About Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 1918)
She £'cmvWefclj! Smmial VOLUME XX. 3,000 MORE HUNS TAKEN IN LAST 24 HOURS _ _ - ~ ------ —— U. S. SHOULD BE ABLE TO WIN WAR NEXT YEAR . 2 —CHIEF OF STAFF GENERAL MARCH. EIGHTY 11. S. DIVISIONS WILL BE IN FRANCE BY JUNE. MARCH SAYS Mere Marriage State Is No Ex emption, Secretary Baker Says He Favors Calling 18-Year-Olds Last WASHINGTON, Aug. J 9.—Eighty American division of 43.000 men each. General March told the house military , committee today, "should be able to bring the war to a successful conclusion tn 1919." That is the number the war de partment plans to have in France by June SO. next. No genera! exemption of married men s.mply because of their married status is contemplated by the war departent in preparing for the proposed extension of military ages. Secretary Baker de-' dared today in a statement before the . house military committee on the new j administration man power bill. Mr. Baker said his previous remarks on this subject had been misconstrued, and that married men who do not sup • port their families and who are not en- i gaged in useful occupations will con tinue to be called ■ There are many married men in this country who ought to go and tight as freely as single men.” he added. The war, secretary, with General March and Frovost Marshal General Crowder, appeared before the house committee at open hearings to reiterate their explanation given the senate com mittee that immediate enactment on the man power bill is imperative in order to carry out the enlarged war program. Two Ways Possible “There are two ways of prosecuting this war.” Mr. Baker said. “One way is to make every possible effort to do It now, and the other is to proceed some what more leisurely and do K late. The **■ obvious advantage from every stand point. social, military, industrial and economical Is to put forth every effort in this country and win the war as soon -r as possible.” Secretary Baker announced that be cause of objections to calling boys of eighteen he had p’anned to defer their call as long as possible, and would not object to placing a provision in the bill making a separate class of men between eighteen and nineteen years and for de ferring calling them, “as far as practica ble” until after others in class one had been exhausted. "There is a sentiment in the commit tee,” said Mr. Baker. “I don't know how large—against calling men as young as eighteen unless it is absolutely neces sary. I think the sentiment as the country is to get all the men necessary. But from the beginning I have planned, as a matter of regulation, to have men eighteen to nineteen put in a separate class with a view to deferring their call until it is necessary.” Secretary Baker added that this pref erence might well be left to executive regulation, but he would have no objec tion to having written into the bill a specific new provision to make a sep arate class for the eighteen-year-old youths. He explained (hat in planning to “sift out'* the new registrants from eighteen to forty-five. General Crowder already has prepared to form two classes—men from nineteen to thirty six and those above thirty-six. leaving those between eighteen and nineteen in a separate class Regarding exemption of married men. Secretary Baker was closely examined by committee members and denied hav ing stated that marriage itself was to be a cause of exemption. “Is it the intention to exempt men just because they are married?” asked Chairman Dent. Denies Intention "No.” Mr. Baker replied, explaining that the present regulations regarding deferred classifications for married men would apply to the new registrants. Represenative Tilson, of Connecticut, suggested that many men are being married to evade the new law and that the bill should provide that those mar ried after the new bill was introduced should not be exempt. Mr. Baker said such a rigid provision of the law is un necessary.' If left to regulation, he said, the department could disregard all marriages made to evade the new law. Work or Fight Order Even though the work or fight amendment was not recommended by the department. Mr. Raker said he thought it might be well for congress to make such a declaration to circum vent industrial slackers. When Representative Lunn, of New York, joined with Chairman Dent tn opposing the Thomas amendment. Sec retary Baker and also General Crowder pointed out that the amendment is not mandatory and that the president would have power to suspend military service for men Involved in an industrial dis pute arising “in good faith.” Pointing out the existing “work or fight” regulations involve conscription of labor. Mr. Baker declared that with men being drawn from the farms and industry it Is only fair to require skill ed men to work or fight. Extension of the military age limit, Mr Baker said, necessitates the bill’s provision broadening the board’s power ' - over “occupations and employments”* as well as “industry, including agricul ture." • When committee members complained that too many men are being taken oft farms. Mr. Baker said it is not intended to call more farmers under the new law and that the present policy will continue. Secretary Morrison, of the American Federation of Labor, interrupted to op pose the work or fight amendment of the senate bill. ’There is no question about labor go- * ing along with this government.” Mr. (Continued on Page 6, Column 6.) Full Associated Press Service JAPANESE BIOT ON I SGARGIH OF FOOO AND LOW WAGES Populace Rises Against Profi teers —Newspapers Protest Order Suppressing News. Cause May Be Political j ASHINGTON, Aug. 19.