Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, August 16, 1918, Image 1

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Atlanta semi-weekly journal., August 16, 1918, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextShe Mfautii jlemMWecMfi Wurnal VOLUME XX. GERMANS GIVING BEFORE BRITISH AND FRENCH ASSEMBLY ADJOURNS AFTER AN ALL-NIGHT ' FIGHT ON SCHOOLS Compromise Is Reached on Fund and No Extra Session of Legislature Will Now Be Necessary At 4:30 o'clock Thursday mornins tfte Georgia senate and house of represen tatives reached a compromise of their differences on the appropriation bill and an extraordinary session of the legisla ture was averted. When three conference committees had failed to agree a fourth was ap pointed and after a two hours' session, la which the governor, president of the senate and speaker of the house par ticipated. a >3,500,000 common school farad for 1019 was agreed upon. In ad dition the senate conferees agreed to the passage of three special appropria tions on which d>20,000 for extension work at the Geor gia n orraal and industrial school at Milledgeville; M7.SO* for the State Nor ma! school at Athens, and >IO,OOO sot the completion of power plant at the Georgia Schto! of Technology. The fact that Governor Dorsey had indicated to the conference cdtnmittee that he would veto an appropriation bill currying larger expenditures than the one finally acreed to c and the pressure Drought to bear upon the common school advocates to avert an extra ses sion. finally brought about a settlement. A small but determined maintained its position in the house un til the last and went down with its proverbial boots on. Five members of the senate held out until the end for >3.300.000 for the common school fuud and i o recession w hatever from the senate's original position. Extra Session Averted Appeals made to the house to cast aside passion and prejudice and to look at the matter from a business and com monsense standpoint brtke the solid ranks of the common school adherents to the >4.909,000 proposition. And with in a few moments the complexion of the entire situation was changed. As the tlr.fcl .oil call proceeded in the house on the question of concurring in the last conference report it lx came apparent that the state was to be saved from an extra session, for members who had con sistently stood for a four million-dollar eommon school fund, cast their votes for the compromise. The final vote in the bouse was 95 to 56. while la the senate the vote stood *6 to 5. The house members who maintained their positions to the last in an effort to force agreement to a >4,000,000 fund were: Anderson, of Jenkins- Bagwell. Bal lard. of Columbia! Barrett, of Whit field; Barwick. Brinron. Burch. Burkhalter. Carroll. Carter. Clements. Collins, of Union: Cook. Cra.-ey. Culpepper, of Clinch; Daienport. Dennard. Ennis. Eve. Fowler. Frohock. Foy. Harden, of Banks; Harvin. Hayes. Hinson. Hodges. Hollingsworth. Howard, of Oglethorpe; Johnson, of Bartow; Kelley. Kidd. Lank ford, Lasseter. Mathews. Mercier. Mul lins. McCrory, Picksen. Reese. Roberts. gc-«tt, Sr.ith of 6ade. Smith of Telfair. State. Strickland. Swint. Swords. Tram mell. Vincent. Walker of Ben Hill. Westmoreland. Williams, of Worth. Winn. Woods. Wyatt. The five membets of the senate refus ing to agree to the >3,500,000 fund were Senators Brow n. Elders, Flcklen, Hop kins and Riner. Clocks Are Stepped The clocks in the senate and house mysteriously stopped at 10:40 and of ficially the general assembly did busi ness during the day of Wednesday. Au gust !♦. Boisterous scenes were enacted on the floor of the house as the advocates Os at least a $4,000,000 common school fund became aware that the senate was determined to withstand their demands and that the governor was equally de termined to disapprove attempts to ex ceed the estimated revenue of the state for 1919. Charges and counter charges Were (Continued on Page d. Column A) The Subscription Price of the Semi-Weekly Journal is Now 75c a Year; We Do Not Know How Soon That Price May Be Advanced—So Renew Now There is cat thing ths Vniteo States govern ment is absolutely determined to do, and that is to WO THE WAB To make our success on the battlefield absolute ly certain, the government has had to curtail. In many instances, the consumption of raw materials, and the prices of the finished prod net has, in nu merous other instances, been fixed by government hoards. These boards have fixed the amount of certain foodstuffs that you may buy, the amount you may eat, and also the prices you must pay. Xt is right that this should be done, if the doing of it will aid us to WIH THE WAE. acd no one Questions the wisdom of the r.ethods being used. The War Industries board has now began to turn its attention to the publishing business. The post age rites were -natenaly increased on newspapers July Ist, and the sending of free exchanges and giving of samples copies has been forbidden. Wow the cutting dewn of the number of pages a dally newspaper can publish in any one issue is Semi-Weekly Journal, Atlanta, Ga: Enclosed find 75 cents for The Semi-Weekly Journal, 1 year. i - Warne 9. 