V - M f "L$i,i" EVENING 'LEDGEBPHILABELPHIA, WEBNESDAY, . MAT 31, 1916. FORCED TO GIVE GROUND EAST OF MEUSE "A&mdon 'Trench South 'of Gatirettes Woods, East Of Hill 304 FRENCH LINE IMPERILED AT VERDUN 2K TOG HELPS GERMANS Nivelfe's Troops Retire to Chat tancourt Station, but Regain 'Llito PAIU8, May 31 French troons were omtelif-d to evacuate n first line trench outh of p.nurettes woods, east of I Till 304. and to retlro south of Cumleres village, In the direction, of Chattancourt station, under most vldient German attacks, the War Ofllcu announced today. By a counter attack last night, General Nlvelle's troops regained the lost ground nouth of Cumleres. Throughout yesterday the most violent battle yet fought on the northwestern front of Verdun continued without cessation The struggle grew more furious toward night tall and war continuing early today Between the MeUse and Dead Man's I III the Germans launched attack after attack on A two and one-half mile front Oerman divisions charged forwhrd In powerful strokes ngalnit French works cast of Dead Mart's Hill and against the positions still hold by tho French In the southern part of Cumleres. Tha attacks, for the most part, were completely repulsed, the French tlmo and again beating back Ocnnnn assaults, until the front was literally covered with dead and wounded. Th4 Oerman, meanwhile treated tho French positions to a terrific artillery lire. A first line trench Bouth of Caurcttcs woods was completely levelled hy the German fire and was of necessity abandoned. South of Curnlcres village, the German attack became so violent that tho French relinquished their hold on the works west of the Mcuae and fell back along the rail way leading to Chattancourt station, half a mile east of Chattancourt village. In tho nctloh around Chattancourt the OermAri troops were able to advance with out beMff seen by the French observers. Under the cover of thick atmospht.ro the Germans made their way along the Chat-toncohrt-AvocoUrt highway from Its Junc tion with tho road which parallels the left bank of tho MeUse. French guns were kept playing Upon the road and the Germans suf fered heavily, but their numbers were re inforced and they were sent forward despite the toll token by French shells. The GermatJ advance guard reached tho Chattancourt station In tho fog before their presence was knbwn. The French forces Immediately made a counter-assault. The fighting continued along the railway throughout ttje uftirnoon. In the evening a brlllinta counter-f.ttack drove tho Germans back to their former positions near the Milage. One German detachment which had managed to reach'the Mouse was com pletely annihilated by French fire. The text of tho official comunlqua fol lows: On he left bank of the Meuse a bloody conflict was fouglit esterda ana during tho night between Dead Man's Hill and the Mouse The encm following a. bohnbardment of unusual vlolenco, which lasted two days, launch ed concentrated and repeated attacks with 'very large forces against our trenches east of Dead Man's Hill and on poth sides of the village of Cu mleres. Our troops resisted bravely everywhere and repulsed tho enemy, who suffered very great losses. However, In the region south of Caurettes wood wo evacuated our first line, trench, which had been destroyed by the bombardment. South of Cu mleres, German attacks directed on both sld,es of tho village succeeded at first In rolling Us back In tho direc tion of Chattancourt station, but a sharp counterattack enabled ms to drive tho enemy back to the outskirts , of the village. Some German forces, which, under cover of a fog had