About Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 1917)
w » MERRY TO ALL wsa Slj c Atlanta Sowmal VOLUME XX. GM MIK BELIEVED J PRELUDE . TO GUEST OFFENSIVE Secretary Baker Says United States Must Speed Up Armies to Constitute '* Re serves of Victory’’ TVc. 24 —Germany's insidious peace propaganda “should not for a moment induce us to slacken oar preparations for war." Secretary of War Raker's weekly war summary voiced this today, pointing out clearly that Germany now is trying to knock Italy out of the tight, while at the same time she is testing out the west front preliminary to what has ben heralded as a big offensive. He warned, too. that America's por tion of the struggle is vast, and that “our armies constitute the reserves of victory.” On the subject of Teuton peace feel ers and America’s task, the secretary | said: “It would appear that as a fore runner to the German offensive herald ed to be launched in the wesi an in tensive peace propaganda is under way." Officials here se in the Russo-Ger man gathering at Brest Litovsk an ef fort by Germany to effect separate peace with Russia during the holidays for the psychological effect on other na tions. -Careful examination of the situation reveals that the enemy is preparing to sue for "peace before victory,” Baker eaid. "information from various sources confirms the reports that the Germans would have the world believe that the military situation is such that they are able to dictate the terms of peace. They therefore threatened that unles this die- 1 tated peace is accepted by the allied powers and ourselves, the German forces now being concentrated on the western j front will break through the allied line | in the west. "It is only necessary for us to recall that during the Christmas season of last year the Germans put forth very simi lar peace rumors. •Tn considering the general military situation in its true light, it must be understood that the Germans realize that within a short time our armies will form the principal" body of fresh stra tegic reserves remaining available for action on the battlefields of Europe. Thus no matter.what superiority in men and guns the enemy may fqj the time being be able to bring to bear in the west and even admitting an eventual . modification of the allied line in his favor, nevertheless he knows that in so far as it is humanly possible to fore see. his effort will inevitably result in merely a local success which can have no determining influence on the final outcome of the war.” Reserves of Victory. Pointing out that France and Eng land have done a mighty task. Baker added: “It is our duty in looking to the fu ture to realize that if we are to fulfill the pledge we made on entering the war. if we are to fight thia war to a success ful conclusion, we must assume the lull responsibility that rests upon us. \Ve are the freshest ‘in the struggle; we htve the reserve man power and the reserve mechanical power. Our armies constitute the reserves of victory.” Noting the addition of fresh Teuton forces in Italy, the secretary said the Hun Is trying to get Ita4y out of the war and is seeking to accomplish an enveloping movement to effect the de struction of Italian and allied forces, while at the same time carrying on a "subversive propaganda" within Italy. "We can confidently rely on the fight ing morale of the Italian people,” Baker said. "In considering the general military situation in its true light, it must be understood, that the Germans realize that within a short time our armies will form the principal body of fresh strae teglc reserves remaining available for action on the batlefields of Europe. “It is our duty, therefore, in looking to the future, to realize that if we are to fulfill the pledge we made on enter ing the war. if we are to fight this war to a successful conclusion, we must as-’ mime the full responsibility which re=ts upon us. We are the freshest in the] is preparing a statement on the case for publication. Colonel KolpashnikofFs flat, the door of which bears a plate with the words | •American Mission of Red Cross for Russia.” was raided at 2 o’clock in the •norning by soldiers, sailors, red guards md others. The rooms were ransacked, struggle; »S have the reserve man pow er and the reserve mechanical power. "Our armies constitute the reserves of victory. “In Russia, the