About Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 1917)
Atlanta jhmi'Wtddjj sauriial VOLUME XX. FIVE BILLION LOIN is .oversubscribed M 'IODO ANNOUNCES Almost Impossible to Make Estimate Under Avalanche of Last-Minute Subscriptions Pouring in to Swell Fund Loan Great Success McAdoo Announces WASHINGTON. D. C. Oct. 28. — Secretary JicAdoo’s statement on the success of the second Liberty loan: "It is a great honor to be able to announce to the American people tnat the second Liberty loan is an overwhelming success. “It has been greatly over-sub scribed. The extent of the splendid over-subscription of the three-bil licn-doilar issue cannot be definitely stated now because full reporta have not yet been received and banks all over the country are holding open into the night to accommodate sub scribers •'lt will be several days before final figures can be given. •The patriotic people of America, men and women alike, have respond ed generously and nobly to the call of their government to support and sustain the gallant soldiers and sailors of the republic. •The challenge of the German kaiser has been answered by the free people of America in unmistak able term* ” WASHINGTON. Oct. 29—Returns from the second Liberty Loan cam i>atpn reachins the treasury department early today rave no definite indication ' as to the total amount The ' full measure of the nation’s response will not be known definitely before the first of November. Further figures showing Liberty Loan subscriptions totals, the treasury de partment announced, will not be made public here until Thursday. This de cision was reached when it became ap parent that the federal reserve banks ( would be unable to make more than . approximate returns before -that time. There was nothing today at the treas- , iiry upon which to base an estimate of the grand total of subscriptions. It was assumed. In the lack of reports, that the banks were busy tabulating the totals which rolled In by the millions Satur day. Officials reasserted their belief that the loan had passed 16.000.000.000. Next Thursday is the last day upon which banks may make returns. All , ■subscription agencies. Including the 28.000 banks in the country, are required ■ bv the treasury to have their subscrip tion lists and the 2 per cent of subscrip tions required with bond applications In the hands of the reserve banks not later than that date. Treasury officials, on the basis of re turns at 'hand, were unable to sax whether subscriptions had passed the $5,000.000.000 mark, although they were agreed that chances are the figures ap proximate this amount. Reports to the department today said that reserve bank officials and local loan committees, after yesterday’s treathlng spell, were hard at work in an effort to complete their tabulations of returns. They have until Thursday to make final reports. Subscriptions to the loan by employes: of the Panama canal and Panama rail-: road totalled $549,850. It was also an-. roun<-ed. Approximately 82 per cent of the men on the “gold roll’ of the canal commission, or 3.423 employes, sub scribed for bonds. New York’s Estimate Is Now $1,750.000.000 NEW YORK. Oct. 29. —Banks in the New York federal reserve district oxer whelmed with the flood of last-J minute subscriptions to the second Liberty loan, will be unable to tabu- | late complete returns until the middle . ,>f the week, it was stated today, but 1 members of the loan committee re- •' iterated their l«elief that the district’s quota of a biliion and a half dollars has been far exceeded. Estimates of the subscriptions range from >1.700.- j ■>nont>«« to The official count of the federal reserve bank last night was $1,335,705,800. At 10 a. m. today this had increased: t« 51.289,757.200. Government Investigates Alleged Rioting Plots Involving Chickamauga •CHATTANOOGA. Tenn., Oct. 29. 1 Federal and city investigations were inder wav here today into an alleged ‘ conspiracy Involving Chickamauga 'amp soldiers to stage a general labor riot here last night, and into charges I that city detectives had “tipped off” the conspirators that the plan was known thus frustrating last night’s attempt ed raids loe Ivans, city detective who last night shot and killed J. W. Flannlgan. private of the Eleventh infantry, was being held in connection with the in vestigation. • King Constantine Urged Keiser to Attack Allies ATHENS. Get 29.