—Food riot ing in Japan threatens to develop into political revolt unless prompt steps rfre taken by the Tokio, government to pro vide rice for the population, according I to the unofficial view here today. German agents may be working . among the masses to stir up disorder by taking advantage of the profiteering sit uation which is rapidly becoming acute there. Anti-annexationists who are strenuously opposing Japan's plans for intervention in Siberia arc also believed • to be spurring the people on to bold ’ steps which might unseat the present I ministry. Officials here were reluctant to draw any conclusions from the rioting re ported in all parts of the island empire. That the germ of class revolution may ; be spreading to Japan is regarded possi ; bie. Japan's political system has noj modi fied greatly n recent years and the democratic ferment of the western Eu ropean nation is becoming stronger there, especially since the war began and the democratic nations have be come more closely associated with Ja pan. Details of the rioting are arriving several days late, but latest informa tion here attributes the immediate out break to the food situation. Profiteers in rice have cornered the market and are hoi ling the price beyond reach of the underpaid classes. War industries in Japan as here have thrived under the demand for muni tions and the wealthy have grown more wealthy as the poor find it hard to meet the rising living costs. Rioters are reported to have stoned homes of the wealthy, breaking into ' restaurants and rice depots and attack ing the geisYia girls as they rode through the streets. Predictions are freely made here that a social crisis is fast approaching. State department officials attributed the outbreak entirely to the desperate food situation in Japan. Rice has prac tically doubled in price since the war began ar.d wages have continued very low. Japanese speculators have been hoarding rice to force a higher price and the government is greatly concerned over their actions. Steps to break up the rice trust have already been taken. Among them is prohibition o fexporta tion of rice. Measures against rice speculation may be taken and it is al most certain the government will buy vast quantities to distribute to the peo ple at cost. Officials scout the theory that P ro * German or Bolshevik activities are re sponsible for the uprising and declare that Socialistic thought is entirely ab sent in Japan. There is no political significance in the outbreak, they say. Through the strong national military ( police the government probably will be 1 able to hold a strong hand over the masses and shortly put down disorder, officials say. Five German Airplanes And Balloon Destroyed By British Machines LONDON. Aug. 19.—The destruction of five German airplanes and a hostile observation balloon was reported today in the official communique issued by the British air ministry. Three British machines failed to return. Thirteen tons of bombs were dropped on various ob jectives. Low clouds, rain and a high wind prevented aerial work at night. 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 one thing the Unitea States govern ment is absolutely determined to do, and that is to WIN THE WAR 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 product has, in nu merous other instances, been fixed by government boards. These boards have fixed the amount of certain foodstuffs that yon may buy, the amount you may eat, and also the prices you must pay. It is right that this should be done, IT the doing of it will aid us to WIN THE WAS, and no one Questions the wisdom of the methods being used. The War Industries board has now began to turn its attention to the publishing business. The post age rates were material? increased on newspapers July Ist, and the sending of free exchanges and giving of samples copies has been forbidden. Now the cutting dewn of the number of pages a daily newspaper can publish in any one issue is * Semi-Weekly Journal, Atlanta. Ga.: Enclosed find 75 cents for The Semi-W eckly Journal, 1 year. Kame F. O B. P. DState GERMAN PHOTO SHOWS SHIPS THAT BLOCK ZEEBRUGGE. This photo of the har bor of Zeebrugge, Belgium, was taken several weeks ago, long after the British had sunk cruisers filled with cement to block the channel and prevent U-boats from escaping. The picture was ob tained from Holland and the original had come from Germany, It shows very little space for U-boats to leave their base, from which they had preyed on allied commerce. ' -'.s'- - .Y't:'-':':' ■ <•' '< ■ I < v\ ’ \ I \ ■ f x. ♦ -Sr X < '>* .» ’’•fc X -W' '> •->>■•'*••• x...v . - v '4BSfik •• Jb c .- : - x>;- - Z2SC- s % - \ f '■ • /.- ? -A-’.