Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, September 27, 1916, Page 1

| People don't like to buy - from unknown merchants, or unknown goods; adver- tising makes steady cus- tomers. 2 VOL. XLVI—NO. 87. THE OMAHA DAILY BEE OMAHA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 27, 1916—TEN PAGES. On Tralns, at Hotels, Nows S THE WEATHER‘ UNSETTLED SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS. PROSPERITY OF DEMOS LIKENED UNTO THE NIST Charles W. Fairbanks Declares it Will Vanish Before the Sun When War Is Over. WAS PURELY ACCIDENTAL Says it Was Made Possible by a Cataclysm in Political World. CLAIMED 'AS TROPHIES Charles W. Fairbanks, former vice president and present republican can- didate for the office, addressed two Omaha audiences yesterday. He spoke at the Commercial club before an assemblage of business men at noon, and in the evening at 8 o'clock he addressed a mass meeting in_the Auditorium. W. F. Gurley presided over the eve- ning meeting and introduced the speaker, Mr. Fairbanks left with his party ‘at 12:20 o’clock this morning for Colorado, where He will continue his campaigning. 3 Before the evening meeting at the Auditorium he was the guest of honor at a dinner at the Hotel Rome. It was informal, with no speaking. It was just a way of getting a dozen or more local republicar® in ‘close touch with the vice presidential candidate. The guests were State Chairman E. D. Beach, former Senator Joseph Mil- lard, former Senator Ndrris Brown, Byron G. Bgrhank, Gould Dietz, R. B. Howell, W. F. Gurley, Victor Rose- water, Frank S .Howell and Harry S.p Byrne. Enthusiasm Shown. Nearly 2,000 persons had gathered at the Auditorium for some time be- fore Mr. Fairbanks and his party ar- rived from the hotel where a dozen republicans entertained him at a little dinner. When W, F. Gurley intro- duced Mr. Fairbanks as the “next vice president of the United States” all in the hoyse rose to their feet and cheered enthusiastically for several minutes. Frank S. Howell, chairman of the Douglas county republican committee, introduced W. F. Gurley as presiding officer of the evening. Mr. Gurley in his characteristic eloquence made a political speech of his own. He de- clared he had failed 'to hear anyone thus far claim the present prosperity due to the democratic administration. “Suppose,” he said, “that the demo- aratic congress had adjourned for good the 1st day of\August, 1914, does aniyone suppose that we would not have had the same prospetity at this time? This is a war prosperity. The gold that is now crowded in our vaults has been paid for by bullets and shrapnel. Trade with Europe’s Camps. “We are enjoying a large trade, to be sure, but is it a trade with the na- tions of the world? No, it is a trading with the camps of Europe.” He de- clared there were enough independ- ently thinking voters in the country to elect Hughes and Fairbanks. Among those on the platform were: W. F. Gurley, Ben Baker, Walter Jar- dine, Frank Shotwell, Victor Rose- water, F. S. Howell, John Lee Web- ster, R. B. Howell, Rome Miller, W. G, Ure, T. J. McGuire, Charles Elgut- ter, Dr. Harry A. Foster and a score of others. The audience was made up almost entirely of voters, there being very few women in the house. Problems Are Grave. ... | “We are confronted,” said Mr. Fair- | banks in his speech at the Auditorium, “with graver problems than have taxed the judgment of the American people since the days of Abraham Lincoln. We have not lost the ca- pacity of self-government; we are ag true to the highest and best traditions of America as those who preceded us. I wish to address my observations to | men of all political faith, for I have always been a believer that the great heart of the American people is true and loyal to our best traditions of the republic; we do not all look upon pub- lic questions from the same angle; (Col_fl.lnlled on Page Two, Column One.) The Weather For Nebraska—Unsettled, showers. Temperatures at Omaha Yesterday, | Hour D with probably . m, Comparative Local Record. . 1915,1914. 72 76 1913, Highest yesterday .. 87 Lowest yesterday . 62 66 G140 Mean temperature 0 64 64 B4 Precipitation ... 16 .24 .00 .00 Temperature and precipitation departures from the normal: Normal temperature . Excess for the day Total excess since March Normal precipitation . Excess for the day ... Total rainfall since March 1 Deficiency since March 1.. Deficlency cor. period, 191 .19 inch Deficiency cor. period, 1914 . 3.81 inches Reports from Stations at 7 P. M. 6 Hoed .08 Inch .07 inch .14.15 Inches .10.37 Inches Station and State Temp, High- Rain- of Weather. Tp.m tall. fall. Cheyenne, clear . 62 64 00 Davenport, part 82 .08 Denver, clear . " .00 Des Molnes, cloudy 80 o Dodge C! part cloudy. 84 .00 Lander, cloudy 06 ‘00 North Platte, pt. cloudy 62 70 00 Omaha, cloudy 62 L 16 Pueblo, clear . 6 .00 Salt Lake Ci 60 60 .00 Santa Fe, clear . 