®he Atlanta SemMWedcfo Smtraal
VOLUME XX.
BIBLE FUND FOR SOLDIERS TOTALS $3,662
GERMANS BEGIN CONCERTED DRIVE
5538.43 RECEIVED
SINCE WEDNESDAY
AND MORE ON WAY
All Contributions to Fund That
Are Received During Next
Few Days Will Be Accepted
and Forwarded
The Journal fund to buy khaki
bound Testaments for every Dixie sol
dier going to France at noon Wednesda:
had mounted to 53.635.51.
Subscriptions tabulated in addition to
'hose acknowledged Wednesday after
noon :«aled 3636.43. making the grand
total leap tar toward the s4.oo<> mark.
Fund StiU Open
Although the campaign o flic .ally
dosed last Tuesday, all contributions
received up to next week will be ac
knowleu ed and the donations promptly
applied to the fund.
So many dozens ol people in all parts
of the southeast are anxious not to be
left out of the list of the contributors
that the result has been a literal tor
rent of donations. The physical task
of compiling these will take probably
the rest of the week so all new ones
•hat come in will be added
The American Bible society has given
authority to continue to receive dona
tions while the task of final checking
is in process.
The Bibie society has suggested that
those churches and Sunday schools
throughout the country which, on ac
count of the cold, did not take collec
tions last Sunday, devote the coming
Sunday to this fund. Many churches
already have sent in their contributions
and the Bible society is hoping that
many more will aid next Sunday, since
the 3400.000 goal set for this fund in
America is not yet attained.
Churches and Societies
Tiurches and religious societies were
largely represented among the contri
butions tabulated since those acknowl
edged Wednesday afternoon. Among
hem were: *
Philathea class of the South Bend
Baptist church. Rome, by Mrs. H. M.
I'allahan. 81; Ladies' Aid society. West
ern Heights Baptist church. Atlanta.
31; Ladies' Missionary society. Edge
wood Baptist church. 33; Second Ave
nue Methodist church. Rome, by Rev.
• Teorge M. Acroe. 36 20; North Coving
ion. Ga.. Sunday school, by E. M. Smith.
87; First Methodist church, Monroe, by
R. L. Cox. 311.70; Methodist Sunday
-chool. La'onia, by Rush Burton. 35.15;
Eerean Bible class. First Baptist Sun-
Jay school. Gainesville, by J. W. Mer
ritt. 36.50: Baptist church of Neal, by
•*. W. Walker. 33.25: Dixie. Ala., Sun
day school, by D. J. Jones. 35: Adult
Bible class. Methodist church of Sunny
Side, by Miss Ruby L. Barfield. 31.75;
'A Sunday school class of little girls.”
Temple. >9.11: “A patriotic Sunday
school.” Madison. 38; Eatonton Presby
terian Sunday school, by H. A Voun?,
lit; Baptist Young People's union of
•be Fairbum Baptist church. $5.25: La
dies' Bible class and Philathea class of
V-worfh Baptist ;junday school. 33.85:
Friendship Baptist church. Pulaski
county, by J. L. Helms. $5.50; Sunday
school of Kirkland, by Mrs. <.’. W. Cor
bitt. Ir.. 83.75; Baptist Women's Mis
-lonary society of Hast Point. *10: Meth
odist Sunday school of Zebulon, by M.
• • Harrison. *10: Wesley Ault Bible
Hass of San Josies Memorial church.
Cartersville. s*: First Ch-# tian church
cf Gridin, hy Mrs. Zol Ison. 83: Worn
«n'- Bible class. Inman Park Presby
terian church. $1; Baptist Women's
Missionary society. Lilly, by Mrs. Bas
-r m L Idckson. 87.25; Baptist Indies'
Aid society. Tamiswille. *5; Wallace.
Ala.. Sunday school. 32.18.
Palmetto Heard From
Enterprising citizens of various cities
handed together for substantial contri
butions. Howard J. Johnson sent $23.25
’com Palmetto citizens. Thomaston
citizens contributed sl9; citizens of
Moreland. 810.25.
The entire official family of Hawkins
> lie —major. city clerk, aidermen. at
torney. engineer, police chief, marshal
and bis assistant, and the sanitary de
partment superintendent —all chipped in
toward a donation aggregating sl4
The Inman Park Embroidery club. by-
Miss Mabel B. Walker, sent $5; Four
Browns of Hawkinsville —R. D., Mrs. R.