0/. * M. 9. X>. State Full Associated Press Service COLUMBUS IS PLfICED UNDER MARWL UW Strike Situation Is Reported Quiet Following Sheriff's Appeal for Troops \ COLUMBUS. Ga.. Aug. 15.—Major Arthur McCollum, acting adjutant gen eral. and two companies of troops from Camp Gordon, arrived in Columbus by special train at 9 o'clock this morning in response to Sheriff P. A. Beard's ap peal to. Governor Dorsey for aid to keep order in the local street car rjnd mill operatives’ strike. The city had been under martial law since 6 o'clock last night. The troops will immediately take charge of the situ ation. The city was put under martial law following minor outbreaks which grew out of the strike of the street car men and operatives at the Swift Spinning mills. - Striking carmen have maintained gooc order, but their sympathizers have thrown bricks at cars. When deputies were sworn in last night their guns were taken from them. Sheriff Beard telegraphed Governor Dorsey as follows: "On account of rioting on the part of factory strikers I am unable to handle the situation, as I have not enough deputies. I ask you to give me the assistance of home guards and thus prevent bloodshed j which otherwise may occur.” Although authority was given to use the home guard of Columbus, it was found that they were not available for duty because of the fact that the state has failed to equip them. Consequently, the federal troops were loaned to Gov ernor Dorsey by General William H Sage, commander at Camp Gordon. A number of prominent citizens of Co lumbus also wired Governcr Dorsey ask ing that troops be dispatched here, and Sheriff Beard explained the situation over the telephone. Mrs. C. Echols is in the city hospital as the result of being attacked by strikers at the Swift Spinning mills last night. She is suffering from ugly bruises about the head and neck, but is not considered dangerously injured. All is quiet to day. Some parts of the mill are still in operation, and this appears to be what is worrying the strikers. Several shots were fired as the night shift'left, but no one was hurt. A bunch of the strikers attacked and disarmed two county offi cers, but no one was injured, there be ing only slight resistance. Columbus two military companies and also the reserve guard were held in readiness for service all night, but were not called to the scene of the trouble. They were relieved on the arrival of the commands from Camp Gordon. Huddleston’s Total Doubles Combined Vote Os His Two Opponents BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Aug. 15.—There was no change in the apparent Demo cratic primary results early today. The race for governor was still in doubt as bat ween Kilby and Brandon, with Kilby claiming a lead of 8,000 first choice votes and Brandon claiming a lead of 1,000. A count of second choice votes may be necessary to determine the nominee. In the Ninth district. Representative Huddleston has been renominated for congress by a vote double the total combined vote of both his competitors. Last I riday President Wilson sent a telegram* to Birmingham in which he said Mr. Huddleston “was in every way an opponent of the administration." That this did not have the expected ef fect, however, was shown by the fact that at a big mass meeting in Bes semer Friday night, strong resolutions were adopted endorsing President Wil son. his administration and Congress man Huddleston. In the First district the result of the race for congress was still in doubt. In all other districts the present con gressmen appear to have been renom inated. Prohibition forces claim to have nom inated a majority of the house and sen ate, and say that the ratification of the national prohibition amendment by Ala bama is assured. » being considered. And the reductions mentioned range from 10 per cent to 60 per cent. Xn connec tion with thia proposed ruling the filing of a win imnm retail price of 2 oents to the subscribers is being considexed. And if the War Industries board thinks it nec essary to fix the price of daily newspapers, why it may also fix the price of eemi-weekly and weekly publications. The Semi-Weekly Journal is still 75c a year, and we sincerely hope that price will not have to be ad vanced, but we do not know when we may have to announce that the price has been increased, by or- I der of the government, to 91.50 or 92, or even more. * And