crept along the Meuso as far as the height of Chattan court station, were completely annihi lated by our Are. On the right bank there was an Intermittent artillery duel ' In upper Alsace the enemy, after an Intense bombardment with artillery, at tacked our positions for about 1300 metres caBt of Seppoys and gained a foothold in some trench elements He was thrown back Immediately by our counter-attack. I v& jrte& i AZANNE.S '. I vsNii. Vk viamfr o-fei I , si vKr'L B -vi o v .i'-I W Ft 0u RE6RET V-W ', ". O-i&A Ifc I m . mmr "aBir ' AUSTRIANS GAIN HEIGHTS IN DRIVE AGAINST ARS1ER0 Vienna .Claims Capture of Armored Work and Hill on Posina violent Italian attacks against our po sitions south bf Bettale wero repulsed. DEFENDERS THREATENED VIENNA, May 31. Austro-Hungarlan troops are surrounding the Italian city of Arslero, It Is Indicated by an official statement Issued by the War Office today. According to this report the Austro-Hungarlans to the west of Arslero forced a passage of Posina Illver, occupying heights on the southern side of the stream. Italian countcr-nttneks vvcro repulsed. Following Is tho text of tho official report! Southwest front An Italian work In tho region of Punta Cordln was conquered by Us on Tuesday. West of Arslero our troops forced a passage of tho Posina torrent and took tho heights on the southern bank. Four ROME ANNOUNCES AUSTRIAN ATTACKS REPULSED ON POStNA i HOME, May 31. The Auslrlans have resumed the offensive In the Posina tone and along the upper Astlco In the southern Tyrol. They attacked tho Jlal'an position south of the Posina arter violent nrtuiery preparation, but according to last night's oftlolat statement from the War Office were unable to dislodge the defenders The text of the official statement Is as follows) The situation Is generally unchanged along the wholo front with the excep tion of the Posina zone nnd the upper Astlco, where there has been n renewal of the enemy offerislve. In the Lagarlna Valley and In the Prtsublo sector thero has been an In tense artillery duel and great activity. Knemy convoys were disturbed by our fire. South of Posina the enemy, follow ing a violent artillery preparation, at tacked In tho direction of floglla dl Cnmplglla and Mount Prlafora. After n desperate Btrugglo (our troops retain these positions. On the Aslago plateau and In the Sugana Valley, reconnoitring detach ments haVe been active. Knemy ar tillery has begun the bombardment of Ospcdaletto, In the Sugana Valley. In the Tofana aono we repulsed a nmall Infantry attack. On tho northern slopes of Monte San Mlchelo wo exploded a powerful mine, breaching a considerable extent of enemy trenches. DEMANDS HUGHES TEfl STANDONIUDEFENSE George von L. Meyer Says pn publtcaits Cannot Accept Qt dldate on Faith tfry of the Navy George voTl! ' X chairman of tho Republican "?" Nnw YonK, M... .. , uommltteo, before leaving fir m,i iwued a statement calling L?,?w llco Hughes' supporters to say w ,J,Uf candidate stood on tho preparedn,,! "" and the rights of this country "on l. IT sens nnd the Moxlcaf, border n "Sf"6..0' wll 'Ml deenlr . .. i"1""' o' urm assertion of mi. v "" canlsm both at home ami .tL0" An- feel that any candidate can h t.i?0 faith at such a time." ho ...,i e Uken ?X..?a mlttee,, as the real leader of i,T itiS?' "S : boom, and asserted that urn i,. , "un Ay hl'S 3ttd,aBtnJ.,e ""PParem'y ,s " -aSS (."ssrinVt &&, candidacy without his consent has espoused by some Itepublleans who doTn. favor a strbng position either by the Vnl or by the country on tho Issue of paredness and our rights on the high i.i. and on otur border." s ,n he SCALE. Q. OF