armistice negotiations having been concluded, peace negotia tiops are about to be entered upon by the representatives of the de facto R’s sian government and the German ne gotiators. “Reports of the dissatisfaction of a large element of the Russian popula tion. especially in southern and cent.al Russia, with the terms of this armis tice. hasled to the formation oft an ac tive oppWdtion. which it is believe 1 will endeavor to resist all attempts to enforce the proposals agreed to by the Len.ne government.” For the first time in a government communication Mr. Baker referred to the Bolshevik! regime in Russia a* the “de facto government.” This designa tion was applied to the .Mexican govern ment for a long time prior to formal recognition of it as a full government. The state department stated it had ex tended no recognition to tie Bcisheviiti regime as the de facto government. It was expected that none of the govern ments had thus fa rconsidered the Bol shevik! power as sufficiently stable to constitute even a de facto government, which is the lowest order in govern ment. . aL,ter Baker made it clear that by mentioning the Russian "de facto gov ernment” he had no thought of convey ing the impression that this embodied recognition of the Bolsheviki. Full Associated Press Service illffl SWINDLED ME ’ MEO FOR BUBCLMI Bowling Green, Ky., Authorities Have Charge Against Men in Tower J A. Bolton and Ross Howell, un der indictment for attempting to work a fake bucket-shop swindle game, .are wanted in Bowling Green. Ky., on a burglary charge, according to informa tion, reaching the Fulton-county author 'ties. Fugitive warrants were taken out on Monday for the two men noW held at the Tower in default of bond, and ' if their trial in the Fulton superior court does not result in their conviction, they will be returned to Bowling Green to face the charges against them there. The two men are alleged to have bur glarized two haberdashery establish ments in Bowling Green several weeks ago. securing approximately $450 worth of merchandise, silk shirts, hosiery, overcoats and other wearing apparel. G. H. Griffin, a young hotel clerk of Bowling Green, arrived in Atlanta Saturday to identify Bolton and Howell I in connection with the burglaries, and as the result of his visit formal charges have been preferred against them and ’.he fugitive warrants taken out. Some two weeks ago the county po lice surprised two men in the act of burglarizing a gasoline filling station near Bolton. Their automobile, which they abandoned at the approach of the officers, was 'found to contain several suitcases and handbags filled with fine wearing appai*! in original packages, as though just taken from the store. The loot was removed to police head quarters and several marks indicating that the stuff had come from Bowling Green. Ky.. were discovered. The county police then got in touch with the Bow Ting Green authorities and Mr. Griffin came down to Atlanta to as sist in locating the burglars. | ~ ~ Explosion of Gas Pipe Fatally Wounds Two; Hotel Damaged $ 10,000 (Special Dispatch to The Journal.) MACON, Ga_. Dec. 24.—The explosion of a gas pipe in the basement of the Hotel Dempsey at 4:30 o'clock this morning fatally injured Policeman John Alexander and John A. Truman, proprie tor of the poolroom in the hotel, and badly damaged the basement of the building. The explosion was the result of a fire which started in the poolroom. Three firemen were overcome by the fumes of the” gas while fighting the fire. Plateglass windows along Cherry street were wrecked when the gas pipe blew up. The damage is estimated at more than SIO,OOO. When the fire de partment arrived. Chief Jones noticed gas fumes. He phoned the gas company •to shut off the gas, but this was done too late, the* explosion occurring ,in the meantime. Policeman Alexander and Mr. Truman, who were hurt by the explosion, and who will probably die of their injuries, were standing on the sidewalk outside the hotel building. The sidewalk was wrecked for a distance of fifty feet. The two men were blown high into the air. 1,500 Killed, 4,000 Hurt, $50,000,000 Loss by Halifax Blast HALIFAX, N. S„ Dec. 24.—Fifteen hundred killed. 