TO HELP WIN THE WAR
BUY LIBERTY BONDS.
WEATHER Maximum Yesterday, 73; Minimum Today -19U. FORECAST Tonight and Tomorrow: Partly Cloudy.
M
EDFO
RD
UNE
TO KEEP THE WAR WON
BUY MORE LIBERTY BONDS.
Forty-eighth Tear.
Dally Thirteenth Tear.
MEDFORD, 01? EG OX, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1918
NO. 175
ALLIES TAKE 10,000 HUNS
SIN MILE
ADVANCE ON
WIDE FRONT
British, French and Belqian Armies
Push Rapidly Into Belaium. Forc
ina Boclie Back Thourout and
Routers Amonp Towns Captured
10.000 Prisoners and 100 Guns
Taken Heavy Rain Handicaps
Operations.
WITH THE ALLIED FORCES IX
BELGIUM. Oct. 15. (By Associated
Press.) Hrltish, French and Belgian
troops In their offensive begun yes
terday in Uelgium have captured
more than ton thousand prisoners
and have taken more than 100 guns.
Advanced allied troops have sig
nalled that they are from six to seven
miles inside the German positions.
The Belgian town or Thourout was
captured by the allies. .
Thourout was an important stra
tegic position and a vital transporta
tion center. Upon It hinges a large
part of the Germau transportation
system. t)
Heavy rain fell in Flahdors thru
out the night, lending to turn the
battlefields Into seas of mud. The
low-lying clouds show no signs of
clearing. A continuation of the
Bteady downpour would undoubtedly
result in slowing up tlio battle.
Allied IMivo Unnerved
nrtlTlSU liEADQUAUTEIlS IX
FLANniiUS, Oct. 15. (Renter's).
General l'lumor's troops pushing for
ward In Hclglum have captured 372:1
prisoners, including 131 officers.
They have taken more than 50 guns
and a regular harvost of mortars and
machine guns.
The allied drive In Flanders was
resumed this morning, the troops
striking out from the advanced line
reached last night after the first day
of their successful offensive.
The German airmen suffered heav
ily yesterday during the progress or
the Flanders battle. Twenty of their
machines were brought down by the
allies.
LONDON', Oct. 15 Belgian troops
are on the outskirts of Meuln and
are within two miles of Court nil.
The allies also are In effective ar
tillery range of the railway from
Lille to Thourout by way of Courtrai.
This means that the allies dominate
the connecting link between the Ger
man troops around Lille and those in
the Ostend sector.
WMio Prisoners Taken
LONDON", Oct. 14. (Monday).
The official statement issued tonight
relative to the offensive In Belgium
says:
"The Flanders group of armies un
dor the king of Belgium attacked at
5:30 o'clock this morning. The sec
ond British ormy advanced about
four and one-half milcs'ln the direc
tion of Courtrai, capturing the Im
portant villages of Ledeghem and
Moorselle and reaching the northern
outskirts of Menln.
"The Belgian army advanced also
nearly five miles toward Totirout and
captured the villages of Humbeko,
Iseghcm, Cortomorck and lland
zaeme. "The French army attacked with
the Belgian troops on both flanks
and occupied HoulerB as well as the
villages of Devren, Hooglede, Gils
and St. Joseph. They also captured
the plateaus of Gils, liocglede and
Gibbete. The prisoner! counted ex
ceed 8,000. Thirty-three hundred
were taken by the Belgians. 2 500 by
the French and 2200 by the British.
The exact number of guns taken is
.unknown, but six complete-batteries
(Continued on Page Sli.)
YANKS CHOPPING
FRESH NOTCHES
JIN GERMAN LINE
From Meuse to Grandpre. Americans
Swino. Hammer Blows for Gains
Most Savacic Fiqhtina About Ro
manqe Germans Put Down Heavy
Defensive Barraoe.
THE PEACE BEGGAR
WITH THE AMKKICAX ARMY
XOKTIIWfcST OK YKRIH'N Oet. Vt.
(Noon. Iv the Associated I'res-O
Tanks were brought into action bv
the Americans today to break a wav
through the cnoiuv wire entangle
ments west of Rnmairne.
Despite tierman resistance the
progress of the Americans earlv re
ports said was satisfactory today.
The Germans apparently were
ready to contest the li round as stub
bornly as tbev did vesterdav. The
enemy artillery was being used freely
to bold the Americans, but the Yan
kee iiunners wre doinir much to break
down the German resistance.
