes) ; Grant, 5,000; Taylor, 6,284; o Funsten, 2,332; Travis, 7,558; Pike, 2,000 (negroes). Camps Devens and Upton, New York will send to the former 2,521 men, and to the latter 4,287 men which were to have gone to Camp Dix. for the change is that there is more room at Camps West Virginia will send men to Camp Meade instead of to Camp Lee. Hartford, Feb. 4—Major John Buckley, execu- tive secretary to Governor Holcomb, was today in- formed by Provost General Crowder that all draft boards must begin to send their final 15 per cent. quota of the first draft to camp February 23 and it must be composed exclusively of white men. 23 are: Camp Devens, Dodge, 14,984; portion contributory to The reason 1,520 local 5 ALLIED MAN POWER Secretary Baker Discredits Claims War ‘Warns Against Because of Internal Strifo in Ger- Head of Department Country Over-Optimism many—Industry Must Continue, ‘Washington, ¥eb, é—Warning the nation not to let reports of strikes and other intarnal disturbances in Ger- many slacken its war preparations, fecretary Baker today also makes the official announcement that American troops are at last holding a portion of the actual battle front, For the first time, also, Secretary Baker declares it ls fully belleved the Allies have a preponderance of men and guns on tho western front, de- spite the fact that the German line has been ptrengthened by troops from the Russlan field, Secretary Baker declared the reports of numerical su- perlority have been spread by the en~ emy himself, Review of Week. Reviewing operations for the week ending February Becretary Baker says: “American troops which have now campleted thelr training are occupying a portion of the actual battle front. The operations in which our troops 2, 2 minor character, #On Jan, 30 the Germans attempted a strongly pushed rald against our line for purposes of identification. Under cover of a heavy mist the en- emy was able to rcach our advanced positions, A short brush ensued and the raiders were compelled to with- draw in haste, after inflicting slight casualties, “Two days later the enemy appar- ently ettempted another reconnoiter- ing thrust, but was dispersed befare any headwzy could be made. “Qur patrols have been active in No Man's Land, and our scouts have made themselves famillar with the de- tails of the hostile position opposing them, “Another event of importance took place in France. The Inter-Allied S preme War Council met at Versailles attended by General Bliss, chief of staff of the army, and General Persh- ing, as well as the representatives of France, Great Britain and Italy. Com- | plete and close co-operation between | the Allies and ourselves, and a har- monious understanding between the supreme commands of all the forces engaged promises to show positive re- sults. Unity of purpose on all fronts will thus be attained.” | ORDERS REBELS PUNISHED. Chincse President Direets Military Chiefs to Smite Revolutionists. Peking, Feb. 4.—A more hostile at- titude toward the southern revolution- ists has been adopted by President Feng-Kwo-Choang since his return from a visit to the south. He issued = mandate today erdering the chief military commanders—Generals Tsao Jead troops to punish the rebels “who | even dare to fire on foreign gunboats, courting foreign intervention.” ! mhe rebels who recently captured Yachow now threaten Wu Chang. The troops are concentrating Refugees from therc Hankow. government Wu Chan IN WEST SUPERIOR of Preponderance by Enemy | Many Phy: so far have been engaged were of a Kug Cm and Chang Ching-ano-—mi SECOND DISTRICT HAS DIFFIGULTIES | Scarcity of Doctors Canses Long Delay in Examinations TOTAL OF 450 PASSED cians Do Not Appear to Help in Sunday Examinations and Registrants Have to Wait Several How Although the board was hampered to a distressing extent by the non- appearance of a number of local doe- tors who had been asked to serve yvesterday in examining the C1 15 A, registrants, and the registrants themselves were held in line for sev- eral hours awaiting their turn, the second exemption board concluded all its examinations at 4 o'clock yes- terday afternoon after having been in session continuously since § a. n Members of the board do not hes tate to cxplain that this delay was occasioned by many of the doctors not appearing to do what, at this time, is considered their duty and were it not for the fact that four or five of the physicians, looking at the matter in a broadminded way, served the board all day long the members state that their examinations would still be in progress. Some Doctors Incensed. Contrasted to the celerity with which the examinations proceeded on Saturday, was the work yesterday. On Saturday, with a large corps of doctors assisting in the examinations, 320 men were examined between 7:30 