4,000 seriously injured, 20.000 homeless and total property loss amounting to $50,000,000 was the esti mate today of destruction and damage caused by the explosion *of the muni - tion ship Mont Blanc, December 6, which wrecked and burned an area of tw<T and a half square miles in the north end of Halifax. The estimate was submitted to the general relief committee by J. H. Wing field. an expert, who made a Retailed examination. The figures were regard ed by the committee as conservative. Shot Through the Arm Sheriff Kills Convict CORDELE. Ga., Dec. 24.—Aaron Ross, a lifetime escaped negro convict, is dead, and Sheriff J. H. Ward, of Crisp coun i ty, was painfully wounded in the left arm as ajresult of an attempt last n’ght i of Sheriff Ward and his deputy. N. V. Peavy, to arrest the negro at the farm of Tom Slade, five miles of Cordele. The sheriff is now resting well an-1 w 11 recoved in several weeks unless compli i cation deevlops from his wound. Sheriff Ward and Deputy ePavy went out early last night to arrest th.? negro, locating him in a tenant house. The of ficers advanced into the negro’s hous? together. The negro was seated oefore a fire. “W.ho is this?” the sheriff inquired. The negro answered with a «hor front a Colt special. Sheriff Ward fired four shots and J Peavy one. Three bullets struck the ne gro, one in the head and two in the body. A coroner’s jury returned a ver dict that the negro came to his death by resisting officers. The negro had made threats among negroes in the com munity, brought out at the inques*. that he would kill or he killed before he was arrested again. He escaped fr »m lhe i chaingang three months ago. Shipping Hereford Cattle (Special Dispatch to The Journal.) COVINGTON. Dec. 24.—Mr. Evans t Lunsford, one of the Hereford cattle I breeders of Newton county, is today shipping another car of very fine regis tered cattle to Floyd brothers, of Creek Stand. Ala Included in shipment is Mr. Lunsford's herd bull. Royal Tom. famous and well known throughout the state. SUNDAY MEETINGS MAKE RECORD FOB CITY ACHIEVEMENT Number, of Trail Hitters Is 15,518 and Freewill Offering $20,126.14, With More Con tributions Coming In While Billy Sunday sped toward Jel lico, Tenn., the home of Homer Rode heaver, his choirister, where he will break his trip to his Winona Lake home by holding a meeting Monday night, Atlanta awoke to the realiza tion of another big achievement in an evangelistic campaign that has surpass ed all expectations. Recapitulation showed Atlanta in the forfront with free will offerings and trail hitters that make this city one of the most prominent in the list of those in which Mr. Sunday has held cam paigns. Everyone, connected with the meetings expressed the utmost gratification over ■the results. Official figures place the number of trail hitters at 15.518 and the free w'ill offering at $20,126.1 1. The honorarium is being swelled several hundred dol lars by coutributions that are being re ceived by the treasurer, WaPer T. Can dler, from out of town, and these will be forwarded to Mr. Sunday. Os the trail hitters 14,527 were white pe0p1e—13.629 adults and 898 children. There were 981 negroes,—B33 adults and 158 boys and girls. All Denominations Helped. Every class- of people was touched by the meetings and churches of ev ery denomination have had hundreds of accessions. Protestants and Catho lics alike received additions through the meetings and there were several members of the Hebrew faith who made new resolutions. The close of the cam paign finds many thousands of people with their faces set with a new determ ine .on. Atlanta enjoyed everything that the Sunday meetings could produce.. Every member of the was here and the campaign was conducted on just as big a scale as that In New York City. The campaign—ninety-eight ser mons by Billy and dozens of other ad junct meetings that combed the city and Camp Gordon cost an average of ten cents apieqe for every person who heard Mr. Sunday, at the tabernacle. The ex pense totalled approximately $52,000, and there were virtually 500.000 ad missions to the tab -nacle, scores com ing from distant cities. The expenses within SI,OOO of the estimate of the cost made by George Sunday in a letter to the local commit tee on May 24. Os the approximate $52,000. which does not include the hon orarium. $25,000 was spent for the tabernacle, the remainder being for the eight weeks of advance work; tae two thirds portions of the salaries of the members of the Sunday party; their ex