for this reason we think it the right thing for us to advise you that these possibilities stare us in the face. Semi-Weekly Journal, Atlanta, Ga.: Enclosed find 52.25 for which send The Semi-Weekly Journal 1 year each to the following: * Name ' Address For my trouble send me the Seml-Wcekly Journal 1 year. DIPLOMATIC MTS OF BIG IMPOST ME BELIEVED IN MAKING President Wilson, After Long I Conference With Secretary Lansing, Rushes Off to Visit Col. House in Massachusetts Washington, Aug. 15—without the necessary’ tangible evidence for convic tion, there nevertheless was a distinct feeling in official quarters here today that diplomatic events cf first magni tude are brgwing. President Wilson, after a long con ference with Secretary Lansing yester day afternoon, suddenly decided to visit his personal friend and confidential ad viser, Colonel E. M. House, at Mag nolia, Mass. He left last evening on i special train and is there today. It was officially stated the president was off “for a rest.” It was explained the president had been wantirg to get away for a short time for some weeks, but events have been such as to prevent. He carried with him several problems tv discuss with his adviser. At the same time, most significant— I and, in some cases, extremely delicate— international problems have broken out 1 of the world situation during the last week, any one of which might prove a "poser” for the United States at this time. They include: 1. The threat of Mexico to practical ly double her tax on oil and enforce other measures against foreign oil in terests there, despite objections from Great Britain and the United States. 2. The distinctly hostile attitude of the Bolshevik leaders in Russia to the allies, their arrest of allied consuls and vigorous hostilities against the Czecho slovak troops in Siberia. 3. The increasing gap between Bul garia and her Teuton allies and the growing possibility of an armistice be tween that nation and her enemies. May Be for Bert Only Were it not for this chain of circum stances coupled with the extended con ferences the president had with Secre tary Lansing before leaving and the suddenness of the trip, it might well be —and possibly is true —that his visit to Colonel House is merely for rest. With him are Mrs. Wilson and Dg., Cary T.-Grayson, his private physiaian Regarding the’ possibility of diplo matic developments, however, there is much to be said. Foreign oil producers in de ciare that government’s proposed steps expected to become eff< ctive within ,a few days amount to confiscation and will endanger the supply of oil upon which allied naval forces are dependent. Tampico wells are, being liberally drawn on for this purpose, although experts here say that the vast natural supply of that region is barely tapped. Mexico has seized the chance to fill her coffers with revenue from oil. The fact that it 13 one of the war necessi ties makes it an ideal subject of heavy excise by the Mexican government. Mexico is understood to have inform ed Great Britain, following the latter’s protest of Carranza’s proposed action, that she will permit no diplomatic in terference in this question. The note is taken to be a broad hint to the United States also not to interfere. American interests have already registered pro test and representatives have been nego tiating with the Mexican government for some time. Bolsheviki Astonish Washington Passing to Russia, Bolshevik outrages against allied representatives in Moscow have astounded official Washington. Arrest of British and French consular staffs at Moscow and invasion of the. consulates is reported in official cables to the state department. American affairs have been turned over to the Swedish consulate there. Although no Americans have been seized, according to latest reports, Brit ish and French citizens have been im prisoned. The Bolsheviki announced they would hold these as hostages because of the attack on the soviet government by the landing of English and French troops at Archangel. Germany is working under cover of the disorder to tighten her grip on as- ( Continued on Page 2. Column 4.) ATLANTA, GA., FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1918. HOWARD DECLARES HE IS IN SENATE RACE TO FINISH ! Makes Fighting Speech in City Auditorium at Macon and Reaffirms His Loyalty ’ to President Wilson r ——— MACON,' Ga., Aug. 13.