64 70 .00 Sheridan, cloudy . b2 62 " Sloux City, cloudy 60 I 22 Valentine, cloudy . 52 60 .00 T indicates trace of precipitation. L. A. WELSH, Meteorologist, A . | applause, 7llaw, declaring that labor, least of all, Fairbanks Has Busy Day in Omaha; |KING Vice President Candidate Live Wire Talks Before Commercial Olub, Opens Carnival and Ad-' dresses Big Orowd at Auditorium. “The conflagration in Europe has been brought ‘about by ignorance, neglect or sinister design” said former Vice President Fairbanks in his talk to the Commercial club at noon. “In the years past somebody made a mistake in Europe; we do not know who is to be credited with- the, responsibility for the greatest strife among mankind in the history of the world. We look upon the bloody spec- tacle with a sense of horror. “If we can draw no other lesson from it, we can certainly draw this, and that is that governments are not secure against the possibilities of overthrow, no matter how long they have endured or how secure they are in the opinions of men.” Mr. Fairbanks said he realized that the proprieties of” the occasion made it necessary for him to refrain from political utterances at the public af- fairs luncheon tendered in his honor at the club rooms. “But I trust,” he said, “that a word or two of politics in the broadest sense may not offend the most delicate sensibilities, "~ Our Civic Duty. “One thing that impresses me more and more as the yearspass is the im- portance of the full, faithful and loyal discharge of our civic duty. Too many of our countrymen view with more or less indifference the discharge of their political responsibilities, “We are engaged in the task of na- tion building. It is a-gigantic under- taking, and challenges our wisest judgment. Our nation is what we make it. It thrives not upon ignor- ance. It does not attain successful proportions by mere accident; it is wrought out by intelligent service and sacrifice. In the final analysis we get out of our public institutions what we put into them. We cannot enjoy lib- erty without making our sacrifices full and fair upon the altar of liberty. “There is one great fact that we must bear in mind and that is the fabric of our government thus far ad- vanced is not beyond the reach of the peril of change. Change is one of the laws of nature. It adheres in the institutions of men and throughout the f)hysicnl world about us. History is filled with the stories of the bloody destruction of governments. Europe 'S HIGHWAY OPEN AND FALL FESTIVAL IS ON Former Vice President Oh< W. Fairbanks Buys Ticket and the 8 ! Opens for Business. GROUNDS Ifi—NEW PLACE Located Around Spot Where “Billy” Sunday Had His Tabernacle Last Fall, \ feat VISITORS COMING IN EARLY Ak-Sar-Ben Dates Ak-Sar-Ben jubilee, Fifteenth CHARLES W. FAIRBANKS. offers the most graphic illustration of this potential fact at this moment.” Breakfast in Private Car. Mr. Fairbanks and party arrived at 8 o'clock in their private car. They took breakfast in the car, and were then brought by the local committee to the Hotel Rome, where Mr. Fair- banks was the Jtrsonal guest of Rome Miller, The Fairbanks party was met at the train by a local committee of no less than fifty men, including such leading republicans as E. D. Beach, chairman of “the republican state. committee; F. S. Howell, chairman of the Doug- las county committee, Harry S. Byrne, president of the McKinley club; Victor Rosewater, editor of The Bee; W. F. Gurley, Byron G. Burbank, Senator Norris Brown, and others. At_the Commercial club luncheon Mr. Fairbanks was introduced by Sen- ator Norris Brown, ' MR, HUGHES SPEAKS TWIGE AT TOLEDO Workmen Attempt to Heckle Him During His Criticism of Adamson Act. CHEERS FROM THE CROWD 'Polcdo. 0., Sept. 26.—Charles E. Hughes faced two audiences here to- day, one at a theater, which cheered him repeatedly, another in the open air at a !arge automobile plant com- posed of workmen off for the noon hour. A\ number of the latter sought, to heckle the nominee and cheered for Wilson. There were also'many cheers for Hughes. Mr. Hughes spoke on the Adamsqn law in his open-air speech. He reiter- ated his declaration that he “would never surrender to force,” and repeat- ed his assertion that the measure was not an eight-hour law, but a wage law. _The audience listened quietly at first and cheered points made by the nomince. “What about the Danbury hatters?” shouted a man on the edge of the | crowd. There were many street noises from passing traffic, and apparently Mr, Hughes did notthear. Toward the end of his speech other workmen took up the question: “What about the Danbury hatters?” shouted many. There was much other noise and voices. Mr. Hughes did not answer Alter the meeting he said he had not heard the question. “How about the unions in the fac- tory here,” shouted another man. Mr. Hughes replied that he favor- ed unions, and was cheered, As the nominee