--• if CLERK IS CHARGED WITH LOOTING SOLDIERS’ MAIL Local Employe Js Apprehended Damaging Evidence Is Discovered . A continued systematic theft of money from letters addressed to Camp Gordon soldiers i& thought to have been broken up through the arrest on Saturday by the local postoffice inspection depart ment of Willis Lumpki Webb, a sub stitute postoffice clerk, who, it is said, was apprehended while in the act of rifling two pieces of mail matter con taining stamps and money, and who is reported to have confessed to previous thefts after $250 in currency had been discovered concealed in tobacco tins in his wardrobe locker. Webb, who had been under surveil lance, had access only to Camp Gordon mail. On Saturday, it is said, he was observed to be examining letters appar ently to ascertain whether they contain ed currency. When arrested two special delivery letters are said to have been found in his pockets, together with two 81 bills. New York exchange for S2OO and a book of stamps which he is said to have admitted purloining from en velopes he had destroyed. In his locker two ostensibly unopened tobacco tins were said to have been found. The waxed paper inclosing the contents appeared undisturbed, but when the cans were emptied it developed that both paper and tobacco had been re moved and the bottom of the tins lined with bills totalling $250. Webb, who was been lodged in the Tower without bond pending a hearing before United States Commissioner Colquitt Carter, is said to have confessed that most of this amount had been stolen. Webb's home is said to be in East Point. Poincare Decorates Haig PARIS, Aug. 19.—President Poincare personally decorated Field Marshal Haig with the military medal, according to a dispatch from the front today. being considered. And the reductions mentioned range from 10 per cent to 60 per cent. In connec tion with this proposed ruling the fixing of a min ii'ium retail price of S’ cents to the subscribers is being coasideied. And if the War Indus tries board thinks it nec ersary to fix the price of daily newspapers, why it may also fix the price of semi-weekly and weekly publications. Die 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 kn ow when wo may have to announce that the price has bsen Increased, by or der of the government, to 51.50 or 82, 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, G&.: Enclosed find 82.25 for which send The Semi-Weekly Journal 1 year each to the following: Name Address For my trouble send me the Semi-Weekly Journal 1 year. ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1918. LUDENDORFF MUST RETREAT OR THROW IN MORE_RESERVES Foch’s Policy of .Creating Pockets and Forcing Great Numvers* of Huns in First Line Shown in Latest Thrust BY J. W. T. MASON NEW YORK, Aug. 19.—The essential instability of the German front in the west is again demonstrated by Marshal Foch’s sudden thrust between the Las signy anti Soissons battle fronts. This is one of the most important sectors to which Ludendorff must cling if he is resolved upon preserving his present position in Picardy and along the Vesle. Meanwhile, Marshal Foch’s easily accomplished lunge means that Lndendorff eannot.count on holding any single area in the west end; in fact, has entered strategically well into the grip of the allies’ relentless initiative. The ne.v advance made by the French is highly dangerous for Ludendorff be cause it marks the beginning of a wedge which threatens to make a new pocket in Picardy and at the same time create another saljent north of Soissons on top of the old Marne pocket. Luden dorff must desperately resist the con tinuance of this maneuver, or admit his intention to retire still farther toward Belgium and Germany. If he decides on resistance, more troops must be found for the first line operations, which means a further depletion of Germany’s sadly wilted reserves. Marshal Foch has the Germans back ing into an increasingly “hopeless posi ion. It is impossible for them to retain possession of their present trench mile age while Marshal Foch continues his incessant local drives and at the same time assimilate reserves to serve against America s forthcoming major of fensive. Marshal Foch is now seeking to harass GERIN PRESS DECLARES RETREAT IS NECESSARY Attempts to Reassure Public, * French Papers Comment on U. S. Airplanes PARIS,’Aug. 19.—(Havas Agency.)— The German press is attempting to re assure its public that a general retreat is necessary on the western front to allow General Ludendorff room to ma neuver and to assume the initiative on a vast scale, the newspapers here say. A German retreat, they say, would be a direct result of the recent allied suc cesses. The newspapers assert that even if the Germans receive reinforce ments from Austria they have lost the power to command events as Marshal Foch has the initiative and will keep it. German propaganda insists that the German general staff will retain the initiative by forcing premature engage ments on the American army, thus wearing it out before fully prepared. L'Hnmme Libre says that the Ameri can forces taking part in the Picardy offensive could not be comnarcd in size with those of the French and British. It says that America will soon have a first-class army in France and that it will have airplanes which the German aviators will have reason to fear. Ludendorff at constantly new points, so that the maximum number of German troops possible shall be kept in the front lines and away from the reserves. By this means Ludendorff will eventual ly be forced back, because when the final decision is made, the German re serves must be built up or the war will be lost for the kaiser by default. Lu dendorff is already beginning to feel that Marshal Foch is playing with him like a cat does with a mouse. 