penses, including transportation one way from Atlanta; general office ex penses; the upkeep of the tabernacle etc., etc. In advance of the meeting a fund of approximately SIOO,OOO was underwrit ten. Free-will donations were such that only one-fqurth of the amounts underwritten was called for. The ne groes insisted on having a part in the offering to Mr. Sunday, contributing $163.12 in addition to the amounts of the offerings at the various negro meet ings. The tabernacle building has been placed on sale, and. bids on it will be opened at the Sunday headquarters at the Y. M. C. A., Wednesday at noon. All bidders are required to state the purpose for which they want to use the struc ture. Building For Sale. Atlanta came anea-d of many other cities of approximately the same or even greater population, both in the offering for Mr. Sunday and the number of trail hitters. Comparative figures follow: Trail- Free will City. Population. Hitters Offering. Philadelphia 2.000.000 . 41.724 $51,136 Pittsburg 500.000 25,757 46.000 Trenton 108.000 16,603 32,358 Scranton 120.000 16.999 22,398 Syracuse 153,000 21,135 23.714 Columbus 182.000 18.137 20,939 Omaha 124.000 13,022 19,000 Paterson. N. 1. 125,600 14.225 25.328 Baltimrite 558,485 28.085 . 32,500 I Kansas City 248,381 20,640 32.000 Ihtroit 465.776 27,192 46.097 Boston Buffalo 423.71'5 32,258 42,204 T.os Angeles 310.19$ 18.814 18,000 ATTANTA 2C0.000 15,518 20,126 On account of a late train Mr. Sun day did not leave Atlanta until 1:45. Just before his departure he was the honor guest of Governor and Mrs. Dor sey at a luncheon at the executive man sion. He was escorted to the train by the governor, Charlie Outlaw and other friends. Accompanying him to Jellico, Tenn., were Bob Matthews, his secretary; Albert Peterson, Miss Saxe, George. Brewster and Homer Rodeheaver. From Jellico Billy will go to his home in Winona Lake, Ind., which he expects to reach Tuesday night. Mrs. Sunday and the children, with the exception of George, who is in Washington, already are at Winona Lake. Mr. Sunday goes to Washington early in January to open his campaign there. Dr. Isaac Ward left Sunday night for New Jersey. Mrs. William Asher has left for West Palm Beach., Fla., where she goes to visit relatives: Miss Gamlln has gone to Asheville, N. C.. for the hol idays and Miss Miller to New York. Check Is Given Billy. The free will offering was presented to Billy at the High home Sunday night in the form of a check for $20,126.14. The check was drawn at the tabernacle Sunday night immediately after the offerings was tabulated. It was filled out by C. r. Hunter, one of the tellers of the Central Bank and Trust <>rpor ation. <ind signed by Walter T. Candler, treasurer of the campaign. Present at the presentation were Wal ter Candler, Mayor Candler, Charite Outlaw, H. Y. McCord, John J. Eagan. W. W. Qrr, J. K. Orr and others, all indefatigable workers during the cam paign. The presentation was made by Wal 'tfef 'Caindlcr who told Mr. Sunday that words could not be found to tell what (Continuad on Page 6, Column 3.) ATLANTA, GA.,(TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1917. ■i S’ I -J-* — g_ | 1 I TH 1 / -7 1 / X\\T— L f / J i Y WW® • RUSSIAN-GBRMAN PEACE TERMS ARE BEING DISCUSSED No Annexations, No Indemnity, Keynote—Germans Score by Making Von Kuehlmann Chairman NEW YORK Dec. 24.—(Summary of European cables.)—Peace without an nexations and without indemnities, the formula adopted by the German reich stag in its peace resolution last July, is the keynote of the Russian peace terms now being discussed at Brest- Litovsk. The Russian terms have been submitted to the representatives of the central powers, wh(j have taken them under consideration. No compulsory annexation of terri tory seized during the war and imme’- diate evacuation of it and no contri butions to be required from belligerent countries are proposed by Russia. This is similar to the reichstag resolution which, however, was not accepted by Dr. Michaelis, who was then German imperial chancellor. Russia suggests that countries deprived of their inde pendence during the war be reinstated and that national groups not indepen dent before the war shall decide their status by a referendum. Germany scored a point in the selec tion of Dr. von Kuehlmann, her foreign secretary, as permanent chairman of the conference. Emperor William, it is re ported unofficially, intends to go to Brest-Litovsk if the diplomats now there arrive at an agreement, to attempt to assemble all European rulers in a peace conference. The German ruler is said to have declared that everybody wants peace. Trotzky Talks Peace With French Ambassador PARIS, Sunday, Dec. 23.