neared the end of his address there was a growing {volume of Wilson cheers sprinkled | here and there with uncomplimen- tary references to Mr, Hughes. He continued, however, with a smile on his face and amidst frequent to discuss the Adamson could afford to surrender the prin- ciple of arbitration. The nominee repeated his attack » [on the administration for the Adam- son law in his address at the theater. He was vigorously applauded. He also declared for the protection of Amebican rights. “The path of proper preparedness, the path of maintaining justly and firmly of American rights, is not the path that leads to war,” he said. “It is the path of security. The path- way of peace is to announce Ameri- can rights in advance and have the world understand exactly what we think and what we are prepared to do.” Man Held Month By Blackmailers Admits Identity Chicago, Sept. 26.—Edward R. West, vice gresidenl of the C. D. Gregg Tea and Coffee company of New York and Chicago, admitted today that he was the “A. R. Wesley” who was trapped in a New York hotel With “Alice Wil- liams” by representatives of the In- ternational band of Mann-act black- mailers, now held by federal author- ities. After being taken prisoner to Chicago he was mulcted o?$15.000 on the strength of a fake federal war- rant, SOUTHERN PACIFIC - NET INGOME GROWS Figures from Annual' Report Show Increase of Over Fifty Per Cent in Year. ITS INVESTMENTS LARGER New Yos Sept. 26—A gain of 50.14 per cent in net income is re- ported by the Southern Facific com- cal year ended June 30 last, that item | increasing from $20,570,319 to $30,- | 885,254, | The gross income increased from | $49,647,992 to $60,393,006, an increase of 21.64 per cent, and net revenue from railway operations increased from $42,111,833 to $35250,570, a gain of 31.20 per cent, The Southern Pacific company was materially bénefitted by the heavy travel to the San Francisco exposi- tion and derived additional income from its holdings of stock in other railroads, as well as various other iproperli:s. including the Associated | Oil company of California. The company's investments of 1$689,916,652 show an increase of $16,- 922,999 over the previous year, these including stocks, bonds and notes. Its | current liabilities of $19,388,707 are | | but slightly increased over the pre-| | vious year. 3 — Its gross earnings of $152,594,228 |are the, largest in the history of the company, surpassing the previous record of 1913 by $9919,523 and a| gain over 1915 of $22,828,553. Closing of Canal Helps. .\ In his review of the year's opera- | tions, Chairman Julius Kruttschnitt says: “The interruption of steamship | service through the Panama canal since September 18, 1915, has mini- mized sea competition and has re- stored to your company’s lines the freight which had been diverted from it by frequent steamship service through the Panama canal during the previous year and by the low rates then prevailing. Nearly all the steam- ers which had operated through the canal found more profitable employ- ment in consequence of the increased demand for steamship tonnage owing to the European war, and they hav between Atlantic and Pacific ports singe the reopening of the canal. Upon the ‘return of normal condi- tions, however, it may safely be as- sumed that the intense competition of the steamship lines will be en- countered again.” Mr. and Mrs. Redman Have Golden Wedding St. Edward, Neb,, Sept. 26.—(Spe- ciah)—Mr. and Mrs, W. B. Redman of this place'celebrated their golden wed- ding at their home in this city Satur- day. They were married in Hancock county, Indiana, on September 23, 1866, and moved to Nebraska a few years later, coming to St. Edward in 1901, Mrs, Redman was 70 years of age in May and is in poor health. Mr, Redman is a veteran of the civil war, having served in Company K, Twen- ty-fifth Indiana infantry. He will be 70 next month. They have four chil- dren—Mrs, J. M. Schreckengast of Al- bion, F. M. Redman of Genoa, I. D. Redman of Treynor, Ia., and Mrs. R E. Creamer of Henderson, Ia, and I fifteen grandchildren, pany in its detailed report for the fis- |/ fapear, | the air, the Oriental be not been restored to regular service || and Capitol Avenue, September 26 to October 7. Industrial parade, 2 p. m,, Octo- ber 3. Shakespeare electrical pageant, 8 g‘ m., October 4. ebraska semi-centennial his- torical parade, 2 p. m.! October 5. President Wilson to speak here October 5, Coronation ball at Den, 8 p, m,, October 6. Masked ball at Den, 8 RN Oc- tober 7. National swine show, Octdber 2 to 7. Week of Wonderful Windows, September 27 to 30. 