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. I This will be a good thin g for all Semi-Weekly Journal readers to do now, too, for we win send the paper to all until the full expiration date at the old price, it matters not how much the rates for fu ture subscriptions may be advanced. Now here’s an opportunity for you readers of the Semi-Weekly to get a n extar year’s subscrip tion without cost to yourself. Send us the names of three yearly subscribers on the blank below, together with 32.25 for the three subscriptions, and we will mark your subscription up for another i year. There are three of your neighbors who will be glad to give you 75c to have the Semi-Weekly Journal sent them for a year each, and you will find it no trouble to get this extra year’s subscription I without cost to yourself. ENEMY IS REPULSED BY AMERICANS IN ATTACKSJN ALSACE Germans Drop 2,500 Shells in Frapelle, but Fail to Dislodge Our Men Raiders Are Driven Off BY FBANK J. TAYI.OB. WITH THE AMERICAN ARMIES IN FRANCE, Aug. 18.—(Night.)—Amer- ican troops advanced sligirtly beyond Frapelle this morning and last n»ght, and consolidated the ground won in yes terday morning's attack. The Germans, in retaliation, dropped 2.500 shells in Frapelle, but failed to drive out the Americans. (Frapelle is in Alsace, five miles east of St. Doe, and only four miles from the German border. It was captured in a surprise attack Saturday morning.) West of Gebwiler, 45 Roches attempt ed to rail American positions but were driven of by artillery and rifle fire with out being able to reach our lines. (Geb wiler is in German Alsace, 12 miles north of Mulhausen. The lines are about four miles west of Gebwiler and 10 miles inside German territory at this point. There was lively patrol activity in thd Wocvre area One doughboy, wounded nine times, heroically carried in wound ed a?<W’Panio’is. • Sergeant Made Officer For Trench Suggestion WITH THE AMERICAN ARMIES IN FRANCE, July 14.—(8y Mail) —A cer tain American General z wanted a sup port trench dug across a flat spot in an American sector. The trench would be two miles long Ordinarily, it would have been easy to dig. This time it wasn’t German guns dominated the place and the first night’s work would be followed by a heavy enemy barrage which would cost Ameri can lives. , The general and his staff were dis cussing the' problem. An American en gineering sergeant w’as with the group as a guke. He could hardly control his interest in the work. Finally, he had to cut loose. “I beg your pardon, sir,” he said. “It’s not military for me to speak, but if you’d give me a thousand men to night, I’d have that two miles of trench in tomorrow morning, before the Heinies know it." The general smiled and asked the ser geant how he w ould do it. The sergeant was ready with an explanation. That night a sergeant was in charge of a thousand men, or rather, his plans were being followed. The thousand doughboys went out after dark. Each group knew exactly where to go and w’here to begin digging under direction of officers. They dug speedily, and quietly and every time a German flare went up they dropped to the ground or stood perfectly still. Not a German gun was shed in that direction during the night and it wasn’t because the Germans didn’t have their guns ready. * When the sun rose the German look- I outs from the hills and observation 1 balloons opposite looked down on a i brand new trench, stretching two miles i across a flat spot dominated by their guns. The Boches, in amazement, threw over a barrage. But it was late, for the diggers were gone and the doughboys in the trenches were safe in dugouts. Incidentally, it might be said a certain sergeant is now a lieutenant. German-born With Americans Make Good j PARIS, Aug. 19.-*—According to an offi ! cial report of the French Sixth army, ! operating north of the Marne, an Amer i ican division, composed almost entirely ! of German-born men, advanced eleven ! miles in seven days during the counter i offensive, captured eight villages, not J including Fismes, and stormed three i woods, one hill and one farm in hand j to-hand fighting. The division once | fought 72 hours continuously. Gen. Pershing Reports on U. S. Aerial Activity WASHINGTON, Aug. 19.—General Pershing today reported further details j of the aerial battle referred to in his i Sunday communique, the war depart ' ment announced today. The combat was ■ reported in Lorraine. "Captain Riddle brought down a ’ Rumpier machine northwest of Boux -1 ieres-Caux-Dames at 5:40 the after- I noon of August 16. The observer was 1 killed and the pilot wounded, but the ' machine landed intact.” Bomb Is Thrown at German Police Chief ZURICH. Aug. 19. —A bomb was thrown at the chief of the German se cret police in- Warsaw, but the attempt failed, according to a dispatch from that city, received today. A German patrol killed two of the as sassins, but the rest escaped. Infantry and cavalry are patrolling the streets. Many arrests have been made in the vicinity of the attack. CUR ED TIS~ HAY* FEVER After suffering from hay fever for several years, Mr. H. J. Miller, 5030 Cal houn St., Fort Wayne, Ind., found a method that completely cured him and has been granted two government pat ents. He is now arranging to supply the method to sufferers everywhere by means of a liberal advertising plan which gives a limited number of people in each locality an opportunity to obtain '.t with out sending one penny. If you suffer, tetter write him at once.