M PLts4 nm-HHHM RALOADS R.ODS l-BATTLE LINE BEFORE THE. DRIVE. BEGA.N. TNMtin r tub Ull"vt. 0C NDtt FRENCH LIN OF PEFENSE Gains by the Germans, reported in today's dispatches, show that the Teuton line northwest of Verdun now ex tends 'from Bethincourt to Cumicrcs, the Germans hnvinjr occupied tho rond between these two points. Should the French be driven entirely from Lc Mort Homme (Dead Sinn's Hill) nnd Hill 304 to their Charnny Ridco positions, the extent of their next line of defense on the west bnnk of the Meuso would be as indicated by the dotted line. The retirement of the French would leave in tho possession of tho Germans the triangle roughly marked by Bethincourt, Esncs and Chnttancourt, thus enabling the Kaiser to mount his heavy siege guns on the high elevations and poUr a terrific shower of shells upon the forts below. SITUATION AT VERDUN AS SEEN FROM NEWS OF LAST 24 HOURS Austria Raises $1,500,000,000 BERLIN, May 31. Subscriptions to the new Austro-Hungarlan war loans total nearly 8,000,000,000 crowns ($1,600,000. 000). THE WEATHER Offh-m Forecaat WASHINGTON. May 31. For eastern Pennsylvania Fair tonight, cooler In eat portion : Thursday fair ; mod ernta north and inrtheast winds. Showara "red the. Atlantic Statos yes terdav, followed by- clearing and cooler last night. :nd the disturbance is passing out of the field of observation this morning. Fair weathw and generally clear skies are reported throughout the eastern half of the country. Unsettled weather with llaht showers and thunderstorms prevails In the. XflaaMirl Tin aln ami ,l.a ...n....... ... .. .' risen slightly at most places In the Plains States. There is a slight temperature de ficiency n the Lake region und the Ohio basin and conditions are mostly season able elsewhere,. U. S. Weather Bureau Bulletin Observations Ukn at 8 a. pi , Eastern tlroa, 8 I-at Italn- V!oc-station- a.m. n't. fall Wind. Itr.w.xh.. Atlanta. 04. 4 60 ,21 NW ,. Olftir With the concentration of new Teuton foices at Verdun for what Paris military critics believe is to be the supreme attack on the French positions northwest of the stronghold, the situation is approaching a climax which may decide the greatest battle in the history of the world. Dispatches received from the Verdun front yesterday and today indicate the following: The advance Of the Germans between Dead Man's Hill and Cumieres nnd the admitted abandonment by the French of the Bcthincourt-Cumicrcs road have greatly increased the prospects of the Ciown Prince to outflank Dead Man's Hill nnd Hill 301 and push a drive down the Bcthincourt-Chattan-court highway. Despite the veil which the French censorship seems to have thrown for the time being around tho operations on the west bank of the Mcu'se, it is becoming rapidly clear that -the hold of the French on Dead Man's Hill and Hill 301 is extremely precarious. Should the Germans finally succeed in gaining possession of the two heights, the French would be forced to retire to their Chnrnay RJdge positions, supported by a. line of. powerful forts, chief of Which are Fort De Marre, Fort Bourrus and Fort Choiscl. Here the French would find themselves on their most favorable line of defense, while the Germans would be con fronted by barriers more formidable than those they have vhad to face on the Vaux-Douaumont line, three miles northeast of Verdun, where they have made vjrtunlly no advance sihec the fall of Fort Douaumont, its recent re capture by the French and subsequent regaining by tho Teutons. " Military critics say that infantry nttacks against -the Charnay Ridge line of forts and positions would be nothing