a. m. and shortly after noon. Yesterday however, the examina- tions, which began at 8 a. m., did not end until 4 o’clock and there were only 391 men to be examined. Where there were a dozen doctors working on Saturday there were only half that number who responded y terday. In commenting upon the de- lay the secretary of the board ex- pressed deep regret at the obvious inconvenience which so many of the registrants suffered and said that “were it not for the fact that four or five doctors remained on duty all day long yesterday I guess the work of examining the men would still be going on Among the physicians who did work yesterday, as weil those of the district medical visory board, there was much custic comment heard yesterday regarding their brother medicoes who failed to ppear to do their share of this gov- rnment work and some of the doc- tors expressed themselves forcibly as Leing In favor of governmental com- pulsion in making all doctors shoul- der their share of this patriotic bur- rather than making a few who as ad- den are more patriotic and public spirited | than the r bility. Because the searcity ining physicians there wi gestion in the examining rooms and at one time during the day there were 75 men waiting in line to be ex- amined, while then three doctors very tirc t take the entire respon- of there were working some for many 11 & and 4 the e steam on 1 ! examining O fome rep the there weor { ana | of the mutineers and arres | mander of the BLAME PLACED FOR HALIFAX EXPLOSION dec of French Ship Arrested MANSLAUGHTER ~ CHARGED Government Commission Which | Pilot Mackay and Gaptain Lamo-'\ | 1 In- vestigated Collision Reports Rules of Road Were Violated By Mont Blanc in December 6 Horror. N. §., Feb. the collision Dbetween munition ship, Mont Blanc, and the Belgian relief ship, Imo, re- sulting 1n the explosion of the former vessel which destroyed a large part of Halifax on December 6, was placed upon Pilot Mackay of I x and Captain Lamodec, of the French ship, judgment announced today by the covernment commission which inves- tignted the collision. The commission held that Tamodec and the pilot violated the rules of the road. With 4.—Blame for the French Halifax, the announcement of the commission’s judgment, Pilot Mack was arrested, charged with man- slaughter the commission having rec- ommended that he be criminally pros- ecuted and his license cancelled. The commission also to the T'rench authorities the lation of Captain Lamodec’s license and that he be dealt with according to the law of his count Captain Lamodec was also arrcsted cnarged with manslaughter. MUTINY IN GREEK INFANTRY PUT DOWN Rebels Comprising Targe Part of Army, Desired to Interfere With Mobilization. \thens, Feb. 4—A mutiny involv- ing a large proportion of the Greek army, infantry regiments, stationed at Lamia about 90 miles northwest of Athens, and a few artillery men in the town occurred last evening. Tt was promptly suppressed. An official statement attributes the ny to a desire to hamper mo- tion. No officers took Most of the seditious soldiers, says the statement returned to their bar- racks and laid down their arms. Troops sent to Lamia from Athens Larissa pursued the remainder >d A court martial was convened to try the delinquents ASHORE OFF NEW ENGLAND | the American Steamer Grounds in Dark- ness and Sends Call for Help—Gov- crnment Sends Relier Vesscls. An Atlantic Port, Feb. 4.—A call for help was received today from an American steamer which ran ashore off the New England e last night. Government vessels were ordered to her assistance. Coast guardsmen who went out to the stranded steamer reported that she was resting easily on a sandy ledge and was in no immediate danger. The captain said the vessel was un- able to make headway yesterday last night because of the ice and and was 50 miles off her course she struck the ledge. Three a nearby port were ordered to at once to the steamer’s as as it was believed, they would to float her. The steamer was bound east with a general cargo when she ran into a field of ic EXPLOSION NEAR PRAGUE fog, istance, nition Depot Near Bohemian ital Ts Blown Up. explosion of ue, cap- London, Feb. 4.—The munitions depot near Pr is reported in dispatches by the Exchange company sccounts, the depot was blown up in- tentionally. NAMED FIELD MARSHALS. | nperor | in| Feb T announced offici Vienna, s appointed Gener Boehm Ermoli and Boroveic field marsha Amsterdam, Charles, it is Iv to be has been com- Austrion army Krmoli second Ceneral of exam- | s much con- | but | It w the army that captured on operating in Galicia. under his command Lemberg from the 1915, General Boroy W pointed A ustr commander-in chief on Italian L two weeks ago. e commanded triun for the 1 i, une ap- th the the i unzo It WEATHER Forecast fur New Brituin vicinity ! wd colder (o- | turbances in { building in which the court | tenced recommends | ancel- | | moverent, Teuton Conference on Economic | minister | the German chief | erai. a Friday | I Hungary. STRIKE IN GERMANY BROUGHT TO FINISH Berliner Tageblatt Claims Work- | ers Have Returned to Factories DISTURBANGE AT JENA Xiirst Prisoner to Be Tricd By Court Martial Sentenced to Six Months in Prison For Distributing Leaflots— Economic Conference Arranged. London, ¥eb. 4.