—Among the mes sages exchanged between the royal pal aces at Athens and Berlin and which have fallen into the hands of the Greek government was one in which King Con stantine urged Emperor William to at-: tack the al tes on the Balkan front, promising that Greek forces would at tack Genera’. Sarrail’s army in the rear. In another message Queen Sophie al luded to the all’es as “Infamous pigs." Tobacco Habit Banished In 48 I" 72 bo«ir». N«> craving for tobacco :n any form «ft*r completing treatment, ton tain* n« habit-fbrmlng dr iga. Satisfactory re ■uMs guaranteed in every eaae. Write Newell Fbarmaral Ce. D*pt. 5. St. Louis. Mo., for FREE Booklet. "TOBACCO REPEEMER” and poaitlve proof.—<Advt.| Full Associated Press Service PACIFIST im BEATEN . UNMERCIFULLT Bl MOB Cincinnati Preacher Kidnaped as He Was Entering Hall to Make Address i CINCINNATI. Oct. 28.—Stripped of his clothing and beaten unmercifully. Herbert S. Bigelow, pacifist leader and pastor of the People's church here, was found at Florence. Ky.. today. He had been kidnaped by a band of men in twen ty-one automobiles, who turned him loose after dipping his head in crude petroleum. All evidence indicates he was the vlc time of an oath-bound organization, sworn to wreak vengeance on pacifists and ethers i.ot in accord with the government’s war policies. A black snake whip had been used on Bigelow, whose condition is serious. Bigelow was president of the recenl Ohio constitutional convention. He was kidnaped at 8 p. m. Sunday as he was about to epter a hall to address a meeting of Socialists. With him were Prof. Edward J. Can trell. of Minneapolis, and Vernon Rose, of Kansas City. Two men approached Bigelow, seized him. handcuffed him, and thrust him into a waiting automobile. Those with Bigelow supposed he had been taken by federal officers. The kidnapers were traced to Latonia, where they had a rendezvous with other posses Farmers saw a strange procession of automobiles winding through the Ken tucky hills and counted twenty-one machines. The vendetta returned from the scene of the whitecapping singly. Automo bile parties of searchers were urtfcble to apprehend them. \ Bigelow has received vague threats recently, but refused to heed them. There were rumors that a secret organization had been formed In Kentucky to “teach a lesson to pacifists?’ Sunday Bigelow's automobile was followed about Cincin nati by another machine. Bigelow was able to tell of his ex perience. He had entered a office in Florence at 1:30 a. m. and re mained there till morning His back and legs were lacerated and a portion of his hair had been cut off. After he had been stripped his hands were tied around a tree. Then the lead er of the vigilantes said: “In the name of the women and children of Belgium and France, strike!” Then the first blow fell. Seven more lashes fell across his back. Then there was a pause, said Bigelow. "Apparently the man with the whip ‘was waiting for orders,” he said. “Then the whip came down on my back again. I believe there were ten or a dozen lashes. “The men were masked and wore white aprons. They reminded me of the Ku- Klux figures I saw in ‘The Birth of a Nation.’ “After I had been seized and hand cuffed I was taken out into the country. A sack was thrown over my head. My feet were tied. I had no notion of either time or distance. I could tell only that we were going over smooth roads.” ”At last we came to a stop. I was lifted out of the automobile and the sack was taken off my head. ‘They led me up a hill to a school house and took me to a tree to which they tied me. “ ‘Off with his clothes!’ somebody ex claimed. “My clothes were taken off my back.” Then follews Bigelow's description of the lashing. “They cut off some of my hair,” said Bigelow, “and then poured something out of a bottle over my head. I judged |it was crude oil. The men then left me, except two, who remained to guard me. One had a revolver. “When the others were gone a con siderable time, my guards also left me after telling me not to go away for ten , minutes. Thej- instructed me to go to a certain house where I would get directions, “It occurred to me that the oil had been poured on my head so that I might be identified at the house to which I • had been directed. “I feared something more was in st<#he for me there, so I walked away in the opposite direction, and finally reached Florence.” I Bigelow said in parting, his kidnapers told him he must leave Cincinnati with in thirty-six hours and stay away from Cincinnati during the rest of the war. He said today he would stay in Cin- I cinnati if given proper protection by , federal authorities. Recently federal authorities conduct ed a raid on Bigelow’s office in Cln , cinnati, where documents concerning the activities of the local people’s coun cil were seized. Sunday afternoon, at People’s church services. Bigelow pray ed for “the repose of the souls of Em , peror William and the proud men sur | rounding him.” Mr. Bigelow was Democratic candi date for secretary of state of Ohio In '1912 and was a delegate from Hamilton county to the constitutional convention i 1902 and was a delegate from Hamilton I vention as its president. For the las 1 : ! several years, however, he has been ac tively associated with the Socialist < party. Bernstorf! Is Made Something by Kaiser AMSTERDAM Oct. 29.