D.. R- D.. Jr., and Frank —gave a quarter
each.
Little Marjorie Rountree Black, elev
en j ears old. of Wadley, wants her
cousin. Wiley Rountree, of Camp
Wheeler, to have a Testament, so sent
a quarter for him and another for some
other soldier.
One of the youngest of contributors
was William B. Hartsfield, Jr., who
sent 81.
Two More Americans Are
Wounded on West Front
WASHINTON, Dee. 13.—Two more
American soldiers wounde din action in
France and another dead from natural
causes were announced by the war de
partment today.
The wounded are:
Private Einer C. Bryn engineers. De
cember 10. severely: father. Harold
Bryn, 313 Union street. Brooklyn. N. Y.
Private Isidore Kanner. engineers.
December 10, slightly; father, Morris
Kanner. 246 East Fourth street. New
York.
Dead:
Private Clyde A. Koblentz. infantry.
December 3. pneumonia: Homelong Bot
tom- o.
Tobacco Habit Banished
In 48 to 72 hours. No craving for tobacco
.i any form after ompleting treatment. Con
a ins W» baMt-forminz drags. Satisfactory n -
-olt» guarantee.! tn everv .»»«•. Write Newell
CM reMirai Co., prpt. 5. St. txiuis. Mo.. for
CREK Booklet ' TOBACCO REDEEMER ” and
positive proof.—(Advt.»
Full \ssociated Press Service
THIRTEEN NEGROES
EXECUTED FOO RIOT
IT HOUSTON.TEXAS
——
Carries Out Sum
mary Order and Reports
Findings to War Department
i as Routine Matter
SAN ANTONIO. Dec. 11.—Thirteen of
1 the negroes of the Twenty-fourth infan
try. U. 8. A., found guilty of complicity
in the riot and mutiny at Houston on
August 23 were hanged on the military
reservation at Fort Sam Houston at 7:17
o'clock this morning. Announcement
of the carrying out of the sentence was
made at headquarters of the southern
department at 9 a. m.
Only army officers and Sheriff John
Tobin, of Bexar county, were present
when tlie sentence was executed by
soldiers from the post. No newspaper
men or civilian spectators were allowed,
the time and place of execution having
been kept a secret. Os the sixty-three
men tried by the same courtinartiai.
forty-one were sentenced to life im
prisonment. One man was seneenced
to dishonorable discharge from the army,
forfeiture of all pay and allowances,
and to be confined at hard Ibaor for
two and a half yaers. Three were sen
tenced to dishonorable dischrage from
the army, forfeit all pay and allow
ances and be confined at hard labor for
two years. Five were acquitted.
The negro soldiers who paid the death
penalty were:
Sergeant William C. Nesbitt. Corpor
als Larnon J. Brown, James Wheatley,
Jesse Moore and Charles W. Baltimore.
Privates William Brackenridge, Thomas
C. Hawkins. Carlos Snodgrass, Ira B.
Davis, James Divins, Risley W. Young
and Pat MacWhorter.
Following the hanging of the thir
teen .the chief of staff of the southern
department gave out a written state
ment. at the same time refusing to an
swer any questions
The statement merely gave the find
ings of the court, the names of the men
sentenced and stated that the men sen
tenced to death had been executed.
Execution of Negroes Is
In Accordance With Law
WASHINGTON. Dec. 11.—Execution
of sentences passed on the negro sol
diers who figured in the Houston riots
was in full accordance with law, the
war department stated this afternoon.
While refusing to give out the official
report of the hanging of thirteen col
ored soldiers, the department said the
commander had power to act without re
view or approval in advance by Wash
ington.
The court-mar till which tried the
Houston rioters had been carefully se
lected. It consisted practically entirely
of general officers, in order to make the
trials fair and avoid injustice which
n.ight aggravate the race issue. The
inspector general's and the judge ad
vocate generals departments worked
together to see that full justice wa<?
done.
Condemned Soldiers Die
With Songs on Their Lips
SAN XNTONIO. Tex.. Dec. 11.—"Good
by. boys of Company C." were the last
words uttered by the condemned men of
the Twenty-fourth United States infan
try as the traps were sprung and they
dropped to their death on the scaffold
Men of Company C. Nineteenth infan
try. have been guarding the negro
prisoners since they were brought to
San ztntonio to stand trial before a
court martial for complicity in the riot
at Houston on August 23 last.