-—With the excep- |tion of a new movement at Jena., re- | ported by the Tugehiatt of Berlin, the German sirikes appear virtually have ended. The lcaders of the strik- ers advised that work be resumed to- day. German newspapers re d Berlin on Saturday. The directors of the WKrupp work report, the Cologne Gazeilc sayvs, tha only 400 out of 110,000 workmen wenft on strike, and that fined or cismissed. The Berlin no dis- these were Vorwaerts s the sitting is closed the public and guarded by troops. Heinrich Schultze the first prisoner to be tried. was sen- to imprisonment fov six months for distributing leaflets ing workers to stiike. to Strike at Jena. Amsterdam. I'eb. 4.—A new the Berliner Tageb Saturday cvening announces, hez: | Jena | the Saturday workmen are Saxe- thout Jena, of Weimer, ,000. in the Duchy population Grand of State 5 Dr. von Kuehl- 1an foreizn minister, Count w foreign T, aen- ment Amsterc mann, Ger Czernin, the Austro-Hungar and Gen. von | quart semi-oficiai will ipate in econonic inte and von Botho lor to Vienna, rdend o o1 annonmie rrive there deliberations Guesiions ind from Berlin say Monday to part on political and affectinz the common territory of esls Germany Aus Count German ambes part. | them. | st | ana | when | tugs at | proceed | be able | expected to attend. SWEDISH SHIPS FIRED ON Vessely Accompanied By and Tee Breakepr Attacked by Red Guard in Guif of Bothnia. 1 Feb. 4. — Swedish npanied by a gunboat which ad crossed hnia to take on Swed- desiring to lcave Fin- of revolution, were by meoem- v Red Guard aefso, near the \tyuluoto. Six short distance and ice-breaker Gulf of B ish subjects land on account fired upon yesterday bers of ti on the island Finnish port i revolutionary of 1 of M; shell within | of tha icehr Tater Rus sailors and Red Guards boarded the gunboat and said they had fired in belief that the steamships were carrving troops aud munition They permitted all the vessels except the to enter the port FIFTY TROLLEY CARS BURN gunboat Barn at Wheeling Destroyed Toss of $200,000—Employes Used Waste to Light Gas Stove. Wheeling, W. V Feb. 4.-—Kifty | mated { when a Many Lives Reported Lost When Mu- | Cap- | {eral office hemia, involving the loss of | Bradley Tele- | work According to some | tailing von | night and Tuesdav. Minimum tonight. zero o hclow. street cars and the large barn of the Jing Traction combany, ling Island, were destroyed by fire early today. The damage is esti- at $200,000. The fire starte carman attempted to l-soaked was heater w Tracton com West rgh Penn Traction Feb. 4 buildinz of the pany in G in United s fire tod ont Worcester, Ma The gen- Osgood cot sen which is eng i magod by fin 088 of a wnd (he VENSEL AN ENSIGN Young Man neix 000 loss of many val ! ords. Arch Street Leaves To- morrow to Toke Special Course at Annapolis Noval Coilege. Jr., son of Arch stie line Force Frank E Vensel Vensel, 545 on a has in the nd of et, nsigt has fent for fur- t the tu Ven i ab ur Ar noian student d e at the ed 1 on May known local boy Iocnl High basketbail and is school player of martial is | With Naval | | U-boat e i i {f cha absolutel | impression | Supporting| | tor, Senator Hitel was misled by la making sanguine prel | know the real situation, ¥ absence of government co-ordinat . BRITISH CASUALTIES FOR | WEEK PLACED AT 6,351 [ Loondon, ualties ‘eb. 4—Bri reported h cas- during the | weck ended today totalled 6,354, | divided as follow: | Killed or died of wounds: | Ofticers, 513 men, 1,325 | ed or | men, wound- missing: 173; 4,805, Officers, | GEDDES A BLUFFER IS GERMAN RETORT { Germans Ridicule Statement of Drit- ish Sca jord Regarding Failure of U-Boat Campaign, Amsterdam, Feb. 4.—A dispatch received here today from Berlin gives | the German reply to the statement . last week of Sir Bric Geddes, first lord of the British adm , who, in the first y. unro- bmarine ) menace was that the sinking of mercha decreasing and the destruction | U-boats increasin and that morale of the submarine crews deteriorating on acc of the policy of sccrecy in regard fate of men on submarine failed to return to their ha German reply, in the form of offic statement follows | “What Sir Eric Geddes | new It mercly harine the was Brit- to the which ish | a semi- said is repetition of rtions which are disproved facts and speeches is miliar i by the in the pulle optimis means, power crews, appears periodically of talkative wire nd. If that b expects by the morale and the stance of our U-boat little suce | g v Gedde to lowe of he as has 1 to bluff long ago res ; will have as the German realized but of LINK EUROPE AND ASIA people, English secrecy an cxpression of weaknes: who was nothing | consciousncss Turkish | Government Asks Appropri- otion to Consider Feasibility of Building Bridge Or Tunnel. located | | Amsterdam | sovernment Feb. 4.