—Count von Rernstorff. the former ambassador to the United States, has been made a "Wirklicher Gehelmrat” by the German emperor with the title of excellency. The count is now ambassador at Constanti nople. Second Liberty Bonds Sell Above Par in N. Y. NEW YOK. Oct. 29.—The bonds of the I second Liberty loans were listed today :on the stock exchange here. The first 1 transaction. $1,500 worth, took place I with the price at par. The second lot, i amounting to SB,OOO. sold at 100.02. ‘Women Open Food Campaign NEW YORK. Oct. 29.—An army of 16.000 women today started a campaign to enlist 1.200.000 New York C*ity resi dents In the food conservation campaign of the national food administration, j The women will canvass every house in the greater city. They will carry pledge cards with them to be signed and will leave in every home litera ture bearingi upon the sbuject of the necessity of saving food The drive will continue a week. THE GREAT AMERICAN HOME just wait Til I ( MM 808 6ETS / OVER- THERE. !.'r / z \ ? WHill HEBTLING IS OFFERED CHANCELLDfISHIP, REPOUT I Resignation of Michaelis Is Said to Have Been Accepted AMSTERDAM, Oct. 29—The Zeitung Am Mittag of Berlin says the German chancellorship has been offered to the Bavarian premier, Count von Hertllng. who has asked for time to consider the matter. Resignation Is Reported To Have Been Accepted ZURICH. Oct. 29.—The Suttgart news paper Neuste Tageblat declared today that Chancellor Michaelis’ resignation had been accepted by the kaiser. Belgians Reject Kaiser’s Separate Peace Offer LONDON, Oct. 29.—La Metropole, a Belgian newspaper published here, says a German attempt to separate the allies has been defeated by Baron de Broque ville, Belgian foreign minister. According to this newspaper, Germany recently made a peace offer to Belgium. La Metropole says the bearer of the peace proposal was a Belgian in dustrial and financial magnate who knew Foreign Minister de Broqueville personally. He went to Paris through Switzerland and asked for a meeting with the minister who met him in a l aris hotel. The emissary there said I he was commissioned by Baron von der Lane ken, legal adviser of the German government in Belgium, to propose that semi-official Belgian and French dele gates should meet German delegates in Berne to lay down a basis for a last ing peace. The following preliminary conditions were presented. Recognition of Belgian independence, indemnity for war ex penses, reparation for war destruction according to the Belgian gommon law, and convocation of a peace conference at Brussels under the presidency of King Albert. Baron de Broqueville, the newspaper saya, defeated this attempt to separate the allies. 'Austria’s Hope of Peace Raised, Official Says ZURICH, Oct. 29.—Austrian hopes of a "speedy and honorable peace" have been raised by the Austro-German suc cesses on the Italian front, the president of the relchsrat said in an address to the deputies, as quoted in Vienna dis patches. He admitted there had been great anxiety in regard to Trieste which had now been removed. The report of the proceedings in par- I .iament adds that the German and Polish I deputies arose and cheered the emperor , and the army, implying that the Czechs ; did not join in the demonstration Thirteen Million Men Crossed Sea Safely —, LONDON, Oct. 29.—Thirteen million men have crossed and recrossed the seas during the three vears of the war | —and only 3,500 of these nave been lost, I Premier Lloyd George to’.d the house of : commons this afternoon in lauding the work of the navy. “The navy has also safeguarded the transportation of 25,000,000 tons of ex plosives and 51.bd0.000 tons of coal,” th? I premier continued. “The navy is the anchor of the allied causes. If It loses its grip, the hopes of the alliance are shattered.” Lloyd George moved the thanks of parliament to the fighting forces. A great crowd assembled in the galler j ies and there was a big attendance on , the floor for the prime minister s I speech. Lloyd George warmly lauded Field I Marshal Haig and General Maude. Brit ' Ish commander in chief of the Meso | potainian forces, for their work and i paid enthusiastic praise to the dominion forces of the empire. ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1917. ALLIES ARE SURELY FORCING GERMANS BACK TO FRONTIER Secretary Baker’s Weekly Re view of War Explains Mili tary Movements of French and Britisjj on Western Line WASHINGTON, Oct. 29.—While pre dicting another strategic retreat by the Germans on the west front. Secretary of War Baker’s weeklv war review to day admits that “Italy ’■ passing through a difficult moment.” No Indication is given as to what the allied war chiefs may do to relieve the gigantic pressure of Hun hordes sweep ing over the plans erf Italy in an obvious effort to register a great military' coup. Baker’s report apparently was prepared before the Austro-German thrust as sumed its present critical proportions. It outlines as the foremost develoments of the week the British and French ad vances on the west front, holdings now. The secretary’s review follows: "Renewed activity prevails in all theaters of war. “Important developments would appear to be impending. “Along the western, eastern and Italian fronts, in Macedonia, Ru mania, Mesopotamia and even in East Africa, significant operations are in progress. "The two outstanding features of the situation of the week are the relentless British offensive in the Ypres salient, resulting in substan tial sains of terrain of important strategic value, and the sudden well-aimed and sustained thrust of the French north of the Aisne. "It is evident that the allied drives along the western front are broad ening in scope and intensity. The whole front, from the Houttiolst wood, through the Passchendaele ridge, southward to Lens, and on the Aisne, is becoming the scene of Increasingly heavy allied pressure, which the enemy is withstanding with difficulty. “Side by side the French and British are pushing on through the Flemish lowlands towards Roulers. “The enemy, believing he might find a rift in the otherwise impreg nable allied line at the point of junction between the Franco-British forces, directed repeated heavy counter attacks tn this segment. These were repulsed. "While the British attacks dur ing the past week have been car ried out with imposing effectives, it is apparent that the British com mand is maneuvering in order to gain important tactical advantages at a minimum cost. “The casualties to the enemy are rising steadily. "Slowly the allies are enlarging their .gains in Flanders, driving Into the heart of German resistance In the west. "The German armies fight on stubbornly. If any further evidence of allied superiority be needed, it seems to be supplied by the decisive successes won by the French during the past week. “This offensive was launched on a six-mlle front near the west end of the Chemin des Dames at dawn on October 23. “General Petain so well masked i his preparedness that the enemy was taken by surprise as to the exact terrain chosen for the attack, and was overwhelmed before being able to organize a concentrated re sistance. “The German lines were pene trated to a depth of well over two miles at one point. “This first attack was immedi ately followed by a second assault in this same sector, crowned with full success. "In three days fighting, the Frennfc have taken 12.000 prisoners, 120 guns of large caliber and a great quantity of other booty not yet enu merated. "The possession of the captured fort of Malmaison, the key to the entile ridge, and the villages be yond, now makes it possible for the French to enfilade the German po- sitions along the Chemin des Dames, as well as to fire directly through the valley toward the fortress of Laon. "General Petain showed himself a past master of strategy in being able to attain so decisive a victory in so brief a period. "The time has apparently come for another ‘strategic retreat’ of the enemy. It means that the Ger mans must again retire to a new en trenched and carefully prepared line if they intend to resist further in the west. "It must be admitted that the German ‘retreat’ executed as a re sult of the battles of the Somme last year was carried th rough with consummate skill. The enemj' re tired, destroying all cover and tak ing up positions in marked tactical and strategic strength. "But the battle of the Somme had but one wedge. Todaj- we have the wedge of Flanders, and that of the Aisne is being outlined. “The tad weather continues to be the enemy’s best protection. He is relying upon this factor to impede the allied advance, and by shrouding the battle area in slush, rain and fog, give him a respite until he can pre pare hitnwelf to meet a fresh on slaught. "News from the Italian front proves that the Austrians were able to bring sufficient pressure to beat in Berlin in order to secure German assistance. “As the result of conceit U-ation of an imposing array of artillery and massed battalions, the Austro-Ger man forces have succeeded in pene trating the recently won Italian po sitions in the Tolmino sector. “The broken, steep, mountainous character of the terrain makes it dif flcult to hold entrenchments when once certain strategic objectives have been attained. These the Aus trians have apparently captured in this sector, which may result in the abandonment by the Italians of the Balnslzza plateau, which they won after so valiant a struggle only a few weeks ago. "Italy is passing through a dif ficult moment. “We must remember, however, that in Ma*. 