The execution took place about two
miles east of Camp Travis on a great
scaffold which had been erected during
the night.
A column of 125 cavalrymen and 100
infantry soldiers assembled at the cav
alry guardhouse, where the negroes were
confined, at 5:30 o'clock this morning.
Trucks conveyed the prisoners to the
scene of the execution. The guard as
sembled in a hollow square formation
around the scaffold and the prisoners
were given the order to march to execu
tion.
Without a tremor they stepped out
with soldierly tread and singing a hymn
walked to their places. Prayers were
said by a negro minister and two army
chaplains and then the men were ordered
to stand on the traps. Resuming their
song, they stood erect and displayed
fortitude while the ropes were ad
justed.
At 7:17 a major gave the order to
spring the traps. The triggers had
been arranged, one f«y each drop, and six
men were assigned to each. At the
word of command they pulled on the
triggers and the thirteen dropped to
their deaths.
Warning to Grocers
Selling Sugar at More
Than 10 Cents Issued
Grocers in Atlanta who have violated
• food administration rulings by charging
more than ten cents a pound for sugar
to customers who carried their own
I packages home may get into difficulties
i with the government it they do not
! make adequate refunds, it is announced
' by Jones 11. Ewing, food administrator
; for Fulton county.
I There are a few grocers in the city
who are not familiar with the govern
ment rulings who have been charging
. 12 1-2 per pound for sugar, said Mr.
Ewing, when they should have charged
but 10 cents if customers carried their
bundles and 11 cents if the grocer mode
the deliveries.
Mr. Ewing thinks ail the grocers in
Atlanta will co-operate with the govern
ment once they are familiar with alj its
requirements.
•
DELAY IN SUPPLYING
MACHINE GUNS IS
CHARGEDTO BAKER
General Crozier Tells Commit
tee That Weapon Was Not
Adopted Until June of This
Year
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.—Secretary
of War Baker was flatly charged with
responsibility for delay in providing
machine guns for the American army,
by Chief of Ordr.ance Crozier in testi
mony before the senate military affairs
committee today.
The war department did not officially
adopt a machine gun until June, 1917,
when the Browning gun was adopted.
It has never been given a field test
under actual wac conditions, General
Crozier admitted.
General Crozier had reluctantly told,
under stress of cross examination, how
disputes over the type of machine guns
had prevented manufacture of any for
the American forces for a year before
we got into the war, in spite of the
fact that a large appropriation had been
made for these weapons.
“Who is responsible for this situa
tion?’’ demanded Senator Chamberlain.
“The secretary of war,” replied
Crozier, almost in a whisper.
General Crozier said that, although the
Browning gun was officially adopted in
June as the best type of machine gun,
the weapon is not yet being manufac
tured at all.
He disclosed that, although the Eu
ropean war disclosed the value of the
machine gun, this government had to
buy 350 Lewis guns from England, with
English ammunition, for use in the
Mexican trouble, because the United
States didn't have as many machine
guns as the Mexicans.
After grilling General Crozier three
hours in open session, the committee
this afternoon went into a meeting with
him behind barred doors. They will
demand to be shown all secret facts
and figures on the rifle, machine gun
and artillery situation as * affects the
American army.
Rifle Output Cut
Eight months after the United States
entered the war rifle factories in this
country are only making half as many
rifles today as they were making for
the allies before we got into the war.
The machine gun officially adopted
for the American army has never been
given a test under actual war condi
tions.
These disclosures were made today
to the senate military affairs commit
tee. under a grilling cross-examination
of Major General William Crozier, cnief
of ordnance.
President Wilson, however, showed
his faith in General Crozier by reap
pointing him today.
Supplied by France
Pershing’s forces have been supplied
with machine guns and ammunition by
the French government. General Crozier
said. The French are continuing mak
ing machine guns for the United States.
Some French machine guns are now
being used in training camps in this
country.
A large number of factories are “pre
paring” to manufacture Browning guns,
General Crozier stated. But until they
actually begin deliveries the American
army will have to depend for most of
its machine guns on French aid.
Senator Wadsworth inquired whether
“we are not taking a chance by plan
ning to equip our army with guns never
tested in the field.”
General Crozier didn’t see any danger.
Senator Wadsworth brought out the
fact that more than 30,000 light machine
guns will be needed to equip the forty
five divisions of the army.
"And none of these has yet been de
livered?” asked Senator Wadsworth.
"None.” said General Crozier.