short of insanity. The guns which leveled Antwerp and Novo-Georgievsk may or may not disprove this statement. IRISH TRUCE ARRANGED BY DAVID LLOYD-GEORGE CARRANZA DEMANDS ARMY WITHDRAWAL Continued from I'ate One border have notified their people thero will be hostilities within the next few weekB The report grows out of tho demand that all Mexicans in the United States regis ter at the consulates In VI Paso and other border towns those who failed to comply with the proclamation have been listed and are being visited by representatives of tho Carranza Government They are being told. It Is declared, war Is unavoidable and it is their duty io register The American military authorities aro grjatly exercised over the activities of tho Carwnza Consuls, which they call political Incendiarism. U. S. NEGRO TROOPER TELLS TALE OF CAPTURE IN MEXICO Atlantto City . tfJ Sumarek.N D. 68 Masa . - iioiinn j Ilurtalo N vnarieaiun.,, CUeaso. 111. Cincinnati, Cleveland,. iwnrer. in. X.r 24 tm , do h ". no au IO. .. BO oo Col ..BO C4 Detroit- lll-h. . SO 48 OklTtatan. Tel.. 78 70 HarrUburr ... el 00 HatUraJ N c. TO U4 HaUrax. N. a.. S3 40 HaWna. Mont... 4U ' SO Huron. 8 D. ,J u8' UJ liidlanapolt .. 84, 60 JackxonvlUa .. T2 ! 118 KnbrrllU. Tenn. 61 58 UttlVKc?. AT s f(3 Lot Atl . 64 VI lulavlUa. ICr. Slontmal. Caa . &Z N'alllle. Tcnn. 04 N OrUana . . ;i tt2 ill 7u ea NflH Korfol York city. 04 rraljc. va -i . ?Cf-i;ij.- i.v .K.MUV.UM ...f imsiu. nev rtuiaatipuia, tin rt ea f,n Fu-ntlL. AH. . 62 fwttUS; !Me.. 60 PortUniT Or... 60 rjutUw. Can. .. so HI. luU ... S3 8t Faiil. Ulnn ti tt take, Cftrj Kun Antonio 12 Han Franrlaca fio t Ial 4 intn.Pa, . sa rit, is Can. Si 48 BO u IIS .111 .08 .04 64 Sit N N XVV P N W TV a NB NW wwt C4 MS fill 6.' 6J 61 W Bll 48 1 10 6 . eo . 44 , 70 so 68 10 79 0 6(1 Od 63 U .0i 4I 4 Nil .NU N NB N a NW, B HE2 H W Nr; NVi' tv N SB 12 il VI r4 12 SO fo 14 20 IS Cloudy Olpuily riouay KClay clar Ciar Clear as Cltar Clear Cloudy oj.udy Cloudy Clear KCWy Clear Cloudy Clar a w!j' aln Clear Clear Clear Cloudy Clear Clear CUar PCUly J,'ar S!r Clear Clear P Cldy PCIdy L.iouuy te) IJS?i'STU OK DAY. 4eS4 a. ULilluAn pIscm 1t p. W.lMoon aauth.ii 13, pjoudy J&.l m. . Bea . M 131 J. W.lMoon aauiaa.lttia a. m. CHEaTNUT STfUBET at im.xu,Wah water 1 J p ni. T" J..W. m.iw nie By P. nj. aUKlTrKKATK.VCH HOC. ni n $t mi ni PASO, May 31 Hands and feet tied while he was asleep about GOO j arils from the camp of the 10th Cavalry, below the base of the punitive expedition at Naml qulpa, Corporal Joe Peters was taken to a camp of Carranza troops a week ago, but escaped, according to his own story to Gen eral Bell today. Peters was found by guards at Santa Fe bridge shortly after ho had crossed irom .Mexico. e saiu no es caped from n detachment of Carranza troops at Villa AhUmada,. 76 miles below Juarez, and made his way to Juarez. The troper wasjittlred In a pair of blue overalls and a huge Mexican sombrero He had been allowed by the Mexicans to keep hla Government shoes and through these he was Identified, Peters told General Hell that he was captured;1 about,. a vveekago by the Mexi cans nnd was held a prisoner during that length of time. Ills' first Intimation of cap ture was on antfklrig And finding that his feel; and hands had. been tied and that he was surrounded by Mexicans. lie was then taken to the ?amp of Carranza troops, he did JlPtknQW wjjexe. uptll he arrived at Villa Ahumada. where, due to the laxity of h(s guarda, he escaped He arrived-Jn' Jiffires , Tuesday morning nd managed to make his way to the Amer. lean side u'(.th rlvr . Tpb negrQ trooper said he hai been in swjmmlng and