7ouzlas county fair, October 2 to 7. Kite-flying contest, September 30, A gentleman from Indiana was the fitst person \to purchase a ticket of admission to the celebrated' jubilee grounds of King Ak-Sar-Ben yester- day, when the gates of Quivera's frolicking place were thrown open to start Omaha's famous ten-day fall festival. But those loyal subjects of the great monarch for whom the jubilee grounds have been planned and ar- ranged felt no jealousy because an in- habitant of a hostile state won the | distinction of purchasing the first ticket. In fact, they felt rather pleased, rather flattered. For the gentleman from Indiana was the Hon. Charles W. Fairbanks, president of these great United States of America and the distinguished running mate of Charles Evans Hughes. First Cash Customer, When Mr, Fairbanks arrived .in Omaha he immediately made it known that he intended to be the first cash customer at the jubilee grounds. That honor and glory were to be his and no pressure of speaking engage- ments or political conferences or any- thing else could detain him. So when the gates to the jubilee grounds were thrown open the distinguished guest from Indiana, surrounded by a coterie of Ak-Sar-Ben governors, was right on the job to be the first man at the ticket window, The jubilee grounds are at a new location this year. The entrance is at Fifteenth street and Capitol ave- nue. That the Ak-Sar-Ben governors in choosing this location made a wise move was clearly manifest to visitors to the grounds this afternoon. The layout of the ground is such that there is plenty of room for the im- mense crowds expected to congregate within tlie enclosure, even on the parade days, when 25,000 and 30,000 investigate the wonders of the Ak- Sar-Ben carnival. . All Attractions Ready. Those Omahans who have hesitated | to attend the carnivals on the early days in the past for fear that all of the attractions were not quite ready, need have no such apprehension this For when the gates opened everything was in readiness, Every tent had been pitched, every scenery set had been placed, every barker was | tuned up for the grind, the diving girls were ready and prepared to plunge into the pool, the dare-devil motorist who somersaults in“the air had his machine ready for his flight through auties were ready to respond to the first note of the clarinet, the smallest mother in the world had donned her party dress and gathered her “babies” around her, everything was ready. The Wortham shows believe in preparedness and they were prepared when the turn- stiles began to click. No Confetti This Year. _ An improved atmosphere about the jubilee grounds was instantly noticed by early visitors. The shrill shrieks of the noisy urchins who, perched on three barrels stationed at intervals along the center of the pike, called out the sale of confettiywere missing. And it was a pteasant absence. There will be 1fo confetti any day during the jubilee this year, the "Ak-Sar-Ben governors have placed it on the taboo 15t That the Ak-Sar-Ben festivities are here are evidenced by increased activ- ities at-the railroad stations, Incoming trains brought an unusually large number of people into the city. Out- of-town visitors are coming earlier this year because Ak-Sar-Ben has more to offer and it will take the full ten days to take in all the sights and added attractions. The railroAds ex- pect to bring many more thousand | visitors to Omaha this year than ever before. Put Five Hundred Villistas to Death At Chihuahua City Ll Paso, Tex, Sept. 26.—Whole- sale executions are taking place in Chihuahua City following the Villa attack, it was announced at military headquarters hera today, Five hun- dred Villa adherents have been ex- ecuted since the fight, the report to General Bell, jr., states, and many other prisoners have been taken. T former vice [~ FRETTY GIRLS PICKETING the young women wear sashes i | NEW YORK'S TRACTION || LINES—This picture shows two of the thousands of young women doing picket duty, in an effort to persuade the public not to patronize the roads affected by the strike. Many of labelled “Don’t Be a Scab.” VILLA IS MOVING - TOWARD PERSHING Report to General Indicates Bandit is Preparing Yo At- tack American Force, SKIRMISH NEAR RAILROAD \ Field Headquarters, Mexico, Sept. 26.—(Via Radia to Columbus, N, M.) —Pancho Villa and his bandit com- mand are moving northward toward the American expeditionary force, ac- cording to reports received today -at field headquarters from a ‘'source which is described as being very re- liable. Villa is reported to have crossed the Northwestern railroad at San Andres, forty-five miles south- west of Chilwahua City, where a slight skirmish is said to have oc- curred between Villistas and Carranza troops. Villa Not at Chihuahua, Washington, Sept. 26—Confiden- | tial advices, it was announced today at the State department, show that Villa was not present during the Hi- {dalgo day fighting at Chihuahua City, | that no arms were captured by the bandits, and that there were no de- sertions from the Carranza garrison. Secretary Lansing said the dis- patches bore out statements by Eliseo Arredondo, Mexican ambassador | designate, regarding the affair.. The source of the department’s informa- tion was not disclosed. Representations have been made by | the State department to the Carran | government in behalf of Burton Wil-| son, president of the American club of Mexico City, who was arrested and | reported threatened with deportation. A cablegram to the Navy depart- ment today from Captain Burrage, commanding the battleship Nebraska at Vera Cruz, reported all quietithere. | Eliseo Arredondo, the Mexican am- bassador designate, conferred with | Secretary Lansing today and later | made public a summarized account of |the Chihuahua fight, based on dis- patches from General Carranza, For- eign Minister Aguilar and General Trevino, the Chihuahua commander: “The attacking party,” the state- ment said, “remained only a few hours |in possession of the penitentiary and federal palace, before General Tre- vino disposed his forces and en- | veloped it. It is calculated that only | | one-third of the bandits escaped, the | | remainder being either killed, wound- icrl or captured.” i | Letter Written by Girl | | Exonerates Roland | Fairbury, Neb., Sept. 26.—(Special.) —The preliminary hearing of Bert| Roland, charged with kidnaping Miss Mary Groathouse, daughter of John | Groathouse, ncar Reynolds, in ' this I 'county, was held in county court and [resulted in a dismissal of the case. The defendant lives in this city and be- | came infatuated with the young Groathouse girl, who is 15 years of |age. They eloped from Reynolds and ! went to Rulo, Neb.” In the investiga- | | tion, Miss Groathouse admitted that she wrote Roland a letter and asked him to elope, which was sufficient to | exonerate the defendant, The girl was returned to her home near Rey- nolds. 5 Kearney County Fair Being Held in Minden| Minden, Neb., Sept. 26.—(Special.) —The Kearney County Agricultural association is holding its annual fair, together with the fall festival within the city of Minden. This is an itmo- vation from previous years, as the fair has always been held on the fair grounds adjacent to Minden. The fair grounds are now under litigation, a | mortgagee having commenced fore- | closure, two judgment creditors try- ing to sell and the county of Kearney btrving to enforce its.lien. LRGISLATURE MAY DEAL WITH STRIKE Governor Whitman Will Con- sult Oity Members as to Ad- visability-of Extra Session, 260,000 AGREE TO QUIT New York, Sept. 25.—~Governor Whitman has promised to meet here this afternoon a committee represent- ing members of the state legislature from Manhattan and the Bronx to hear their request for a special session of the legislature to “deal with the situation” resulting from threats of a general suspension of work Wednes- day morning in sympathy with the striking car men, No.method of deal- ing with the proposed strike was set forth by the committee, but it was pointed out the power of the public i service commission was inadequate. Hugh Frayne, an officer of the Am- erican Federation of Labor, and one of the directors of the strike move- ment claimed today that assurances had been received by the labor lead- efs that 260,000 organized workers will gt work tomorrow morning. A committee of the general officers of the national and international unions have quarters here and repre- sentatives of the Central labor unions trade councils and local unions will meet Wednesday morning to or- ganize and extend the suspension of work. Means of supplying financial support to strikers and plans for hold- ing demonstrations will be considsred. The building trade councils of Man- hattan _and the Bronx representing about 83,000 workers have postponed their respense to the call for 2 sus- pension. Disorders again broke out during the early hours today. According to the police, a dozen elevated trains were bombarded with sticks 'and stones thrown from roof tops by strik- ers and sympathizers. Three persons were injured by flying glass when the windows of a Third avenue ele- vated train were shattered by missiles. Two arrests were made. One of the men in custody is charged with having a revolver in his possession. Greek Chief of Staff Resigns London, Sept. 26.—General Gon- stantine Moschopoulos, chief of the staff of the Greek army, has resignegl, according to a Reuter's dispatch from Athens. Gt‘wral Moschopoulos commanded the Greek forces at Saloniki at the | time of the landing of the Anglo- French expeditionary force. He or- dered the troops under his command to salute French and British officers and was generally reported to be friendly to the cause of the allies. In August General Moschopoulos was appointed chief of staff and in a state- ment given to the press expressed the hope that he could strengthen the good relations between Greece and the entente powers. “I think I can be a precious advocate of the en- tente,” he said. ‘Wilson Will Speak At Chicago Oct. 19 Chicago, Sept. 26.