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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 1918)
TUP MORNING OREGOXIAN. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1918. FIVE YAM KEE FLIERS reported hissing Americans Fail to Return to Own Lines After Carrying - Out Bombing Expedition. BOCHE ATTACK CRUSHED Terrific Barrage Blols Oat Thin tine of Unemj Infantrymen Who I Aro Iljcovcrcd to Bo Advan cing West, of Moselle River. WASHINGTON, Sept ?8. Five Amer ican planes are misirg as a result of an attack by a superior German force during a bombing expedition in Lor raine, General Pershir.sr reported In to day's communique received tonight by the War Department. With the ex ception of artillery activity In Lor raine and Alsace the American sectors remain Inactive. WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON THE LORRAINE FRONT, Sept. 16. (By the Associated Press.) In the artil lery exchange of Tuesday the Amer ican gunners held the upper hand, de stroying German .mmunition dumps near La Chaunse. In addition to a bi gun, and making direct hits on the rail road near Cbambley. A number of boxcars also wen de strayed by direct hits near Chambley. Tuesday night the Germans threw 800 shells Into the regions around Xammes Bcney and Chateau St. Benoit. German Infantry attempted to attack the American lines west of the Mosell last evening, but the enemy troops were driven back by the Are of the. Amer lean artillery. When observers reported that a light line of German Infantry was approach Ing, the American big guns threw terrific barrage into that area. There were no further movements by the enemy. Observers reported this morning tba there were no living Germans in the region where they were sighted las night. Quite a number of dead, how ever, were seen. Three enemy balloons were de stroyed last night by Lieutenant F. Luke, Jr.. of Phoenix. Aria., on a flight Into the German lines. This makes his total nine balloons In three days. With Lieutenant J. F. "Whener, of Lverett, Mass., Luke left his airdrome at dusk and crossed the line. Within 3i minutes the American aviators had completed their work of destruction and the flames could be seen from the American airdrome. Task D Ge4 Work. One other balloon was destroyed yes trday and three more are believed to have been shot down, but the reports have not been confirmed. Bad weather prevented bombing, however, and the only observation possible was the ad Justment of artillery fire. Squadrons of American - manned tanks, operating for the first time on a large scale in the attack on the St. Mihtel salient, played an important and dramatic part In the defeat of the Ger mans. Divided Into brigades light. Inter mediate and heavy the tanks swung out onto the field of battle immediately arter the barrage. Before the day ended they had entered the villages ot -Nonsard. Fannes. Lamarohe and Bin ney, considerably ahead of the Infantry. Early in the action difficulties were experienced in getting to the front sufficient gasoline, although a great fleet or gasoline tanks had been pre pared to carry supplies. The gas tanks were attacked by the enemy er were mired and it was here that Americas ingenuity came to the rescue. Sleda Carry Gaaoltae. Barrels of gasoline were trundled and rolled over the roadless fields by daring volunteers, to meet the most pressing needs. Bobsleds, curiously enough, were fonnd more efficient than wagons in carrying supplies, since they could be dragged over the mud without being mired, and on them hundreds of gallons of gas were conveyed to the fighting tanks. The advance of the tanks brought out many examples of daring on the part of their crews. One Major whose machine was equipped with a 37-railll-meter gun. Instead of a machine gun, violated his orders and went far ahead until he was within range of Nonsard. With one well-placed shot he knocked two Germans out of a church steeple from which they were firing a machine sun. A Lieutenant, shot through the palm of the left band by an explosive bul lett. was sent to a hospital, but es caped and walked six miles back to the field. He appeared at his tank with the statement that he could "carry on" with his right hand. Woaaded Refaa tm Qalt. Several others were wounded but re mained on duty. No, one was killed, however, even though a German six inch shell plowed clear through one small tank, destroying It, but injuring only one of the crew. Another tank captured