—Leon Trot zky, the Bolsheviki foreign minister, ac cording to a note Issued by the Havas agency, called on Joseph Noulens, the French ambassador to Russia, and ex plained that the Bolsheviki wished to keep the principle of a "democratic peace.” leaving the people the right to dispose of themselves. The ambassa dor having asked him what he would do if Germany refused such a peace. Trot zky answered that then the peace would not be signed and that the maximalists might be led to “wage a revolutionary war.” Trotzky added that "if public opinion was opposed to such a war the question would then be carried before the constituent assembly.” He conclud ed by saying that if the Bolshevik’, suc cumbed to the rsistance they are meet ing within Russia the country would be given over to anarchy. The Havas note concludes: "This conversation, which i:« correct throughout, must be considered as cre ating no»new relation between the maximalist government and us” First Savannah Woman Given Law Credentials (Special Dispatch to The Journal.) SAVANNAH. Ga., Dec. 24. —Miss Stel la Akin, the first Savannah woman to be admitted to the bar, was given her credentials today by Judge P. W. Mel d-lm, of the superior court M’ss Akin was employe! as a stenog rapher in the office of a local attorney and studied law during her spare .mo ments. WINTER SPORTS AT WASHINGTON OFFENSIVE SPOUT STILL EFFECTIVE. KAISER SAYS Reported Again That Emperor Will Make Peace Move Christmas Day AMSTERDAM, Dec. 24.—"1f the ene my does not want peace, then we must bring peace to the world by the bat tering of our iron fist and our shining sword,” Kaiser Wilhelm declared in a speech to the second army. ‘‘Despit three years of war and suffer ing,” the kaiser continued, "our old of fensive spirit is still effective.” "This is shown,” the German emper or added, “by our recent great victor ies in Flanders and at Cambrai, where the arrogant British first felt the crush ing power of our offensive blow. The kaiser, continuing, extravagant ly praised the tactics, strategy and val or of the successful defense of his troops on the west front. He referred specifically to the defense which Ger man troops interposed “against the at tempt to advance toward Brusels” as the “most gigantic feat in history.” “The year 1917,” the kaiser said, “has proved that the German people have in the Lord of Creation above an uncondi tional and avowed ally, on whom they can absolutely rely. "Without him all would have been n vain." The kaiser’s speech was made Satur day to the second army, somewhere on the west front. Reported Kaiser Will Offer Peace Christmas ROME, Sunday, Dec. 23.—The report that a new German peace move is at hand is supported by apparently reliable information which has reached high quarters here. It is said that on Christ mas day Emperor William will issue a declaration containing peace proposals, but whether explicit conditions of peace may be expected or merely another ma neuver intended to throw on the allies responsibility for continuance of the war cannot be ascertained International War Bonds Advance on Peace Talk NEW YORK, Dec. 24. —The recent ad vances in international war bonds on the stock exchange, which continued to day, were the subject of comment in connection with the persistence of peace l rumors in the financial district. Some observers thought the demand, reported to have come to a considerable extent from abroad, was of more than usual significance. Paris six's rose 4 per cent over Satur day’s close or about 11-per cent from their last week’s minimum. The group of French municipal six-per cent notes were up 2 1-2 to 3-per cent, or from 10 to 12-per cent above last week's close. The I'nited Kingdom issues made fur ther fractional gains as did the French government 5 1-2’s. Anglo-French s's, while they reacted slightly, were today 5 or 6 points above last -week’s mini mum. More U. S. Sailors Dead Dec. 24. —The sea has claimed two more American sailors. Leo B. Murphy. Oroville, Cal., and George O. K. Vidahi, Arlington. N. J., second-classs seamen, were lost aboard from a transport December 17, the navy department announced today. RAINBOW DIVISION - WANT SANTA CLAUS TO BRING A BATTLE Christmas Finds U. S. Men in Good Spirits, but Anxious to Fight Prussians, Says Offi cial Statement WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.