"When will they begin to be?”
“Next April.”
"Why don’t we use the Lewis, as the
English do?” insisted Senator Wads
worth.
"We are getting enough guns from the
French,” answered General Crozier.
"We’ll use Lewis guns if we can’t get
any other. But we are certain that all
our troops that get into the theater of
war before next April will be equipped
with these light French machine guns.”
“These guns shoot French ammuni
tion,” General Crozier said, “but are
later to be made in this country so they
will shoot American ammunition.”
Output Practically Nothing
Throughout this summer the Ameri
can output of machine guns for our
forces was ‘ practically nothing.” Crozier
said.
“The delay wasn’t due to lack of
money, not to labor condition and I have
never been entirely satisfied what it
was due to.”
“Isn’t the real reason for the delay
to be found in the quarreling in the
war department over the Lewis gun?”
demanded Senator Chamberlain.
“That caused some delay.” admitted
General Crozier. “At the outbreak of
the war we had very few machine guns
on hand. Nobody ever thought they
would play such an important part in
the war. Our actual output of inahine
guns when we declared war on Ger
many was nothing. Some Lewis guns
were being made in this country for
England, hut before we could use these
guns we had to change them to make
our ammunition available.”
Senator McKellar asked why no part
of an appropriation made for machine
guns in 1916 had been used in providing
them.
"Part of it was ailoted in contracts
(Continued on Page 7, Column 5.)
ATLANTA, GA., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1917.
7''
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RUSSIAN FACTIONS 111
BITTLF, HEPDfITS Ml
Result Uncertain—Both Said
and Denied That Korni
loff’s Forces Defeated
LONDON, Dec. 13. —A battle has oc
curred near Bielgorod in southern Rus
sia, between Bolsheviki forces and
troops under General Komiloff, but the
outcome has not been established and
Petrograd advices are conflicting.
The Petrograd correspondent of the
Daily Mail reports that General Kornil
oflf was defeated and wounded and that
his capture was to be expected.
A dispatch from the representative of
the Post, however, denies the reported
Bolsheviki victory, saying General Kor
niloff has routed his opponents and will
soon join General Kaledines at Novo
Tcherkask.
The Post correspondent who received
his information from, an unnamed
source, sends a detailed description of
the battle. He- says General KornilolT
had about 3.000 men. making up what is
known as the "wild division” of Cav
aliers of St. George, "battalions of
death." and some artillery. When the
Bolsheviki troops were encountered Gen
eral Korniloff divided his army and sent
one part forward by train.
This was soon followed by the Bol
sheviki, who promptly trumpeted a great
victory. General Korniloff. however, in
the meantime maneuvered his main
force near the Bolsheviki and attacked
with artillery. Some of his opponents
fieri and others surrendered or joined the
red guard section of the Korniloff army.
The remaining Bolsheviki were sur
rounded and dealt with very drastically.
Mo Prospects of Settlement
Tn a long review of the Russiaai situ
ation the Petrograd correspondent of
the Post says there is no prospect of
a peaceful settlement and that hence
forth force must decide everything.
The secret of the successes through
out the country of the Bolsheviki, he
writes, is that they represent the iron
hand. What is behind them is as yet
undisclosed, but among the influential
members of their organization are men
who are prominent in the secret politi
cal police of the empire which once
ruled Russia. These men. accord
ing to the correspondent/ are introduc
ing dissension everywhere. He contin
ues:
“Although floods of indignation are
being poured out daily upon the Bolshe
viki, it is beyond question that they
are gaining ground in Russia, simply
because they use a strong hand, which
is the only thing the Russians in gen
eral appreciate. The methods might
horrify the west but would be under
stood perfectly east of the Suez.
“For example, in the last three weeks
there have been taken out of the rivers
and canals of Petrograd 7,000 naked
corpses of persons whose deaths were
not caused by drowning. The injuries
which caused death tell teir own story>
A suit of clothes nowadays in Russia
is worth more than handfuls of paper
money. The corpses of the women even
had the hair cut off. because it repre
sented marketable value.”
Referring to Siberia’s declaration of
independence, the correspondent says
the Siberian troops are being reorgan
ized under General Pleskoff, one of the
best-known officers, ft is reported that
the Siberians have declared in favor of
a monarchy.