a battery of "77s," but was so far ahead of the Infantry it could not turn over the guns to them. Tba story is told of another tank which went Into a town with a ser geant armed with a rifle perched on the turret. This machine captured two batteries of "77s." five machine guns and many me a. Tanks were occasionally as much as two miles ahead of the infantry, throw ing consternation Into the Germans. Part of the success which attended their share In the battle undoubtedly waa due to the intensive training given drivers, who are taught to operate their machines blindfolded, guided only by signals from the gunners. This sometimes Is necessary when the driv ers are blinded temporarily by splashes of mud. For several daya before the offensive the tanks which were to take part were maneuvered Into an Interior town, while the civilians watched them with amazement, with no knowledge of . what it portended. Some time before the battle the tank crews received their final instructions on a hypotheti cal battlefield, mathematically divided tip into debarkation points and supply depots. nearer the line from which the German offensive started on March 21 last. The latest reports placed Field Marshal Haig's troops at an average distance of about a mile from this line, though at Vllleret and Gouzeaucourt the British drove their way through the Hinden burg line to a depth not reported at this hour. The fighting continues. The attack was begun at 5:20 o'clock, after a brief bombardment. Coupled with the news of the success of the allied forces in the early stages of the operations came reports that heavy fighting had developed at many points, particularly about Fresnoy, Roussoy and Epehy, in the British xone. and about Savy Wood, where the French attacked. Unas Hurled" From Ridges. The section along which the assault was made is a most important one. Tbe British, prior to today, had worked forward until they had established themselves In the old support line be tween Epehy and Verguier. In front of them the Germans were sitting on a dominating ridge In po sitions which represented the British front line before the Germans launched their offensive last March. In addition, the Germans held the for mer second support line of the British. The crest of this ridge dominates the Hindenburg line, which lies to the east. Hence the value of the possession of this ridge to either eide is obvious. For days the Germans, who undoubt edly had expected a drive here, had been feverishly fortifying themselves along the ridge, whose loss will be a serious menace to the Hindenburg line in the rear. FRENCH DRIVE FAR OH 6-MILE FRONT Advance of More Than Mile Is Made in Co-operation With British Forces. GERMANS COUNTER ATTACK BRITISH PUSHING FORWARD (Contfaned From First Pare.) Holnon Wood west of St. Quentin northward to Gouzeaucourt. The British attack took them far 6 Bell-ans Hot water Sure Relief ELL-AIMS 'FOR JN DIGESTION Veteraa Troopa Used. The British army In making the tack, employed veteran troops. have worked wonders in the last few months. The Germans In a local attack on Moeuvres last night forced the British to withdraw from that village. The British attack today probably surprised the enemy, the night being favorable to the assembly of troops and the preliminary barrage being short. The Intense attack'moved by progress ive stages as it was necessary to pause while the enemy pockets were cleared out. Reports from the French are tha they had progressed well In conform ity with the British advance, especially in the region of bavy wood. The new during the early hours was fragmen tary, as rain was falling when the at tack was launched and airplane obser vation, one of the sources of early In telligence, waa impossible. The weather improved later in the day. WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE. Sept. 18. (By the Associated Press.) The British troops made powerful attack against the German lines to the west and northwest of St Quentin today and most important re suits were achieved. A deep advance into the enemy territory strengthened the already powerful grip tbe British have on St. Quentin, one of the most strongly fortified parts of the Hinden burg line. Hlxh Ground la Galaed. To the south the French co-operated in what is likely to prove an operation of vast portent with respect to the Hindenburg defensive position. The zone involved in the British movement lay, roughly, between Hol non on the