JWS 'irj. i ry-' ,M Euentna Buhltc Sleftcjer THE WEATHER NIGH' Washington, July 31 Cloudy and cooler tonight; Thursday, fair and EXTRA warmer in western portion; north winds. I TEMrEHATt'Kn AT RICH HOUR 18 1 9 110 I 11 I 12 I II 2 1 3 1 4 1 51 THE EVENING TELEGRAPH IS7 1 67 I bs I r8 I fir. I ce i r,m i VOL. IV. NO. 273 Publlthed Dally Exriit Sunday. Sutmcrlptlon Price! 10 . Yer by Mall. Copyright, 1S18, by the Puuuo Ledger Company, PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, JULY 81, 1918 Entered Second Claaa Matter at the. ronlonlce at Philadelphia, Pa. Under the Act of March 8, 1870. PRICE TWO CEI ;-w? i J4 CITIES LACK POWER TO FIX TRANSIT FARE; Never Had Such Right, Says Public Service Com mission Ruling u,- - DECISION GIVEN ' ' IN LAKE ERIE CASE 1 . - Announce Tomorrow if War Board Will Take Up P. R. T. Dispute WILL CONSIDER REPORT May Let Company and Em 'ployes Adjust Their Dis pute Themselves Municipalities in Pennsylvania do not now have, nor have they ever had, the power or authority to regulate the rates of a public utility. This was the announcement today of John S. Rilling, of the Public Scrv-, ice Commission, In the caso of the Buffalo and Lake Erie Traction Com- pany. In this case the commission held that an lnterurban electric railway company might increase its rates be yond the five-cent fare limit when necessary to obtain sufficient revenue for operating expenses and to return to the stockholders a reasonable proflt. At the same time announcement was made in Washington that the nu- Atlonal war labor board expected to Intake known 'its decision in the contro versy between the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company and its emplovos over wages and hours of employment. The decision announced today by Mr. Rilling, which has a State-wide ap- plication, is taken in some quarters to mean that the commission will permit' advances of tariffs on street i ar lines wherever the companies are able to prove they are not maKing u uir ie turn on money Invested. May Hold Hearing If the war labor board decides to lakf. tnrlMlletloii In the local contro versy it will then hold hearings. Should IhA hnnrrl 1pltll lint tO tllllO a liallll, I-.the P. It. T and the trolleymen will mr have to settle their nuariel between iii themselves. The war labor board has been trying , loi decide this question : "If a strike Is called by the officials of, the Carmen's Union, vlll enough of the street railway" employes quit work to tie up the P. R. T. so that it will be Unable to-render suHdent street car service to carry Industrial workero to the plants working on Go eminent war work?" A special investigator was bent to Philadelphia to gather Information The board spent part of today going oxer this information. ' If it Is decided to set hours and wages for the Philadelphia trolleymen. 1 the bpard will summon officials of the P. R. T. .and the employes to testify. No decision announced today by Mr. lulling was' given on the cpmplainto ' made by Northeast Borough, Harbor Creek and Northeast townships, Erie -County,, and bj the course of which a physical valuation of the company's properties in this State was made by the commission's engineers. It follows . closely upon the Wllkinsburg case, wherein the comm!sst6n held that It could take jurisdiction In a complaint that a fare specified In a franchise or dinance had been exceeded. , The. commission's ruling, which gives the result of an exhaustive study of ...1,1. a ibplins that rates on.other lines ' radiating out of Erio are Tilgher ; tharf .not enough has been set aside out or earnings for depreciation and that there was no evidence offered that the increase k was discriminatory. Commissioner Rilling supplements the decision with a concurring opinion In the course of which he says: The municipal consent provided by the constitutional"' provision Is merely the acquiescence by the municipality to fh doing of that which the company through its charter has a legal rlghC to do. The consent does not give an iota of additional power to the company to construct its line. Municipali ties in Pennsylvania do not now have nor have-they ever had the power or author ity to regulate the rate of a public utility." ,He also says that the Public Service Commission "Is armed with the un abridged police power of Che State," and that no rate regulations can Interfere "with the proper exercise by the com mission of the rate regulating authority delegated to it" by the Public Service Commission law. PRffARETJT ACT IN SIBERIA japau and China Planning for joint intervention By the Associated Press Pari July 31. General army staffs at Toklo and Peking are preparing plans for joint action under the agreement be tween China and Japan for action in Siberia.. . ...,.,-, The Chinese ambassador