—Alvt. NUMBER 94. TWO-MILE GW IB MADE BETWEEN OISE AND AISNE RIVERS General Foch Connects Picardy and Aisne Battle Fronts by 1 Brilliant Stroke French Enter Suburbs of Roye NEW YORK, Aug. 19.—(Summary of Dispatches from the Battle Front.) — The French, by a sudden thrust between the Oise and Aisne, have definitely weld ed the Picardy and Vesle-Aisne battle fronts. The front now extends from Bucquoy, north of Albert, to La Neuvillet, north west of Rheims—a distance of more than 100 miles, following the Serried lines. In addition to this single front there is almost continuous fighting along a ten-mile sector on the western portion of the Flanders salient, and Field Mar shal Haig today reported unusual activi ty on a front of about fifteen miles north and south of Arras, which actual ly connects with the Picardy front be tween Ayette and Ducqioy. The British captured 500 prisoners here. The surprise attack between the Oise and Aisne was made on a front of near ly ten miles, between Fontenoy and a point south of Carlepont. The French gained nearly two miles, taking 1,700 prisoners. Allied pressure continues along Chaulnes, Roye and Lassigny and the German resistance there is believed be only preliminary to a retirement upon the new Somme defenses. The enemy !■ reported to be constructing a powerful line around Nesle, which will form on© of the principal points in tbe new line. On the Avre river the French captured 800 prisoners, making a tdtal of 3,000 Germans captured by French and British in the last twenty-four hours. The French have entered the suburb© df Roye and the British ©Te flanking the town from tfie north, according to Lon don advices, which also state that the French have penetrated into the village of LeHamel, on the hills west of the Oise and northwest of Ribecourt. In French Alsace the Americans con tinue to improve their positions east of St. Die and are reported to have won ground that will be valuable In starting any future offensive effort. Villages Captured In Marshal Foch’s new stroke between the Oise and Aisne, the villages of Nampcel and Nouvron-Vingre, have been captured and the French have reached the southern edge of the ravine at Audignicourt, which is between Namp cel and Nouvron-Vingre. Since the situation along the Aisne and Vesle and in Picardy has seemed to be approaching a deadlock indicating a return to the cld trench warfare of the first two'years or the war. an attack in the sector between the Aisne and the Oise has been expected. This line is vital to the German positions on each side of it. If it should be broken the whole German defensive scheme would be thrown out of joint. While the front over which the as sault was launched Is short compared with those of the Marne and Picardy drives, the success attained by the French appears to point to a possibility of Field Marshal Foch breaking the enemy’s resistance now held by the Ger mans oetween Poissons and Rheims and between the Oise and the Ancre. The region in which the attack was made is quite rough and would seem to be well adapted to defensive war fare. It is intersected by ravines of some depth and has high wooded ridges here and there. It is an extension of the hilly district along the Oise where savage fighting has been going on for the last week. Village of Le Hamel Penetrated by French LONDON, Aug. 19.—(4:45 p. m.) — French troops penetrated into the vil lage of LeHamel, on the hills west of the Oise and northwest of Ribcourt, today, according to. advices from the front During the fighting today hte French were'on the aggressive, but made some slight headway against tho determined German resistance between Lassigny and the Oise. French in Suburbs of Roye, British Flanking Town PARIS, Aug. 19.—(4 p- m.) —The French are in the suburbs of Roye. The British are carrying out a flanking movement north of the town. Extraordinary artillery fighting is un der way in the whole Roye sector. The Germans, in a desperate effort to hold the town are pouring In fresh divisions which have been withdrawn from other parts of the front within the past twen ty-four hours. The attack between the Oise and the Aisne. started yesterday evening, has resulted in reoccupation of thirty square kilometers of territory. The French are in possession of the important heights west of Nampcel and are aiming at en velopment of Ourscamps forest (between Ribecourt an dCarlepont), with result ant control . of all the roads leading northward to Noy on. In the last twenty-four hours the al lies have taken more than 3,000 pris oners. French Tenth Army Gains Nearly Two Miles on Oise LONDON, Aug. 19.-1:20 p. m—The French Tenth army which attacked the German positions between the Oise and the Aisne last night has penetrated to an extreme depth of nearly two miles. (Continued on Page 2, Column 3)