south, and Gouzeaucourt. Within a lew hours Feiziere. lempleux Le-Geuirard, Epehy, Roussoy and Vil- leret were behind the advanced British forces, and bitter fighting was in prog ress at many other points in the for ward zone. More .than 6000 prisoners were sent back to the cages. Tho advance thus far recorded in some places more than three mile: means that the British at numerous points gained the crest of the ridge along which their old front line ran prior to the German offensive In March, and from their new positions were looking down on the Hindenburg line in the valley to the east. That hard fighting would be en countered in this sector was a fore gone conclusion. The main enemy op position came from machine guns and artillery. The counter barrage which the Germans sent over in reply to the British bombardment waa much more severe than the enemy had been able to provide In the recent fighting and, as an additional new feature, the Ger mans maintained a heavy barrage over the back areas with high-velocity guns, which they had concentrated for the purpose. Back Areas Bombarded. The shelling of the back areas during an attack Is to be expected, but a bar rage has seldom been attempted, and then without great success. The German infantry surrendered quite frequently in places; in fact, in the center of the attack, where the Australians were working, a considera ble number of graycoats deliberately charged through the British barrage to give themselves up. The assault began at dawn. Tin for tunately rain began to fall about '. o clock and when the British went over the top the ground was already limy and hard to negotiate, especially when the ridges were reached and the men bad to charge up them. Tanks accompanied the troops and rendered invaluable service in the early stages or ue conflict, wmcn waged warm from the start. The British preliminary bombard ment was brief and waa followed by the customary barrage for the protec tion of tbe advancing infantry. The Germans immediately replied with a vicious fire from large numbers of guns concentrated behind the St. Quen tin canal. Airplane observation virtually was Impossible during the first hours of the fighting on either side, so that the gunners were shooting by man nd were therefore greatly handi capped. Soa-ar Factory- Takes. On the north Peizlere and a strongly fortified sugar factory to the northeast were taken by storm after' hard fight- ng. i-peny proved a tough nut to crack. Here the famoua Alpine corps had been brought up, and tha German army boasts no better troops than these. It was futile to attempt a frontal attack, against this place, which was fairly bristling with machine guns. The British, accordingly, worked about c to the north and south and saueesed It out. Roussoy was carried by storm nd a hundred prisoners were gleaned from the surviving garrison. In the center the Australians had to fight for every inch of ground they took, but they pushed steadily for ward until they reached the crest of the ridge. By 8:30 o'clock the Aus tralians already had taken a total of 500 prisoners. Most of these were Bavarians and men of the first Ger man reserve division and they appeared to be of a poor class of men as they came straggling back disconsolately through the driziltng rain. One of the hottest engagements took place Just south of La Verguier, where the Germans- had fortified themselves in a mllL This stronghold was sur rounded and 180 of the garrison were forced to surrender. New Tlmm Plaaee Downed. On the right flank- there was equally ard fighting. Holnon had been taken yesterday as a preliminary to today's attack and from this point the British went forward. No great advance was expected in this zone, however, as the line had already been pushed forward practically to the old positions. Last night German airplanes were busy bombing the St. Quentin sector and the enemy utilized a number of new-type planes of huge size. Three of these were shot down east of Peronne. They were capable of seat ing eight men. The most astounding thing about them, however, waa that they carried bombs 13 feet long which contained 2000 pounds of explosives. This is by far the biggest bomb the Germans have yet produced. Menace to St. Quentin "Grows More Pronounced as Allies Avance to East; Poilus Capture Several Hundred Enemy Troops. PARIS, Sept 18. The French attack on the right of the British in the St. Quentin sector resulted in an advance of