—Speaking here last night in the new Macon auditorium to an audience estimated at from 750 ; to 1,000 people, Congressman William Schley Howard charged Clark Howell, editor of the Atlanta Constitution and Democratic national committeeman froir Georgia, with misinforming President - Wilson concerning the senatorial situa tion in Georgia, and announced that he will stay in the race for trie senate to the finish. With regard to the president’s In dorsement of Harris, he took the posi tion that his own record of absolute 1 loyalty and unswerving support of the president and the. president’s adminis tration entitles him to make the race for the senate, and entitles him to con sideration at the hands of the people of Georgia. He did not criticise the presi dent for indorsing Harris, but asserted that the president acted on misinforma tion furnished him by designing poli ticians. | Given Close Attention The audience received Congressman Howard’s speech with the utmost inter est. His announcement that he would stay in the race to the finish was re ceived with applause. So were his at tacks on Clark Howell. So were many other features of his speech, which was tiuly a remarkable utterance. Many men came up at the close of the meeting and told him they were stronger than ever in their support, resenting the interfer ence from Washington in the Georgia senatorial contest. not one word of criticism or disloyalty against the pres ident was uttered by a single one of these men. On the contrary all of them said they entertained the highest possi ble admiration for the great chief execu tive, but they simply felt that they ought to be allowed to make a free choice between two loyal candidates. One of these men was L. 1. Kilburn, secretary of the Macon News and for anerly president of the Georgia Federa tion of Labor, “tram going to support you if you don’t get but one /vote in Bibb county,” said Mr. Kilburn. "I have switched." • Thomas J. Simmons, managing editor of the Macon News, and Charles J. Bayne, associate editor, sat on the front row and listened with interest and en joyment to Congressman Howard’s speech. He thanked them, for treating him decently and fairly in their espousal of the cause of William J. Harris, in very marked contrast to his aggressive attack on the Macon Telegraph, which elicited enthusiastic applause. Judge Charles L. Bartlett, prominent Macon lawyer and former congressman, called on Congressman Howard during the afternoon and assured him of his support, and was one of those attending the meeting. John L. Anderson, president of the Macon Federation of Trades, presided over t.ie meeting. First he introduced Judge J. E. Burch, a prominent Howard supporter from Dublin, who delivered a brief and enthusiastic preliminary speech. Then Congressman Howard was introduced by R. Douglas Feagin, well known Macon attorney, who declared that the people of Georgia were going to exercise their constitutional prerog ative and privilege of electing their own senator, and praised the record of Con gpessnian Howard in the highest terms The note of resentment against in . terference in the senatorial race, which was sounded by Colonel Feagin and Judge Burch, harmonized entirely witn the feeling expressed by Congressman Howard’s friends from every quarter. Before leaving Atlanta yesterday morn ing his headquarters was crowded with men demanding that he stay in the race. A number of friends who got on the train coming down to Macon ex pressed the same. While in the city yesterday afternoon he was visited by supporters who had just driven in from many surrounding counties. All brought the same report. Among the counties heard from were Butts, Dodge, Pu- (Continued on Page 3, Column 4.) We can and will now accept subscriptions at the rate of 75c a year and will post up the expiration date of all subscribers sending in renewals now. This will be a good thin g for all Semi-Weekly Journal readers to do now, too, for we will send the paper to all until the full expiration date at the old price, it matters not how much for fu ture subscriptions may be advanced. Now here’s an opportunity for you readers of the Semi-Weekly to get an extar year's subscrip tion without cost to yourself. Send us the names of three yearly subscribers on the blank below, j together with 92.25 for the three subscriptions, and 1 we will mark your subscription up for another year. There are three of your neighbors who will be glad to give you 75c to h ave the Semi-W eek 1 y Journal sent them for a y ear each, and you will find ■ it no trouble to get this extra year’s subscription without cost to yourself. 4.00UD0 YANKEES CAN CRUSH ENEMY. MARCH DECLARES Every Man Called to Active Service Under New Man- Power Bill Will Be "Over There" by Next June WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.