1916. the Austrians at tempted a similar onslaught. Then they had fine weather, a well chosen terrain, and above all the far su perior fighting vigor of their armies to rely upon. At that time the Aus tralns won decided successes during the initial days of the fighting and pressed on the edge of the Italian plain, only to be stopped and driven back. "In the east, German naval opera tions in the vicinity of the islands at the mouth of the Finnish gulf were not carried through, with seri ous losses both in men and material. “The Russian resistance apparent ly is consolidating. “The Germans, using the islands as a base, have now gained a foot hold on the adjacent mainland. “The first landing on the Werder peninsula at the northern end of the Gulf of Riga was successfully car ried out. A further attempt at an other point failed. "It is not probable that the Ger mans will undertake, for the time being, more than a strengthening of the positions now held in the Riga sector. “The retirement of the advanced enemy lines to a depth of fifteen miles in the region of the Dwina is reported. "Engagements of some magnitude are noted along the Rumanian and Macedonian fronts, where artillery duels and raids are increasing in frequency. These, however, are not of more than local importance. "In Mesopotamia, the British are continuing ai*fl consolidating their advance, driving enemy detachments out of important tactical points on the flanks, thus strengthening their whole line of defense. "Rumors of an important move by the Turks, reinforced by certain picked German and Austrian units under the command of General Falk enhayn. which have repeatedly been reported through the near east, have as yet failed to materialize. GRAND JURY BEGINS PROBE OF MEANS,CASE Mysterious Death of Mrs. King, Millionaire Chicago Widow, Charged to Her Secretary CONCORD. N. C., Oct. 29 —Solicitor Hayden Clean ent came here today with the convening of Cabarrus county su prior court to present to the grand jury a Mil of indictment charging Gas ton B. Means, of Concord, with the murder of Mrs. Claude A. King, widow of J. A. King, a millionaire resident of CSticago. Assistant District Attorney John T. Dooling, of New York; Dr. Otto Schultze, a pathologist, attached to District Attorney Swann's office in New York; Dr. William H. Burmeister, coro ner's physician of Cooke county. 111., who examined the woman’s body after it was shipped to Chicago for burial; William T, Jones, of New York, a pis tol expert, and a number of local wit nesses were ready to appear before the grand jury. A new grand jury was sworn in. at the opening of court at 10 o’clock, O. S. Farrar, Concord, being named fore man. Judge E. B. Cline presided, charging the jury to do its duty “re gardless of fear or favor.” A delegation of legal and criminolo gist experts with ten bankers arrived from Chicago. This included Coroner's Physician Charles Munneister, Detec tive Schrivener, W. D. Rockefeller, who will fill out- Buremeister’s testimony, regarding the Chicago autoposy on the dead woman’s body; John L. Ennis, handwriting expert; E. F. Mack, vice president of the Central Trust company, and John Cooker, cashier of the Illinois Trust company. . Hints were that these planned civil action against Means in connection with his alleged manipulatio nos the King estate. Mrs. King was afoot and killed near here August 25, last. While on a target shooting trip with Means, his brother, Afton Means and Captain W. S. -Bing ham. A ' local coroner's jury decided she killed herself accidentally. Afton Means and Captain Bingham were not 1 present when she was killed, they testi fied. Mrs. King at the time with her sister, Mrs. Mary C. Melvin, was vis iting relatives of Gaston Means, who was her business agent, and with hds wife had made his home in the New York apartment as Mrs. King and Mrs. Melvin. The body was taken to Chicago for burial. An examination by Dr. Burmeister caused the investi gation to be reopened, resulting In a preliminary hearing in Concord and I