—“ Over there,” where hate and horror dwell. Americans of the Rainbow division and Cither units this Christmastide are anx ious for battle. Only a small portion of the United States forces has been tested by fire, but reports to the war department showed today that training is proceed ing so well that when the call of bat tle comes, the Rainbow —showing the colors of nearly all the states —along with other organizations, will give good account of themselves as Americans have always done. The Rainbow boys are well and happy —at least, as happy as a set of men could be whose steps stray far from nome in the holiday season. They are well supplied, too. The knick-knacks from home have arrived and have been distributed, but even .were they not, the Sammies would not want. “We can get everything here that we would have at home,” wrote the son of General Frank H. Mclntyre, army censor, today, responding to a letter asking him to say just what he really needed or wanted. Incidentally, both Mclntyre and Sec retary Baker approved the idea of a story of the Rainbow troops. Secretary Baker held it would be proper to have a Christmas announcement that “the Rainbow division in France for some time is doing splendid work there.” Gen eral Mclntyre, censor, thought, too, a Christmas message abolit that body was proper, despie restrictive rules on publication of arrival of units abroad, numbers and location. That the Rainbow men’s training proceeds well was his statement. "Have they been under fire yet?” “No, I believe not," he replied. All his information, however, is that the American units are shaping up well. They are enthusiastic and apt. Training in the open, and hard and constant drill are putting muscles of stee' on their frames and sending rich, clean blood through their veins. They have plenty of good, wholesome food, the equal of home cooking, and without the stint that conservation rules apply to American homes. The Yourg Men's Christian association is providing them with clear, amusement and their rules are such that they are less exposed to vice, than they would be in the average Ameriefan city. Secretary Baker and his aides are mightily pleased with the spirit and development of the men. Their push and unity “assure that America's par ticipation in the war will be whole souled. earnest and vigorous and that the tremendous task of achieving vic tory will not fall into unwilling hands.” Baker voiced his confidence of vic tory in a message to the troops, and < xtended the season's greetings of him self and the war department to the men in training and "over there.” Vote Against Conscription . MELBOL’RN, Australia, Dec. 24. Partial returns in the referendum on military compulsion give 922,000 against compulsion, and 749,000 for it. The soldiers' vote is now being count ed in London. NUMBER | HUNS DRIVEN BACM|.! ACROSS PH M BY ITALIAN FORCES 1 it O ■ jj Further Victory Achieved by Britons in Palestine- With - Their Concerted Land* Naval and Aerial Forces, WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.—Three Teu- ’ ton divisions—approximately 60.000 men —were literally cut to pieces by the Italians in the German offensive against a Colberreta and Monte Asolone, accord- j ing to Rome dispatches today. Com- -J manders of the Seventh and" Eighth Austrian brigades and General Pfeffer, j commander of the Fourth Austrian divi- ' sion, have been seriously wounded, captured prisoners declared. “With the recapture of positions on | Monte Asolone the Italians have re- 1 established their positions over the men aced portions of the Italian lines. For | three days the- defenders fought under a terrific artillery fire and against asphyxiating gases. Losses on both ■ sides were enormous. • -5 ROME, Dec. 24.—'Enemy forces which had crossed the Piave river at Piave Vecchia, have been driven back over the river, the war office announces. On the mountain front, the statement says, the AuStro-Germans passed the Italian positions in the, Asiago sector in the region of Buso Monte Valbella, .but, stopped at the Italian rear positions from the Italians are counter at ■tacking with sati:sfhctory results. Four Palestine Towns Captured by British I LONDON, Dec. 24.