WITH TIIK AMKKJCAX ARMY
XOHTHWKST OK YKI.Dl'X. Mon
day, Oct. 14. (7 P. m. Ity the Asso
ciated Press.) From east of the
Meuse to the yicinitv of Grandpre.
American troops chopped a series of
fresh tiothches in Ine German lines to
day. Thcv kept up their swimrini;
blows for early morninir until lute
afternoon.
Although they extended to (be west
bank of the Meuse,. the mot Htvnire
fighting took place about Romantic
and westward, where the enemy is
striving to maintain that section of
the Krieuihcld line running north
westwardly from Roinange. The bat
tle has been in and over the wire en
tanglements. Hanging on the wire
t, hi nr (Vntiiin .vlumn oniiinm.Mlt
bears evidence that another fresh di-J
vision has been brought up to meet
the steady pressure of the Americans,
(erninn HnrruKC
There was some artillery prepara
tion for the American attack but it
was not much heavier than that of
fered by the Germans in defense until
late in the day when there was a
slight falling off. At that time then
was a movement of artillery toward
the rear of the German positions.
On the least indication of move
ment in the America linos the Ger
mans laid, down a barrage of such in
tensity as is ordinarily used only pre
liminary to an offensive. Not con
tent with their artillery defense, the
Germans made an extraordinarily
liberal use of gas. Although the gas
clouds clung tenaciously to the
ground, the Americans were not se
riously hampered.
llcaw clouds and rain prevented
airmen from giving material assist
ance. In spite of i he drizzle, how
ever, several living craft did gel over
the lines late in the dav. Thevcon
trihuted somewhat to the success of
the advance. Klving low. they
launched heavy gusts of machine gun
fire on the enetnv. The roads, woods
and fields over which the men fought
were softened by the long rains and
prouress was difficult. Xowhere
was there nn' apparent reduction in
the spirits of the men.
Line Straightened
The greater part of the resistance.
of the Meuse was from machine guns,
but in spite of them and the rein
forced German lines the Americans
straightened their line between the
Sivrcv and the Magenta farm.
West of Romagne the Germans bud
fortified one bit of sunken road wiih
machine guns in such u manner that
it w-as regarded necessary to blast it
awav with big guns. The Germans
had tunnelled openings for machine
fiins through the hanks on the sides
of the road and every little tunnel
was lined with cement. All attempts
to take this po-ition were fruitless
until the machine nuns were silenced
bv direct hits.
if I ll
ffllwfi lis
- - 3 .1. ""SI
m
mm
i
. 3 ATCECl.TiL(
The Answer Is Hay More labeity llonds.
PACKERS CLEARED Of
SELLING UNFIT MEAT
WASHINGTON' Oft. 1-V-WiKon
nnd company, Chicago packers, were
cleared todav of charges ntieging aic
of unfit incut to the army which have
been pending Irefure t' federal trade
commisMiiu since last March. The
commission annininced tinlav that the
charges were dismissed for lack of
ewe nee.
SnMULATED BY
PRESIDENT'S REPLY
WASHINGTON'. Oct. 13. Liberty
Loan subscriptions have been stimu
lated by President Wilson's reply to
the German peace note, according to
reports to the treasury today from
loan committees thruout the country.
From cities and rural communities
camo telegrams saying both Liberty
Loan workers and citizens who hud
not yet subscribed took new Interest
In the campaign.
With only five days of the cam
paign left, about three billions re
mained to be raised. All reports In
dicaled renewed assurance that the
nation would not fail.
" The greatness of the task during
the balance of the week may be a
precedent." said the Liberty Loan
headquarters today, "when It is real
ized that each day of the remainder
of tho loan period of the country
must raise an amount equal to the
entiro expense of running the I'nited
States government for a six-months
period of the war.
"In most sections of Ihn country
tho loan has been made the chief
business of the week. In reply lo
Secretary McAdoo'n telegraphic re
quest, state governors have Issued
proclamations calling upon their peo
ples to do their utmost Ibis week."
OVER WAR CRISIS
WASHINGTON. Oct. if Swi-s
dispatches today sav the German
newspapers are now showine- a con
fusion cnual to that which thcv
showed in the interval between the
proposal of Prince Ma ximiliau and
President Wil-on's message of in
quiry. Some of them are ouoied as
follows:
The Frankfurter Zcitimg: "Kvi
dently if the negotiations cannot he
carried out we still turn bark t
arms nnd in desperate cobats defend
the German territory, but we musi
have no illusion in this respect. At
the most, important time of tier his
tory Germany fecla the lack of that
very energetic military help, which
! nfrnnPny to ancient belief stands
for riiiht. However terrible this
disillusion may ho for Hie German
people, broimht up among military
display, humanity will benefit by it
If President Wilson Is able to estab
Ush a real and Into Justlrn."