—1 n report ing the administration man-power bill extending ages toda>\ Chairman Cham berlain disclosed to the senate that Gen eral March told the military committee It was up to the United States to put | enough men in France to win the war I on the west front, and he expressed the I belief that 4,000,000 Americans under one commander could go through the German lines whenever they pleased. immediate extension of the ages was ' declared by the army representatives to : be imperative in order that the United States may throw its full strength in I the struggle and win. The report also revealed that the new American war program calls for eighty divisions, or something over 3,000,000 men, in France by June 30, next year, with eighteen more divisions in training at ohme then. . All of the men called for active serv j ice under the proposed new ages—lß tv I 45—General March told the committea. ’ would be in France by next June, ac cording to the program. If the ages are fixed at from 18 to 45, General March said, the system of volunteer enlistment in the United States army would automatically dis appear. Secretary Baker informed the com mittee. the report said, that the presi dent’s policy called for concentration of American forces on the western front, (Including Italy, and that “the theory of the fighting in the future is that we must force the issue and win on the western front.” Opinion of Experts In his report Chairman Chamberlain quoted extensively from testimony be fore the committee by Secretary Baker, General March and Provost Marshal General Crowder. "The United States government,” Gen eral March is quoted as saying, “has been asked by her allies to embark upon a program so large that, it was nec essary very carefully 'to ascertain whether we could go through with it or not, and one of the features of this en- (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) INTERFERENCE IN - SENATE CONTEST STRONGLY SCORED Fayette County Executive Committee Condemns How ell’s Action as Being "Parti san" and "Undemocratic" FAYETTEVILLE, G«_, Aug.’ls.—The Democratic executive committee of Fay ette county, in session here this morn ing, by a rising vote unanimously went on record as expressing "hearty con demnation” of "efforts of the Hon. Clark Howell, editor of the Atlanta Consti tution, to consistently and continually drag the name of our great president. Woodrow Wilson, into the senatorial contest in Georgia.” - The committee expressed the belief that “this action” on the part of Mr. Howell, who is Democratic national committeeman from Georgia, is "parti san, unwise and undemocratic, and very harmful in its tendency." Belief also was expressed that “the people of Georgia will promptly resent such attempted interference by Mr. Howell in his efforts to thwart them in voting as they please." The committee met this morning with a full attendance. R. P. Minter, for mer representative from Fayette coun ty following a stirring address, submit ted resolutions to the committee. Sev eral prominent citizens, who were en thusiastic over the address here yester day of Congressman William Schley Howard, spoke. Following the speeches, the committee unanimously adopted Mr. Minter’s resolutions, which follow in full: “Resolved, by the Democratic ex ecutive committee of Fayette coun ty, Georgia: “That we have noted with grave concern efforts of the Hon. Clark Howell, editor of the Atlanta Con stitution, to consistently and contin ually drag the name of our great president. Woodrow Wilson, into the senatorial contest in this state. “We believe this action on the part of the editor of the Constitu tion to be partisan, unwise and un democratic and very harmful in its tendency, and “We hereby express our hearty condemnation of such practice and feel that the people of Georgia will promptly resent such attempted in terference by Mr. Howell in his ef forts to thwart them in voting as they please." STOMACH TROUBLE OR TAPEWORM BANISHED Many persons who suffer from stom ach trouble really j|ave a tapeworm and don’t know it. A guaranteed remedy which has proven to be remarkably ef fective in expelling tapeworms and giv ing quick relief in all forms of stom ach trouble, is being sent on free trial by the Schoenherr Co., Dept. 30, Mil waukee, Wis. They guarantee it to re move, in less than one hour, any tape worm with its head. No pain, no diet ing, no danger: also, to relieve any form of stomach trouble or it costs nothing. Take advantage of their free trial offer. Write them today.