—General Allenby's I troops in Palestine continue their ad- ■ vance on the plain of Sharon, north of Jaffa, and have occupied four more towns. The official statement on the operations issued tonight reads; H "On Saturday morning with naval co operation our left continued the ad vance north of the Nahs-El-Auja, reach ing the Sheixh-El-Ballutahel, about four Ki miles north of the river. Pushing east- !■ ward and south of the river, we occu pied Fejja and Mulebbis. This was fol lowed by the capture of Rantieh on the Turkish railway to the north, and Khel in it,.i Kheibireh, four miles southeast of Rantieh. Effective aerial work was car ried out on enemy transports and infsAi tr * ” . i ■ Gen. Sarrail Will Be V Ren|a&ecLat Salonik J PARIS. Sumfay; Dec. 23—General M. W I'. E. Sarrail. the government has de cided, according to an official announce- :■ ment, will be replaced as head of tho 1 I allied armies at Saloniki by General S Marie Louis Adolph Guillaumat. G«nentl I Sarrail, who had had to struggle against serious difficulties and has rendered great services, will be called to other •■ duties as soon as circumstances per mit. J General Guillaurriat arrived at Salo niki on Saturday. He is one of the heroes of .Verdun, where he command ed an army corps which was mentioned i'S in army orders as having "distinguished ’ B itself by the methodical precision of "W its preparation and the vigor of its at- I tacks.” ■ A London dispatch last Wednesday || said that announcement had been made I in Athens of the recall of General Sar- 9 rail, who has been in command in the <*■ east since October, 1915. His successor’s name was given at that time .-.s General Guillemet. The ~reat French victory at Verdun last summer was under the im- mediate leadership of General Guillau mat. German Raid Beaten j Off by British Forces B LONDON, Dec. 24.—German troops B yesterday afternoon attempted to raid ■ the British positions southeast of B Epehy. on the Camhral front, but were 'B driven off, the war office announced to- jB day. The statement .reads: jij “Last night hostile raiding parties lB which attempted to approach our lines in the neighborhood of Monchy le Preux and west of La Bas«*ee were repulsed. ' Yesterday afternoon the enemy en deavored to raid our positions southeast of Epehy. but he was driven off" < FARTS. Dec. 24—Intense aerial activ ity is reported by the war office. In the course of one hundred combats In the air during the last few days the French have brought down 18 German machines. The announcement follows: "On the right bank of the Meuse fVerdup front) the Germans made two raids against ‘ our small posts near I’.ezonvaur and Caurieres wood. Their. efforts were repulsed by our fire. The artillery fighting was rather vigorous on the left bank of the river, in the sector of Btthincourt. On the remain der of the front the night was calm. -B “On December 21, 22 and 23 our pur- fl suit aviators were very active. Onr p lots engaged in one hundred most of them over the German lines, Eighteen German machines were brotigh down. Os these 17 fell in Tames or crashed to the ground and were destroped. During this period r,;r bombardment squadrons dropped ts.anfi kilograms (nearly twenty tons) I roiectib s on railway stations, fax- t ■ - mv- i mp'-m-n's and other object- ives Itehind the enemy's lines.” ‘ WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 —Germany I- <s started a powerful offensive in Mac* edonia. pro!,ably to anticipate the al lied campaign about ready to begin. Mong the Cerna river three violent at- ..- (gainst the positions held by ions have been repulsed with heavy b'S'ses, WM;ai dispatches stated The fighting continues. Military officials interpret the briewfls report as presaging the long-expected activity in the Balkans. More than Hi.i.noo Greek troops, mobilized* neajf Saktniki. are now ready to be thrown :).e Dulgars, it is known. Gen oral Sarra J’.\ French army at a Greek port Las been greatlv reinforced, it said. , M A blew against Bulgaria now would great!.- . ricour the beleaguered RuJ rnani in forces, and would lessen the •h- -arians in military attaches declared. The • rmy, fi'u.OOd strong, is cut off.