THE SONG OF THE LARK
TUfIKEI READY FOR PEACE,
CAPITAL DFFICIAI SAYS
Will Break Away From Ger
man Domination at the
First Opportunity
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13. —Turkey has
seen the handwriting on the wall and
will break away from German domina
tion at the first opportunity, according
to a high diplomatic official.
the stranglehold of Enver Pasha
has kept the Moslems in line the past
year and even his supporters are be
coming lukewarm in their espousal of
kaiserism. entente diplomats declare.
“Turkey,” said one official, who after
orty years residence left Constantino
ple a few weeks following the Otto
nan empire’s entrance into the war.
" has been the .‘fall guy’ of the central
alliance.
“Turkey's people at the outset were
dead against entering the war.” he de
clared. “Only the rabid
of Enver Pasha and the, insiduous in
triguing of the Turkish and German,
foreign offices compromised the nation
so that neutrality became an impossi
bility.
"Germany’s promises—Tripoli, Tunis
and Egypt—appealed to the avaricious
of the Turk rulers. They succumbed
readily to the Teuton bait.
"Those were Turkey’s anticipations.
After the Gallipoli fiasco, which cost
Turkey 200.000 of her best troops, came
the realization of Germany’s fallibility.
The fall of Jerusalem brought disillu
sionment.
"When the fortunes of war have
smiled upon her allies, Turkey has been
forced to feel the irresistible power of
the entente war machine. One by one
her possessions have been taken from
her and the end is not yet in sight. Then
the Russians occupied Erravzum and
Trebizond and the domination of the
Black sea was gone. British troops'
soon occupied Bagdad an dthe map of
Asiatic Turkey was changed. Finally
came Allenby's victories in the holy
land.
“With everything to lose and little to
gain. Turkey is ready to quit.’
GENEVA. Dec. 13. —Mouktar Beym, one
of the Turkish delegates sent t o Switzer
land for the Berne conference on ex
change of prisoners, has asked Con
stantinople for full power to negotiate
a separate peace with British delegates,
according to a report printed in La
Suisse today. Confirmation was lack
ing.
We take this means to express our appreciation to
the readers of the Semi-Weekly, who contributed to The
Journal’s Bible fund for our soldiers in France, it would
be impossible to print the name of all the contributors
on account of our limited space.
To the readers of the Semi-Weekly Journal is due
credit for sending in a large percentage of the 53,662
raised, which will enable us to send Bibles to more than
14,648 soldiers, and their liberal response to our appeal
in behalf of our soldier boys will ever remind us that, in
their hearts, they are with the boys who go “over the
top” for Uncle Sam.
ARGUMENTS IN MEANS
TRIAL TO CONSUME DAY
First Speech for State Thurs
day Is Made by At
lanta Attorney
CONCORD. N. C., Dec. 13.—As argu
mtnt of counsel in the trial of Gaston
B. Means .accused of the death of Mrs.
Maude A. King, proceeded today. it
, became apparent tnat the conclusion
would not be reached before tomorrow
morning without a late night session.
Phil C. McDuffie, of Atlanta, for the
state, made the first speech of the day,
declaring Mrs. King’s life was the price
of the defendant’s lust for money.
That Mrs. King’s fortune was reduced
from $1,038,000 to $193,000 during the
ten years prior to the time the defend
ant became connected with her affairs
in 1915, according to the evidence, was
an assertion of T. D. Maness, of Con
cord. addressing the jury for the de
fensed. He based his figurese. he de
clared. upon testimony of A. B. Mel
ville, state’s witness, who was for
merly Mrs. King’s attorney. Mr. Maness
presented the figures to show that Mrs.
King was in financial straits when she
engaged the defendant to handle her
affairs:
Counsel for the defense pleaded that
Mrs. King shot herself accidentally
when, with a small pistol in her hand,
she stumbled and felL Charges of mis
appropriation of money were denied.
Means is represented by eight at
torneys, two of whom spoke yesterday,
and the others are to address the jury
in his behalf. Four more attorneys
for the state are yet to speak. Solici
tor Clement having opened the argu
ments yesterday.
U. S. Airman Not in Command
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Wednesday, Dec. 12.—(8y the
Associated Press.) —It is learned in con
nection with a report sent out by the
official Wolff Telegram bureau, of Ber
lin. stating that one of four machines
participating in a British raid over
Esch, Luxenburg, was manned by an
American, that no aviator attached to
the American expeditionary forces par
ticipated. The airmen possibly may
have been an American in the British or
French service.
NUMBER 23.