—(Advt.) MANY IMPORTANT BILLS i PASSED BY LEGISLATURE Much Legislation of Statewide Interest Carried to Completion The session of the general assembly which cime to an end in the daybreak hours of Thursday morning passed no little legislation of general and state wide importance, in addition to the usual flood of local bills. • A resume of the b'illfe of general in terest passed by the 1918 legislature since the/Opening of the session, is as follows: The general appropriation bill, carry ing a budget of approximately $6,800,000. To provide for the collection of past due taxes of state, county or municipal ity. To provide >5,000 to pay expenses and per diem of members of the general as sembly for services rendered and ex penses incurred as members of com mittee authorized to sit in vacation of the assembly. To create the county of Cook, with Adel as the county seat. The new coun ty is taken from Berrien. To define and fix the age of consent, which is fixed at the age of fourteen. To empower the state superintendent of schools, the attorney general, the chairman of the senate and house com mittees on education to codify the school laws. To authorize the governor to appoint a commission of five members from the citizens of the state to investigate the advisability of buying wharves and docks for the state. To prohibit the bringing into the state of Georgia stolen property, and provid ing a penalty for buying or receiving such property. To regulate the salaries of deputy sher iffs in counties of not less than 75,000 nor more than 125,000 population, pro viding a salary of >125 per month. To increase sheriffs’ fees. The increase provided will increase the income of sheriffs about 33 1-3 per cent. To give consent of state of Georgia to acquisition by the United States gov ernment of such lands as may be needed Tor the establishment of a national for est reserve. This is a repeal of what is known as the Bynum law. —To provide a budget system in the state to create an efficiency and econ omy commission authorizing and requir ing said commission to prepare a state budget of estimated revenue and recom mend expenditures and bills to provide for same and present to the general as sembly and to create the office of state auditor of public accounts and for other purposes. To provide for change in the state constitution allowing 193 representa tives in the house and provision or their distiybution. To provide for absent voters In allow ing those engaged in actual war service to send ballots to ordinaries of horfie countries for record, to remain in effect one year after the close of the war. To regulate the salaries of jailers, guards, turnkeys and other jail employes in counties having a population of not less than 75,000 nor more than 125,000, providing an Increase of 17 1-2 per eent on present salaries and continuing for two years after close of the war. The work or fight bill: The age in cluded is from 18 to 55, and does not include temporary strikers as named in the original bill. A commission is to be appointed to reconcile differences of dispute and decide when law is applica ble in such cases. All able-bodied men must engage in work needful for suc cessful prosecution of the war. To increase the salary of thq gover nor to >7,500. To increase the number of senatorial districts from 44 to 51 and regroup coun ties into senatorial districts of three counties each. To increase per diem salary of mem bers of general assembly from >4 to >7 and the speaker of the house and presi dent from >7 to >lO. To appropriate >35,000 for a bureau of markets In the department of agri culture. \ To provide for state-wide tick eradi cation. To provide for a board which shall supervise all state institutions, and ap propriations for the same, and make a report of all appropriations and state finances to the legislature at its open ing each year. To prevent the practice of tipping in hotels, restaurants, barber shops, com mon carriers and sleeping cars and oth er public places. To allow the Ducktown Sulphur, Cop per and Iron company to increase its output, and -to provide an arbitration board to assess the damages accruing to surrounding territory on, account of fumes. To allcw counties and municipalities to pass bonds by a two-thirds vote of those voting on election day, providing the two-thirds is a majority of the reg istered voters. V To require reporting cases of social , diseases. To provide for separation of state banking department and state treasury, and to fix salaries therein. *• To appoint a state warehouse com mission and establish a system of ware houses. with official weighers and grad ers. , To establish an experiment station in coastal plain section of Georgia. To authorize the right of eminent do main by Western and Atlantic railroad, so as to authorize lessee to condemn property for use of the road, which shall revert to the state. Spring street improvement bill passed. Charter amendments for the city of Atlanta to provide that counmilmen and aidermen may succeed themselves with out limitation so long as the people may see fit to elect them, to increase the borrowing power of the mayor to 5700,000, to elect five members of the board of education by vote of the peo ple, miking the mayor and the member of general council on schools ex-officio membra of the school board, to provide for the creation of a captain in charge of the bureau of identification at the police station. NUMBER 93. HAIG GAINING NEAR CHAULNES; HUMBERT CAPTURES RIBECOURT Fall of Ribecourt Seriously Endangers Thiescourt Ridge and the Ourscamp Salient, Paris Points Out 30,344 Huns Taken In Picardy Offensive Official Figures Show ; LONDON, Aug. 15.