The Morion Poste: "Tho army
hlKh command believes too that the
continuation of war in tho present
circumstances will bring no good results."
600 BODIES OF
VICTIMS OF FOREST
Field Marshall and Not Prince Max
Caused Germany to Accent Wil
son's Peace Terms No Supply of
Raw Materials for Exhausted Mu
nition Sunulies
" TrjMIEo
SOUGHI PEACE mnprnnniir
HOTCHAKGEllOR
mum DIM
FIRES REGOVERED
M'UTII. Minn.. (M. More
than (10(1 bodies of victims of the for
est fires that raged in this vicinilv
Saturday and Sunday have been re
covered, liescue parlies believe other
hundreds are yet to be found.
Ihiring the night rescue workers
covered miles of territory which has
vet been untouched by searching par
ties anil sent to the relief stations
many truckloads of badly burned,
half starved settlers who were found
wandering aimless v.
Many of the bodies brought in to
day bore indications that death was
caused bv exnoMirc and hick of food,
rather Ihnn from burns.
The lirst rescue party into Fond
lu Lac Indian reservation brought
reports of manv death among the In
dians. Some sa ved I licmselves bv
taking refuse in hikes and streams.
Parties of veterinarians were sent
from here lodav in an effort, to save
son f the livestock which is wan
dering ihroii'jh the burned districts.
CHICAGO, 0,-t. -. Prnperlv
damaue bv the forest fires in Minne
sota amounts to 7."i,Wi(Ul(iO ,ind the
"insurance losses will total ffcj-VOUii.-1
flip, in -tirjince men here enmimteM.
WASHINGTON'. Oct. 13. It was
Field Marshal Von Hindeuburg him
self and not the supposedly pacifist
premier. Prince Maximilian, who
caused the German government to
accept President Wilson's pence terms
and seek nn armistice, according to
advices which reached Washington
today lhr'ugh official sources by
wav of a neutral country.
According 1o this version. Von
Hindenburg. knowing the desperate
condition-of the Germau armv him
self better than anv civilian nnd es
pecially tho fact that there is now
no supplv of raw material to replen
ish the exhausted stock of munitions
of war, insisted upon the nnnlicniion
for nn armistice. Prince Maximil
ian is said to have resisted strongly.
disclosing himself in the light of n
true conservative nnd autocrat, onlv
to he overruled bv the majority of
the war council at which were present
the heads of the German states. This
is pointed lo as the explanation of
whv the German note in response to
President Wilson's inuuirie was
signed bv lr. Solf. the minister of
foreign affairs, although Mm prince
had initiated the correspondence, '
Only Three .Months linger
From the same source! is cabled n
prediction Ihat Hie German defensive
canned he continued for more thai
iaree months at Ihe outside without a
debacle. This statement, from n well
informed neutral source, regarded as
senu -official, is based upon belief
that a great revolution is impeiidiiu:
in Germany, the majority of the peo
ole being determined to have peacr
at anv price.
Kumors of the probable retirement
of Prince Maximilian and li at
Seiieidcinann mieht lake his idace as
chancellor are regarded as important
onlv as an index to the leven working
in Germany. President Wilson's op
inion is that it matters little who is
the German chancellor so long as Ihe
chancellor and the government are
answerable to the kaiser.
Some observers here think the Ger
mans will make anv siierilice rather
than o tb rough another winter of
war or within their borders, and ihat
the next move in Berlin may conic
more (pibklv than is generally ex
pected.
To Iteject Terms
Military official-, here, however, are
almost iiuitcfllv of (he opinion that
Germanv has not been brought to the
point where she will seek an armis
tice on tht! terms laid down. On the
contrary, thcv think the military etc
merits- still in control will hold up the
resident's emu m anient ion to the
German people as proof of their con
tention that their enemies are deter
mined to bring iihout Ihe destruction
of (he nation. Then they will con
tinue the ret mi I of their armies on
(he western front in the hope that an
enrlv winter will find them behind
shorter nnd very much more power
ful lines of defense, (dose to (In; Ger
man border but -till on her enemy's
soil.
GERMANS UTTERLY DESTROYED LENS AND ITS COAL MINES BEFORE EVACUATION.
WASHINGTON. Oil. To ad
Just coffeo Importa with olit i)ln K
conditions and lo insure nec nary
supplies, control of Hi" Importation
of roffw lias lunn tnkn owr by the
sugar fiiualintion board. Ouu'.uml
ItiK !ieMiH'! have born revoked aa to
ocan fhlpnient aM"r (.Molmr K.