WHOLE FRENCH LINE
BOMBARDED; ENGLISH
STOP TWO ATTACKS
Huns Make Minor Gain on One
British Trench, but Fail
Elsewhere Fourteen Large
Ships Are Toll of Submarine
PARIS, Dec. 13.—Artillerying over
practically the whole French front was
reported in today’s official statement.
No infantry actions were specified, but
it was believed here that the enemy was
preparing its boasted offensive blow
somewhere against the poilus to syn
chronize with the q.ttack made against
the British further north along the west
front.
In Caurieres wood, the war office re
ported repulse of a German raid. In this
section nine German airplanes were
brought down. ,
French aviators, it was announced,
dropped bombs on Colmar and Rombach.
Greatest German Drive
Is Apparently Halted
BT WTLT.TAM PHILIP srwg
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD, Dec. 13.—British forces
early today had apparently stoped
Crown Prince Rupprecht’s long-prepared
attempt to break the British hold around
Bullecourt. Fighting was proceeding,
but as this is sent it appears the Ger
mans only succeeded in advancing a
few yards. The attack was perhaps the
most formidable the British have yet
had to sustain in this section.
It was made with the greatest con
centration of men and guns the Germans
have tried on this sector. The attack
was patently designed by Crown Prince
Rupprecht to break Byng’s lines. The
German objectives were far beyond the
first Brtish positions. Bavarian shock
troops attacked early Wednesday morn
ing in dense masses to the accompani
ment of an intensified artillery firw
which showed a tremendous concentra
tion of guns.
The German drive seems arrested
early today with the.enemy holding only
a short section of the advanced British
positions.
Simms’ dispatches yesterday hinted at
an impending battle in the Cambrai sec
tor. indications of which were furnished
:in extremely heavy concentration of
troops behind the German lines and vio
lent efforts by concentrated German
j aerial forces to keep British aviators
from spying over the German lines. He
, also mentioned an increase in artillery
ing which is usually regarded as pre
paratory to an attack.
Two Enemy Attacks Are
Repulsed, Haig Reports
LONDON, Dec. 13.—British lines out
of Cambrai held firm today despite a
tremendous blow struck in almost con-,
tinuous fighting yesterday by Crown
Prince Rupprecht’s reinforced army,
Field Marshal Haig reported today. The
German drive, he said, carried some of
the enemy through the British line to
obliterated British trenches, but the sit
uation was "unchanged” by this.
The enemy suffered very heavy losses
in repulse of its attacks, the British
commander-in-chief reported.
At Bullecourt yesterday there were
two enemy attacks at down after heavy
artillerying. Field Marshal Haig report
ed today.
"The first was immediately to the east
and the other was on a wider front from
east and north and against the angle
lines south of Reincourt and Lez-Cogni
court.
"Both were repulsed.”
“Shortly afterward,” the report con
tinues, "in another attack on the latter
front, parties of the enemy penetrated
obliterated trenches at the apex of the
angle. The few Germans who reached
there were killed or taken prisoner.
"There was local fighting until late in
the evening, the portion of the trench
which the enemy reached not changing
the situation.”
14 Large British Ships
Are Sunk by Submarines
LONDON. Dec. 13. —Fourteen vessels
over 1,600 tons were sunk by mine or
submarine in the last week. The ad
miralty statement follows: ,
Arrivals, 2,426; sailings. 2,384. Brit
ish merchantmen over 1,600 tons sunk
by mine or submarine, 14. British mer
chantmen under 1,600 tons, 7. Fishing
vessels lost, none. British merchant
men unsuccessfully attacked, including
five previously. 11
Berlin Statement op War
And Armistice Meeting
BERLIN, via London, Dec. 13.—“ At
Bullecourt we wrested several shelters
from the enemy and took six’ officers
and eighty-four Englishmen as prison
ers.” today’s official statement de
clared.
"Little fighting because of snow and
mist,” was reported from the Italian
front in today’s official statement.
Negotiations for an armistice to re
place the present truce on the Russo-
Rumanian front began today, an offic
ial statement announced.
Hun Newspapers Admit
Preparations in West
ZURICH. Dec. 13.—Frank admission
that the central powers are preparing
their greatest blow on the west front,
with enthusiastic predictions for its
success, filled German newspapers re
ceived here today.
The articles declare that Hindenburg,
in conjunction with the general com
mand, “will subject the allies on tlie
(Continued on Page 7, Column 7.) •