a mile and a third along a six-mile front, according to the War Office an nouncement tonTght. German troops last night launched violent counter attacks against the French positions on the plateau north east of Sancy. seven miles northeast of Soissons. The attacks were unsuc cessful. (By the Associated Press.) British and French veterans have made another vicious and successful smash at the Hindenburg line. Sweep ing forward on a front of 22 miles, they went ahead from one and one-third to three miles, taking many prisoners. The most important aspect of the ad vance is that it makes more certain the capture of St. Quentin, whlcn tne Ger mans have been ordered to hold at nil costs. This important city is virtually surrounded on three sides and its fall seems only a matter of days. Old Trench System Taken. Field Marshal Haig's third and fourth armies charged over the trench system occupied by the British before they were pushed back by the Teutonic flood last March. They capturea, in wiae sectors, the outer defenses of the Hin denburg line. The British assault was over a irom nf 16 miles from Holnon, West of St. Oiirntln to Gouzeaucourt, North of Epehy. In their advance. which rP3rhi.il a. demh of more than three miles at some points, they took more than 6000 prisoners. Not only did the blow bring nearer the capture of St. Quentin, which the Germans are struggling desperately to hold, but it went far toward wiping out tho onlv bulce in the uruisn line which resembles a salient. Epehy, at the apex of the bend, has been taken and the same fate has oeianen gou zeaucourt and Hargicourt which stood at the ends of the wings. Huns Start Counter Attack. The Importance which the Germans attached to the territory wrested from them is indicated by the announcement that thev launched counter attacks as soon as they could be organized irom Hardcourt to the Omlgnon rivuiet. The result of their efforts remains ob- While tha French advance was less spectacular than that of the British, with whom they co-operated, they were equally successful In gaining tneir or- lAftlvoa Thpv moved iorwara on a front of six miles to an average depth of one and a third miles, adding sev eral hundred prisoners to the untisn bair. Thev now hold the southern out skirts of Contescourt, less than three lies from the suburbs of bt. yuentin. This city, where the troops of Von Goeben scored a great victory in 1871, s one of the buttresses of the uouai Cambrai-SL Quentin-La Fere-Laon line. beyond which it has been announced the iermans would not tall back, vvun tne French in the outskirts of La ere. with St. Quentin Invested and with the British battling doggedly for Cambrail, he srreat Hindenburg deiense system s in danger of being breached at three of its strongest points. Once ousted from it the Teutons will have back of them no strong fortifications until they reach the Maubeuge defenses. Enemy Positions Strong-. The taking of St. Quentin remains a difficult task, however, for the Ger mans are in strong defensive positions and a captured order from General Von Morgen to the 14th reserve corps em phasizes the importance or tne terrain they hold. He orders them not to yield another foot of ground In the im minent decisive battles." While the British and French were forging ahead relentlessly in the west the Serbs and the French In Macedonia were making more emphatic their de feat of the Bulgars, who have been re- n forced by German troops. There Is every indication that the offensive in the near east is of major proportions and that it will develop to the limit It has widened to the west of Sokol and the east of Yetrenik until the front xtends a distance of 10 miles. The re sistance of King Ferdinand's troops is weakening as they are forced back. While Marshal Foch was following his policy of striking at widely sepa rated points along the battle line, the ay was one or comparative quiet lor General Pershing's field Army. There was no activity of consequence on their front beyond the usual artillery and patrol activity. married. Theirs was a Vancouver, Wash, marriage In September, 191 There are no children. Viola Wiles on Tuesday evening greeted her husband's homecoming with an egg. She threw it with force and it splattered all over his suprised countenance, alleges the husband, W. E. Wiles, in his suit for divorce. Other charges of cruelty are made. They were married in Albany in 1901. Lillian Beers charges cruelty and infidelity