had coma put to rest on the bank and was asleep wfeii made a pris- - u : oner He said he had $400 on his person when taken prisoner He hod $200 when ho gavo himself up on this side of the rlVer Until his story is thoroughly Investigated United States officers do not know whether to credit his story or to believe that he Is deserting 0AVIRA OFF FOR CONFERENCE WITH PERSHING IN MEXICO EIj PASO, Tex, May 31. General Ga briel Gavira, commander of the Mexican troops In Chihuahua, left today for Casas Grandes to hold n conference with Brigadier General John J. Pershing, commander of tho United States soldiers In Mexico, rela tive to the disposition of patrols on the border. Members of General Gavlra's staff In uarez said that the conference was solely for tho purpose of working out a plan to provqnt misunderstanding between the two armies More complete plans for the running down of Francisco Villa nnd his bandits may grow out of the conference. It was said Precautions were taken to safeguard the Ives of the Gavira party and to prevent their capture by bandits. A special train was sent ahead of the train bearing Gavira to test the railroad General Pershing Is reported to be on his way from Nnmaqulpu to Casas Grandes, but It Is not positive whether the confer ence will take place In Casaa Grandes or In Colonla Dublan. 'anscom s CATERERS Let us estimate on Weddings, Recep tions, Banquets, etc. We do it right. OF1IOK, 731 M.VIIKKT ST, yi (nntlnueil from I'nte One Hardlngc chairman of tho Pojnl Commis sion Investigating the Irish revolution, stnted that tho War Office abstained from ponding tioops to Ireland on ndvlco of Augustine Ulrroll, former Secretary for Ire land In the English Cabinet. This declaration Is a contradiction of tho statement inado upon the witness stand by Sir Blrroll The ex-Secretnry of Ireland had stated that ho sought to have troopc sent to Dublin, fearing trouble from the Sinn Fclncrs. but that the War Ofnco disre garded his plea Viscount French's letter was read when the Inquiry Into tho Sinn Fein revolt was resumed today. Testimony was also given by Lord Wlmborno, former lord Lieuten ant of Ireland, who was called to the stand. I After Lord Wlmborno had testified tho .In quiry nujournci sine die. Vlscolint French's letter, dated May 30, stated that early In February tho writer had discussed tho Irish situation with Gen eral Friend, commander-in-chief of the British troops In Ireland previous to the re volt. At that time, said Viscount French, Mr Blrroll said ho did not fear nn out break on tho part of the Irish people, but was npprehcnslve that thore might bo out rages with dynamite or other means. After tho Interview, the letter continued, Mr. Blr rcll wrote to the, War Office stating that thero was no Immediate necessity for send ing troops to Ireland The War Ofllco agreed with this view On March 23, Viscount French said, Mr Blrrell advised that. In order to stimulate recruiting throughout Ireland, camps should be established which would be visited by Lord Wimborne and possibly by King George At that tlmo Mr. Blrrell suggested that It might help the recruiting situation If more troops were sent to Ireland. Ho thought that the signt or tho troops In tnc streets would possibly arouse Irish enthusiasm After tho reading of the Trench letter Lord Wimborne was recalled Ho had previously testified that he was a mere figurehead, having no real authority. He amplified this statement by saying that this condition of affairs was largely the result of precedent. J. B.Van Sciver Co. Stands Unrivaled in Furnishing City' Country & Seashore Residences Homes furnished from our Immense Stocks of Medium-priced Goods are con-' stantly Admired as Models of Convenience, Comfort and Beauty. Besides this our large Purchasing Power and other Facilities enable our Customers to effect a dis tinct Money-Saving. Our New Booklet, "illustration of Artietio Furniture and Ideas on Home- Fwmithing," sent free on request. 