—-German prts- > oners taken in the Picardy drive to- ! tai 30,344, Field Marshal Haig an nounced today. Os these, the British have captured 21,844, and the French • 8,500. I This total of 30,344 prisoners is accredited only to General Rawlin son’s and General de Beney’e armies. General Humbert is unofficially cred ited with 10,000 prisoners, thus rais- 1 ing the total in the entire drive to < more than 40,000. LONDON, Aug. 15.—The British line has been advanced slightly east of Rainecourt in the district northwest of Chaulnes, on the Picardy battle front, today's war office statement announces. British patrols were active throughout last night in the district between Albert and Ayette, where the Germans began their retirement yesterday. The patrols have maintained close touch with the enemy in this region. The British made further progress at several points along the front. German withdrawal from forward po sitions north of the Ancre presages a retirement of considerable magnitude, in the opinion of military writers to day. Some authorities believe the enemy will retire as far as the new Somme line, while others believe he will fall back even to the old Hindenburg line. They recall the retirement of 1917 start ed in a similar manner The retreat reported in last night's official statement was made on the five-mile sector between BeaumonP Hamel and Bucquoy. British patrols pushed eastward of those towns, as well as Serre and Pusleux. Beaumont- Hamel is five miles directly north of Albert. Meanwhile, the French are progress ing in their apparent flanking move ment northeastward along me Oise valley. The French communique last night announced the capture of Ribe court, and reported a further advance between the Matz and the Oise. The French have captured all the high ground on the Lassigny massif and are working down the north and eastern sides so that a further retirement of the enemy in that sector is probable, ac cording to advices received here this afternoon. The Germans have withdrawn one to two miles on a nine-mlle front at the western edge of the Flanders salient, according to information received here this afternoon. Vieux-Berquin, three miles north of Merville, was evacuated during the withdrawal. On the remainder of the front, aside from a fruitless German counter at tack east of Belval, the fighting appar ently was limited to t artillery ex changes. French Hammering at Lassigny-Noyon Line PARIS. Aug. 15.—Botn sides are gathering strength for a resumption of heavy fighting. That, however, does not prevent the French from hammer ing away at the Lassigny-Noyon line and doggedly struggling onward through gas-choked woods. General Humbert’s men have carried Ribecourt, which barred the road run ning toward Noyon between Thiescourt ridge and the Oise and protected the Germans In Ourscamp forest, east of • the river. It is a useful success that seriously endangers both Thiescourt ridge and the Ourscamp salient. The enemy in the Thiescourt position, already severely shaken by the attacks of General Humbert’s left, is reported to be showing signs of giving way. The violent artillery duel between the Avre and the Oise continued dur ing last night, according to the state ment from the war office today. A Ger man raid in Champagne failed. The statement reads: "The night was marked by rither In tense activity of the artillery between the Avre and the Oise. “An enemy raid in Champagne against the Marquis sector was without re sult.” Extent of Withdrawal Is Not Yet Determined NEW YORK. Aug. 15. —(By Cable to the Associated Press.) —Allied suc cess in Picardy apparently has com pelled the Germans to realign their po sitions between Albert and Arras. En emy troops have begun a retirement on a five-mile front, but complete details of the movement are lacking. Between the Ancre and the Oise the fighting is still confined to local ac tions at various points. The British and French have improved their posi tions slightly north of the Somme, northwest of Roye, south of Lassigny and along the Oise. Enemy troops have shown no disposition to counter attack elsewhere and have confined their re taliatory efforts to artillery bombard ments. . The extent of the German withdrawal north of Albert is not yet clearly de fined and its effect upon the situation as a whole is problematical. Field Marshal Haig announces the enemy has left his forward positions at*Beaumont. Hamel, Serre, Puisieux-au-Mont and (Continued on Psge 2, Column 6.)