Means was bound over to the grand I jury without bail on September 25. The second step toward the death chair or freedom for Gaston Bullock Means began here today. The Cabarrus county grand jury will decide —probably before night—whether a formar trial “should” be ordered on evidence tending to show he murdered rich Mrs. Maude King, his benefactress, here August 29. It was-six days to a day after the globe-trotting C'hicago woman’s mysterl- I out death, that her protege and con fidant, Means, faced indictment on the : deed. Fourteen of the eighteen jurors affirmed the indictment. In that event, a date will at once be set for formal trial in the superior court here. Judge Cline presiding. Demand by the state for either a change of venue to an adjoining county of the district, or for a venire of jury men from an adjacent county, was con sidered probable in event of an indict ment. Local sentiment here where the Means family has resided for many ' years. It is felt, cannot altogether be re lied upon. It was not considered unlikely, either, that the defense will seek a postpone ment until the next, or January, session of the superior court should Means be held. This would throw the case un der the jurisdiction of Judge James L,. Webb, who will "ride” the circuit at the beginning of the year. Besides witnesses appearing at the prelimlnarv hearing here September 24 and 25. Mrs. Mary C. Melvin, sister of Mrs. King, will be summoned to the stand by the state. It was thought doubtful as court open ed this morning that a panel can be ob tained from Cabarrus county folks. Most everybody has decided opinions one way or another, the case having been the sweetmeat of village discussion for weeks. Summoning of from 75 to 100 veniremen from Iredell or Rowan coun ties was therefore believed likely. „ With a mere plea of “not guilty ' in, Means’ defense was the big query. Since the first hearing his lawyers have work ed ceaselessly, both here and in New York, building up, point by point, a case which they believe will show Gaston Means had no motive in killing and could not have killed, Mrs. King. Embellish ing it all. they are believed to have woven such a tangle of technicalities as to retard or utterly invalidate the charge. Thev are expected to dig deep into Means’ earlier life, particularly dur ing the period of his Intimacy with Mrs. King, in an effort to forestall and crip ple similar “disclosures” by the state, prepared, it is believed, with much care. United States Lends $25,000,000 to Britain; Total $1,400,000,000 WASHINGON. Oct. 29. —Another ad vance of $25,000,000 was made today by the government to Great Britain, bring ing the total loaned that country thus far up to $1,400,000,000 and the total to all the allies $2,851,400,000. Advances to the other allies total as | follows: France, $810,000,000; Italy, $350,000.- ,000; Russia. $325,000,000; Belgium, $58,- I 400,000; Serbia, $3,000,000. German Birth Rate Is Falling Below Normal LONDON, Oct. 9. —(By Mail.)—An i alarming slump in the birth rate in Ger many is checking the population by more than 700,000 souls a year. Figures published by a German week ly show that the births in the empire fell from 1.800.000 in 1916, a decrease of more than 40 per cent. This decrease added to the huge mortality of the war will probably put the actual decrease above 1,500,000 in the last year. NUMBER 10. GREAT TEUTON DRIVE CHECKED BY ITALY; BITTLESTIII RAGE! Landing oil Esthoriian Coast Which Was Considered { Threat Against Russian Na val Base of Reval, Abandonee NEW YORK. Oct. 29—(By cable from foreign capitals.)—The powerfu Austro-German advance which has bee pressing through the foothills of th Julian Alps on to the plains of norther Italy is being kept in check by th Italian forces which are faithfully ful filling their duty, it is officially an nounced by the war office in Rome to day. London advices say the Italians wli be given all posible aid and that step already have been taken to this en( Presumably Italy’s own reserves of me and guns have by this time been draw up in notable volume and supplies hur ried northward to reinforce the Itallai armies In the great battle raging o the Friuli plain. Sweeping down from the mountain into the plains of Friuli the invader have captured Ctvidale and Gorizia 100.000 prisoners and 700 guns. The fall of Gorizia is a serious men ace to the Italian troops holding th Carso line southward to the head of th Adriatic, but General Cadorna stil would be able to offer stout resistanc on a line running through Tolmezza Gemona, Udine, Buttrlo and Gradlsca The capture of Gradlsca by the Teutons however, would make a retreat from thi Carso