Tho food administration nald ration
ing l not ontfiniduti'd, hut that tho
peoplo would bo ccpiTU'd to reduce
consumption.
...... .
"' " : - ' ' fye. ..' ,-;.!..': tt-f-n. ..::' .virt
?a
IMIIIS, (lit. II. (Ilava.( It will Ik' fiuni IN inontli, to tun )miik Ix-forp it Mill heroine (Mniifde lo toko out linj- root rrom Hie irilncH III
tlio lnn reuinn. uhili the (termali ilniiiuued to thn lxp.t of their nhilfty iH-foi-e tliey retlrefl from flin city, mi Inspection of the iiiiultiij proMr
lle linH revealiMl. It is ratiinateil Ihat It nil) toko five jran lo n lore the normal production of the pit".
Of the ten tlioliMinil Iioiim-s In l in not olio in left Munillun, the town IuivIhk heen couiilelel) ia.el.
Blows in Flanders and North of
Loan to Verdon Drive Germans
Back French and Americans
Pressinq Enemy Hard From Oise
to Meuse and Cross Serve River
Six Mile Advance North oq Laon
Tanks Used to Great Advantage.
BY ASSOCIATED PKKSS, Oct. 13.
In Flanders and from tlio Olse to
the Meuso tho allied troops continue
thoir vigorous blows for Important
gains. As tho French press on in tho
,aon-Alsne region, the allied offen
sive In Belgium and tho American
operations west of the MouBe are be
ing renewed today with success.
Smashing thoir way thru tho not-
work of railways In western Flan-
dors, the Belgian, French nnd British
forces under King Albert aro now
within two miles of the Important
rnil conter of Courtrai. The allies
also doinlnuto with thoir guns tho
railroad running from Mile to tho
lielglan coast by way of Courtrai nnd
thus hamper If Ihoy have not cut off,
all communication between Ostend
and 1,111c.
I'.'vaciiatiiiv; Uelgium
Tho (iermuu resistance In Flan
ders appears to ho only for tho pur
poso of delaying the nllles until tlio
evacuation of Belgium can bo com
pleted. The enemy Is reported to he
uvneuuting Ostond and to be sending
largo boatloads of troops away from
tho coastal region.
Hot ween the Olse and the Argonno
tho French nro pressing the enemy
hard anil giving him little chance to
dig In. Host of tho Olso tho French
aro within a half mile of the Serro
river and have advanced between flvo
and six miles from l.non. The French
now threaten Hcthel. having captur
ed Nantoull-sur-Alsne. two anil one
half miles west of Itcthcl and about
the sumo distance cast of Chateau
I'orcien.
Keeping step with tho American
operations cast of tho Argonno, tho
French aro moving forward west ot
tho forest. West of (irandpre, Gen
eral (louraud has moved north of
tho Alsne and taken tho towns ot
oily and Termes, straightening out a
bulge In tho allied line.
Americans (io Forward
Between tho Argonno and tho
.Meuso tho Americuns nre battling
forward today thru tho Gorman wlro
entanglements. Tanks have been
brought up, especially In the region
west of Itomague. As on Monday tho
Germans nro resisting stubbornly,
nut satisfactory progress Is being
made.
American troops havo carried their
lines well past tho Krlenihlldo posi
tion west of tho Meuso. Thoy aro
now holding a front that runs from
north of Cunel.' north of Momagno
and thence northeastwardly to the
vicinity of St. Georges ut which vil
lage. It turns to the southwest and
meets the French lines at Grandpre.
This sector Is so Important to tho
future development of German do
fensivo measures that It. may bo ex
pected that tho enemy will strive by
all means to hold back tho Americans.
HUNS ASK ALLIES
10 ME REFUGEES
AMSTERDAM, Oct. l.V Tho Gor
man kovci ii merit has proposed to
Franco ihut in eonmou with her al
lies, Kranco undert.iko lo rot rain
from butnbiirdiiu the Inro town? of
northern Franco and enter Into nn
agreement with Ccrtminy to permit
at any rate, a portion of the popula
tion of Valenciennes lo puss Into
French lines, nays an official alatn
mcnl from Itorlln.
Tho Jterlln overn?uent In making
lhl proposal, ro presented Ituclf an
unatilo to prevent thn eiiMtward fllt'.ht
of tho population of Valenciennes,
nwltiK to their feara that tho allies
would honitmrd the town. Tho pro
posal wan made thru tho HvyIkh government.