against John Beers. She names their hired girl as co-respondent. They were married in Portland in 1911, and have three children. The wife de mar.ds their custody and 140 a month. Clara Montgomery wants a divorce from James E. Montgomery and the custody of their three children. She charges cruelty and drunkenness. They were married at Joseph, Or, in 1902. Desertion is charged against Gay- lord B. Mallett by Lydia Mallett. They were married in Portland in 1902, and separated in 1915, says the wife. TWO CITIES UP IN ARMS MEDFORD AND JACKSONVILLE FIGHT ROAD REMOVAL. TO ROMANCE ENDS IN COURT MOTHER OF JOSEPH KOENEKE FILES ACTIOX FOR DIVORCE. LoiIm Campbell, Bride f Tea Days, Charaea Hnsbaad With Deaertlosu LUlUa Beer Alleges Cruelty. A romantic elopment which culmi nated in the marriage at Vancouver, ast week, of Joseph Koeneke and Bes- ie Hayes, both minor children, re ceived a severe blow yesterday when the young bridegroom's mother filed the Circuit Court a suit to have the marriage annulled. She alleges her son and the bride are both too young, and (hat their marriage was held with out her knowledge and consent. She asks that the marriage not only.be an- ulled but that the bride be ordered to resume her maiden name. Louise Campbell, in a suit filed yes- erday, alleges E. J. Campbell de- erted her ten days after they were Proposed Discontinuance of Southern Oregon Traction Service Brings Out Protests. MEDFORD, Or.. Sept. 18. (Special.) The people of Medford and Jackson ville are up in arms and will light tae proposal of President S. S. Bullis to either stop the operation of the South ern Oregon Traction company railroad between this city and the county seat or dismantle It and dispose of the rails to the Government. The councils of both cities have adopted resolutions of protest which were telegraphed to Colonel Brice P. Disque, head of the army spruce divis ion, with headquarters at Portland. Last week Mr. Bullis announced that the road would have to discontinue op erations because the Government had requisitioned three miles of its rails. Later it developed that the War de partment's requisition had been made only after Mr. Bullis had sold three miles of rails to the Grant Smith-Por ter Bros, company, spruce operators, and placed In the market for sale all the railroad equipment. Besides the protest of the two coun cils, protests have also been made by W. S. Barnum, who holds a mortgage atrainst the railroad property for $63 000, and by the Gagnon Box & Lum ber company, whose lumber mill and box factory will be put out of commis sion If the rails are torn up. Any attempt by Mr. Bullis to tear up any part of the railroad before an answer is received to the protests filed will be followed by interesting devel opments. A close watch is being main tained on the railroad. Injunction pro ceedings are being planned. The protest resolutions of the- two councils recite that both.cltles contrib uted substantially to the building of the road and declare that its removal at this time would be a serious blow to both communities. ' DRESS MADE OF SACKS WARTIME CLOTHES FEATURE LANE COUNTY FAIR. OF Exhibit Hall and Stockpen Crowded to Overflowing Fancy Work No ticeably Absent. EUGENE, Or., Sept. 18. The war. time house dress, made of flour sacks and looking like a much more expen sive garment, is one of the creations shown in the made-over garments di vision of the woman's department of the Lane County Fair, which opened to day with exhibit halls and stockpens crowded to overflowing. . The dress was made by Mrs. Emily Christensen, of Eugene, route 2, from 314 flour sacks of the 100-pound size, which were purchased In Eugene in 1917 at the rate of 60 cents a dozen. The most noticeable feature In the pavilion was the absence of the fancy work from the woman's section and the appearance of great quantities of made- over garments, the product or wartime economy, which the Fair Association has been seeking to encourage by offer- ng special premiums. President c u. Rorer. of the Fair Association, declared tonight that agricultural, horticultural and livestock exhibits are the best ever assembled here. The three days' racing programme will start tomorrow with the 2:12 trot and the free-for-all pace as the principal events. 