—President Wil- son will speak in Chicago on Qctober 19, it was announced at the demo- cratic western headquarters here to- day, following rcceipt of a me:izage from Shad.v Lawn N. I, summer home of the president, by United States Senator Thomas' 1. Waish, in charge of the loéal headquarters, The president will speak.under the aus- pices of a non-political organization, Senator Walsh said, COMBLES FALLS; ALLIES NOW HOLD AL OF THE TOWN: British and French Make Com. bined Attack on Point Blocking Advance on the West, Sho s TEUTONS ARE MOVING OUT Victory of Entenge Achieved at End of Series of Fights Costly in Time and Men, FIGHTING NEAR VERDUN BULLETIN. Paris, Sept. 26.—The town of Com« bles is entirely in the hands of the Anglo-French forces. This is an- nounced in the official statement from the war office tonight, which adds that the battle north of the Somme is prnceedins in favor of the entente allies. The French also have advanced farther north of Fregicourt, Along the Bethune road the French have gained additional ground. A vast stock of munitions and provisions were captured in Combles, the state- ment says, and the town was found filled with German dead. Elsewhere along the front in France there has been intermittent cannonading. BULLETIN. Berlin, Sept. 26.—(By Wireless to Sayville.)—Successes were achieved by the Anglo-French forces. on the Somme last night to the east of Eau~ court L’Abbaye, north of Flers, says the official statement issued by the German army headquarters today. The conquest of the villages on the line of Gueudecourt and Bouchavesnes, the ;memenl adds, must ,be recog- nized. London, Sept. 26—The British have entered Combles on the Somme front, the war office annéunced today, and are overcoming the resistance of the Germans. 3 More than 1,500 prisoners taken in the fighting of the last twenty-four hours have already been counted and a large amount of war n.aterial has been captured. The announcement follows: PRI “Yesterdgy's ' operations were en- tirely successful. The preparation and execution of ‘the attack by the artillery and infantry and the co- operation between them were in all respects admirable, More than 1,500 prisoners already have ed through the collecting stations and mose are arriving. Much war ma- terial has been captured, but the amount cannot yet be estimated. “Further progress has been made during the. night and this morning, A strong redoubt which had held out between Les Boehufs and Gueude- court now has been captured,and the garrison made prisoners. A “Our trooss efitered Combles from the west and are overcoming the en« emy's resistance. There the enemy’s losses were very severe.” French Penetrate Cemetery. Paris, Sept. 26.—Continuing their offensive north of the Somme the French last night captured all the village of Fregicourt and penetrated the Combles cemetery. Violent counter attacks were made by the Germans last night on the erdun front between Thiaumont works and‘ Fleury. These assaults’ were checked by the French artillery and rifle fire, , Battle L All Night, Fighting continued all night north of the Somme, the Germans making . desperate eflor& to stem the tide which is engulfing Comlles. Accord- ing to'latest advices reaching Paris, the allies have so far succeeded in clinging to their gains and have even improved their positions slightly. !grom the south of Morval, held by the British, to thé French positions south of Fregicourt, a distance of only about 1,800 yards, was the only part | of the loop around Combles which it | remained to close. That is now prac- tically accomplished since the fire of the English and French crosses, and the situation of the Germans in, Combles is worse than precarious, in the view of the allied officers. Valuable as Defensive Point. Combles, a town of some 2,000 population before the war, had been rendered of small strategic importance to the allies by their long continued encircling movement. It has been of notable value to the Germans, how- ever, because as long as they clung to it the French-British freedom of ac« tion in pushing their offensive num- bers toward Bapaume and Peronne, on either side of it, was hampered. Turned into a strongly fortified po- | sition by German defensive ingenuity, |it has persistently held fast like a |rock in the course of a turbulent stream that has bad to be blasted loose before the channel was fully opened up. This process has only been accom- plished by long continued, severe and costly effort on the part of the allies. Driving in from the south, the French successively swept Murepas, Leforest and finaly reached Fregicourt, a mile cast of Combles. More slowly, but (Continued on Page Three, Column Five.) AN ) They know what : they are talking about! When you telephone a Want Ad to THE BEE you talk-to an intelligent, highly trained Ad-Taker, who can shape up any kind of an ad in the correct style. This is service, l