'MSfflKl, . to) , coj THIS ILLUSTRATION SHOWS ONE OF AN EXTREMELY LARGE SELECTION OF STYLISH -Si?ree-iifl,B!i"r Stttt" m '.K Va,?r,fee ExhMU Quartered Oak, Jacobean desion, brown finish, CHINA nfrTd,n yW $-, fiVWETSA-tiu long, top drawer lined and partitioned, $43.50 CHINA. CLOSET, 40-in. wide, 65-vt. high, one mirror panel, $30.50. SERVING TABLE, ' SG-xn. long, $23.50. S pieces QQ7 fi G-ft. Extension Table to match, 45-in. top, $18. Pieces sold acvar'atelii! P ' Ul Use the Van Sciver Summer Service Call, write- or phone for prices on Awnings, Slip Covers, Window Shades, Furniture Repair, Rug Cleaning and Scouring, Cleaning and Storing Lace Curtains and Eortieres, Refrigerators, Beds and Beddini, Porch and 'Lawn Furniture, or any other summer need. OLXTHA PRAIRIE GRASS RUGS Unquestionably the finest Grass Rugs on tho market! Jn unusually attractive art designs many exclusive. Long wear ing, and tho only sun-fast grass rug made. 12x15 ft (14.75 A S16.50 1 8x10 ft $5.85 & 17.00 0x15 ft. f 10.00 S11.75 Ox 9 ft $4.00 fl.85 0x12 ft....7.80, 8.2B & fO.iS I ,6x7.0 ft $2.45 !.05 NEW Ci LONIAL RAG RUGS The Hlialkl plain color shalkl ground, Jacquard border In chlntx and pastel colorings. The 811b Colonial In the hit and miss effect, and the Olde Tyme Colonial of cretonne: also in plain colors The Orandmotlier Jtun the quaint old-style plaited rug of the early days; made round and oval. 9X12 ft J0.7B, 911.50, J14.75 to 128.50 8x10 ft. $7.50, $0.50, $11.50 to $21.30 Ox 0 ft $5.00, $0.50, $7.75 to $14.75 Other alzeB in proportion. ji!SS&A jjgaaVii. JLl w I I p. THIS ItOOMV LAWN SWING, 4-passenger, Is of high-grade material nnd extra heavy strong construction: has adjustable high back, seats in natutal nnlsh and frame In red; 8 ft. 9 in. long: 5 ft wide, 7 ft i In. high Will last for years. c Cn Without canopy .'.... iW Plain ltrown Canvas Cunopy, nicely bound In red edging 12.75 Clilld'N Mvlng, similar to above $2,50 ItrSTAURANT Try Our Table d'llnte Lunch eon SOo. Try Van Sciver Potlih- largo can, lplnt, 25c. TaKe ai a r k e t Street Ferry from Phlla. Goes direct to Van Eclver's, Camden, N, J. TEK AT gACM HOC. f nt'xrjtrwrff 6 r lit nt Uf ?ii fti I WBTnnrt KB&SffiirM iXAtLlU&PidM ue&fmjkim t j BBBF The best prepared,, dean burning Coal Sold by all Dealer. fmm iycirav kmm mmn av? EMPIRE CAR f Breaks World's Record On Tuesday, May 23, 1916, an Empire Stocl Car, selling for. ??60, reached the City Hall, in New York City, from San Fran cisco, Cal., without deducting 19 hours spent by the driver in sleep and 11 hours lost by three accidents and one arrest for speeding, the actual time for the trip of 3484 miles was 6 Days-1 0 Hours-59 Minutes No other car at any price has ever equaled this sensational ' Empire feat. Over mountain ranges, thru desert sands and on the treach ? erous rain-swept roads the Empire maintained a remarkable average, beating the best previous transcontinental record nearly w - 25 hours, with never-a stop for repairs except due to collision. "Six;-" $1125 Eftipire Reliability Proven EMPIRE The car that made this wonderful record and an interesting set of phptograpTis of the car, at various points en route Tare on exhibition at our showrooms. 1"" "Fouif $960 I Baker-Bell Motor Company 665 N. Broad St, Philadelphia 3 m i I -si St