'OWER PLANT PROJECTED Rich Lands in Lake County Are to Be Irrigated. KLAMATH FALLS, Or.. Sept. 18. (Special.) Development of a power site at Crescent, In Northern Klamath, has been undertaken by Dr. N. E. Winnard, of Heppner, according to Don Jolly, a resident of that section, who arrived from there yesterday. He says the Dower will be used for pumping water on lands in the Fort Rock district in Lake County. The power site is on the outskirts of the Town of Crescent. Engineers al ready are at work on the project, ac cording to Mr. Jolly. There are large tracts In the Fort Rock district which with water would produce abundantly. DANCING taueht by professional Instructors 'at LieHoney's beautiful academy 23d and Washington. New classes lor beginners start Tuesday and Thursdsr evenines. AU'dances guaranteed in eight lessons. Ladies, S4; gents, 35. The on". school teaching from 8 to 11. Plenty ot prac tice. No embarrassment. All dances thoroughly taught. Extra step room foi backward pupils. Private lessons at all hours. Normal instructions for dancing teachers. A printed description of all dances for pupils free. Advanced class for fancy steps, etc.. starts Mondav evening. Call afternoon or evening this week. War stamps ta-ken. Phono M. 7656, . . THOMPSON'S Deep Carre Leasee) Are Better (Trademark Registered! THE SIGN OF PERFECT . SERVICE Eyes carefully examined and properly fitted with glasses without the use of drugs by skilled specialists (J Complete lens grinding factory on the premises. c SAVE YOUR EYES THOMPSON OPTICAL INSTITUTE PortleWnT Laricrtitt Mont Modern Bent Equipped, lxcluive Optical Kutabllnhment.. 209 - lO - 11 CORBETT BI,DG FIFTH AV MORRISOX Sl.NXK 1908. You Can't Eat Meat 100 Miles Away Preparing meat is only a part of Swift r&: Company's usefulness. The finest meat in the world "wouldn't 'do you any good one hundred miles away from your table. Swift. & Company efficiency has made it possible to place complete lines of products in the smallest and most remote communities ; To be sure the work is done well Swift & Company, through its branch houses and car routes, brings the meat to the retail dealer for you. Swift & Company lays out car routes covering towns big, little, medium size which are not . served by a Swift branch house - Salesmen find out in advance what is wanted by the dealers in every town. They are fpllowed by refrigerator cars loaded with retailers' "orders, which are delivered at each town fresh, clean, and sweet once or twice each week. Swift & Company operates a large number of car routes like this, from fourteen distributing plants. This is a necessary and natural part of the packer's usefulness. It fits into the industry inan orderly, effective w2y. It makes better meat cheaper from one , end of the land to the other. SwifL& Company, U. S..A. Albany Wan Out for Police Chief. ALBANY, Or.. Sept. IS. (Special.) J. Q. Rodgers announced yesterday that he will b; a candidate for Chief of Police of Albany in the forthcoming city election. He has been a member of the police force here for the past six years. John Catlin, the present chief, -will be a candidate for re-elec tion. There is a rumor that S. C. Wor. rell, a former member of the police force here and now a guard at tho State Penltentfary, may also be a can didate, but this has not been verified. Prisons to Zet Contracts. WASHINGTON, Sept IS. Under an executive order announced today the President authorizes the placing of war supply contracts with the heads of prisons and reformatories at prevailing prices and directs that prisoners en gaged on Huch contracts shall receive wages corresponding with those pnld for similar work In the vicinity. Con gress already lias provided for Indus trial plants at Home Federal prisons. If H : it 11 rSi lit HH tUl I 9 tit - H ARE YOU READY for this Liberty Loan Drive? It is very fine if you are, for it shows that you have exer cised forethought and good judgment in keeping the right ratio between your spending and saving. If, through adverse cir cumstances, or foolish pro crastination in saving, you were found wanting, remem ber that this will not be the last Loan to be met, and get ready for the next one in ad vance. Many a real opportunity is lost because of lack of a little ready capital and it could have been saved so easily. This pioneer bank will gladly consult with you as to starting an account. Mil" i . 4 ; ru EipoW. 1 "-- . Ut ; I -SI 4 . . ts.-rr7 8f.-,JS i tmni s ' l ' - raft mf c $ ' -y w v - "ImifipSTirNrS M. it kt K.rt lLJia.yJWnipajiini iiii i s ' 1 1 , , JJ &TILT1 Ocfe&i in 6ke Northwest Washingtorudnd Third;5treetr5 i 1 ! I t , : rrCt -rrsu