—The Turkish according to a Constan- itch to the Vossische Zei- f Berlin, has introduced a bill for an appro- the fc of a brid Furope and in parliar priation to of the construction tunnel connectin vestiga Asia. There are two straits separating Furope from Asis Minor which might be used in a bridge or tumnel project. They are the Bosyhorus, at the entrance to the Black S and the Dardanelles at the entrance to the Rlack Sea, and the Dardanelles at the entrance to the Mditerran- ean. At its narrowest point the Bos- phorus is 1,800 feet wide, while the minimum width of the Dardanelles is 1 one one-fifth miles. Pontoon bridges were built across the Dar- danel then called the Hellespont, by Xerxes of Persia and Alexander the Great of Macedonia before WITH WILHELM'S REGARDS. wion for U-Boat After Three Voy Special Decor Crews Amsi . Feb. 4 iam « special erews on the Emperor Wi rerLg decoration fo the rine wartare ¢ torious work during Vossische Zeitung is available for offic three vo. The arder | Holtzen al Inauguration o ruti senith ccoration ays t ferred th Ve emperor also Aduiiral merit head of the naval Admiral S rman battle i I¢ on torif nd gener com- fleet, mander of The ) not | such n met with in the attempts | the | i port SAdniinistration leaders prepared reply to Senator Hitcheock, who! peech launched the debate which h4 been impending since Secretary Bak made his statement and the preside: made known his opposition to the mi itary committee’s plans for reorgani ing the government's war machiner Conceding that much of a’ big tas| } has been creditably done, the Neb: ka senator insisted centralized and ecd ordinated war ‘operations, through war and centralized pu through a munitions directo! are imperative. He asserted the preg | ident and Secretary Baker had tried and thg cabinet, chasing, but failed to attain the obje: the government's sy | The committe would not emt the p; tem v s legislation rrass or interfe sident’s direction of the war. rp criticism many govern ment war activities was made by tk senator in illustr; gument s that surpass liel.” have occurrec th partment, he said »uilding situation, h “farce and his a dlunde in ind mo. clared broken eck, 000.( New with piled up at Yorl order have ndistr distribution has also In flatly deny S statement that the plan for the war. the military « ruck istration ind other nefizient ret ug's Bal Yernme the senate ommittee ws ements : rine prd | dictions to our ability to ship mug| to Burope and surply them who) | there are exaggerations of the wilde i sort. i “To supply a million France, supposing we could get theq over there, it will require 5,000,0 tons c 1ipping in constant use an| all know the total tonnage no: available is nothing like that amoun| We all fear it will not approximaf that a year from now.” The senator summarized the mous burdens on the president, cluding his formulating a foreign polf cy, designing all the I congress to T dictati trial and politica activities country nd looking after tures of $250,000,000 a week. “In the first place the president b: | longs to the school of political philos Jupn.»m who adhere to the belief tha important legislation shoulf with and be proposed b| " he said. “I cannot su scheme of governmer has some obvious ad] in that it provides leade ship, order and program. “Since he became president, Mi Wilson has enforced his view upo congress to a large degree and gen erally with good results. In the mai I have been one of those who hay, followed his leadership and supporte his policies and I expect to do so i the future. \ Now and then, howeve an exception must be made.” The department’ methods, the senator brought the expected results | fusion of authority. red tape, | Tocution and incapacity,” and he cite: | evidence given in the et | mittee's inquiry of ¢ | equipmen* short deaths in camps ! nd lack at tary Baker; men i | we eno ir expend | this all | originata | the executiv | scribe to thi: although it n se, obsolet ha “con cireum war said t} of clothi crowding We workc st depend fou trained towa I'wo co nittee r re open 1o the sult of the inve ator Hitchcock—t ns, “making few scape ignoring the atest evil g machinery,” or recommen to give the war tion, = ctiv legislation sider up-to-¢ makin sani