inevitable, and also somewhat o a difficulty. The line of the ’Taglla mento river. It appears, would give th Italians the better natural position from which to hold the Germans fron the Venetian plains and the over-run ning of northern Italy. While the whole Isonzo line is li grave danger there is also a seriou threat In the Teuton drive to the Ital ian line in the Camic Alps, and evei in the Dolomites, north of Belluno Apparently Field Marshal von Macken sen is endeavoring to drive a wedg between the armies on the Carso fron and those in the mountains northwee of Udine. Some of the advanced Ital tan positions in the Camic Alps prob ably have been abandoned already. I this should prove true the Tagllamentt river seems to offer General Cadorni his first defensive line, unless his ar nrfes stiffen greatly and hold the In vaders within a few miles of the! present positions. Operations carried out by the Bel« glans and French looking toward th elimination of Houtholst forest, nortl of Ypres, are progressing favorably The entire Merckem peninsula, south o Dlxmude, has been captured by allie< troops, who have also taken Mencken and several other villages west of thi forest. The British hold the southeri side of the forest and a oontlnuatloi of the Belgb-French advance woul< make the German position untenable. A German retirement between Warrie ton and Dlxmude to straighten out th< line and eliminate the Ypres salient ii not unlooked for in German milltarj circles. One leading German critic Major Moraht, says the front is unten able; and that the Germans will hav, ito retire to a new line. Such a lint probably would run through Menln tc Roulers to Thourout and thence to th« sea. On the northern Russian front th< Germans have extended their with drawal movement to include the forcz that recently was landed on the Werder peninsula, after the capture of Oesel, and Moon Islands at the entrance t« the Gulfo of Riga. This landing was viewed at the time as a threat against Reval, the Russian naval base on tha Gulf of Finland, and as a possible prelude to even more extensive lam operations by the Germans in the di rection of Petrograd. . The withdrawal leaves the Germani withouta foothold on the Esthonian coast, attempts by them to follow up the original landing by putting troops ashort at points both north and south of the peninsula having failed, acord ing to the Russian reports. There has been prevalent the assumption that there never was any Intention by tha | Germans to push their Riga operation I much beyond the naval stage this fall. I the view being that the threat against the Gulf of Finland may well havo been a diversion for political effect in Russia or to distract attention from operations in preparation elsewhere. * The artillery battle is bejng 1 ued In Flanders and in sections of th« Aisne front and the Verdun region. In the last named the Germans attacked spiritedly last night in the Chaum» wood and Bezonvaux east of tb® Meuse, and won something more than I 500 yards of advanced trenches. Th® French In an immediate counter at tack recaptured the major portion of I lost ground. Italians Will Evacuate Big Strip Along Gulf of Trieste WASHINGTON. Oct. 29. —General Ca i dorna’s Italian army will make its first ' determined stand against the Austro- I German Invasion on Italy on the Taglia- I mento river, official Italian cables indi- I cated today. Cadorna is now making a tremendous effort to save the third Italian army stationed at the Gulf of Trieste’s end of the Italian lines, the cables added. Cadorna’s decision to fall back approx ! imately sixty miles to the Tagliamento river means he has found it necessary to I sacrifice a strip of territory—sixty miles | wide at its widest point—stretching forty-five miles along the Gulf of Triest and extending northward more than 129 miles. Among the larger cities in the territory which will ’be given up are Udine, Tarcento and particularly C’vidale. where all Italian stores and ' munitions have been held In reserve. Much of this material already has been destroyed. There is no fear among Italian officials here that the Tagliamento line will not hold. Grave doubts are voiced, however, ias to the morale of the people back of , the lines. “Italy is not defeated.” said one high Italian official.- “She will carry on her part of the war. if the civilian popula-, tion can be sufficiently quieted by ra tions that must come from America In American ships.” Whether the famous Italian general,, outnumbered nearly four to one, check the spectacular onrush of von. Mackensen and the Teuton hordes, de pends. military authorities here I (Continued on Page 3, Column 3J