to France declares that China has no Intention to encroach upon the Internal affairs oi Siberia or Russia, bm Is Inspired by the principle of self-determination for na tionalities. He says that this right was denied China by Germany. i, ' s Suipect Boy Was Kidnaped Mooaca, r July 31. Beaver County detectives and a posse of citizens are searching for Herman Vail Speyerer, eight-Year-old son of Charles Speyerer, ofO-ennsy'vanta avenue, and a nephew -of Judge George A. Baldwin. Beaver County, who disappeared Monday night while playing on a publlo highway near his home. The police believe the boy may have been kidnapped by a band of gypsies seen passing through Monaca Monday evening. FAIR ENOUGH Cloudy, and cooler tonight; Warmer fomorroto in west; North winds, moderate, lights , pa(r you may guess at. the rest, Bntt nil innether: Wvr63irKr.-A! S-aaaai ) ',. !. '?.'".. ,r.s ON CITY'S HONOR ROLL Lieut. Thurston E. Wood (top), 1908 Shunk street, has been killed in action. Private Ralph W. Camp bell '(middle), of 5215 Warren street, has been severely wounded. Captain E. T. Precper (bottom), 2307 Frankford avenue, is now a prisoner in a German camp at Cessel LIEUT. T.E. WOOD, WAR HERO, SLAIN South Philadelphia!!, Cited for Braver, Dies on Battlefield 3 FROM HERE WOUNDED Two soldiers of the Philadelphia dis trict, one an officer, have been "killed in action against the Germans, one Is miss ing and three were severely wounded, according to today.'s casualty list an nounced In Washington. The local casualties are listed as follows: KILLTD IN ACTION Lieutenant Thurston K. Wood, 1908 Shunk street. ' Private J. Y. Dellaven, Conshohocken. MISSING IN ACTION Sergeant William Harry Thorpe, 505 West. Seventh street, Chester. WOUNDKD SEVERELY rrlvte Daniel Anthony Ilraillej", Jr., 656 North Forty-fourth street. rrliate Ralph William Campbell, 521f Warren street. Private Henry Gllnon, 708 North Eighth street. Private Ie Haven, who today Is re ported killed In action, was reported missing In action several days ago. i Captain E. T. Presper, United States Medical Reeerve office, .2307 Frankford avenue, who was reported a prisoner some time "age, has been located In the German prison camp at Gessel. His whereabouts has been unknown until today, where a cablegram was received from General Pershing. Wood Cited for Bravery News of the death of Lieutenant Wood was received by ills mother from the War Department, Ho was the son of Captain Albert Norton Wood, U. S. N. Lieutenant Wood was a graduate of West Point in the class of 1918. His class graduated nine months ahead of schedule. He sailed for France last January with the Twelfth Field Artillery and In June was cited for bravery, after having braved, ,the dangers of heavy, shell fire to save a wounded French soldier. He was twenty-one years old and unmar ried. Privates Bradley and Campbell were "pals," both being members of Company M, old Sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, now the JUth tInfaiu)ry. They enlisted within a few days of each other last year Campbell June S3 and Bradley ; 1 - 'T ' 8&s&tmtfJJJBKr f?f 57"jr 1 ..;,; n tK9iSfi3 IS WmMdmm S3 B8S2KS &3P.J,:' m, Wjh -1 GERMAN CHIEF IN UKRAINE IS SLAIN BY BOMB Field Marshal Von Eieli I horn and Adjutant Assas ' sinatcd at Kiev j BOLSHEVIK REGIME NEARING ITS END Workmen and Peasants Re ported About to Rise Against Reds ENVOYS DENIED REFUGE Embassies of Allies Not Per mitted to Remain in Archangel By the Associated Press Amsterdam, July 31. Field Marshal von Elchorn, the Ger man commander in the Ukraine, and Ills adjutant, Captain von Dressier, were seriously wounded by a bomb In Kiev Tuesday, and died that night, says an offlcia announcement re ceived here from the Ukrainian capi tal. The bomb was thrown at the men while they were driving to their head quarters from the Casino. It was thrown from a cab -which drove eloso to their carriage as they were approaching the field marshal's residence. Sent to Kill Field Marslial The assassin of Field Marshal von Elchhorn was a lad of twenty-three. He declared at the Inquiry held after tho crime, the advices state, that ho camo fiom the Province of Ryazan, adjacent to Moscow, on orders from a Communist committee, to kill tho field marshal. He reached Kiev yes terday. Von Elchhorn wa& the second Ger man emissary to be slain in Russian tenltory slnco peace has been nomi nally established there. Count von Mlrbach, the German ambassador at Moscow, was assassinated July fi, but Germany took no action against tho Bolshevik Government, holding mat. the assassination was inspired by En tente Allied agents who sought to in volve Germany and Russia in new hostilities. Political Storm Brewing Telegraphing from Kiev (date not ,?iven), tho Hamburg Frendenblatt's correspondent in the Ukraine says: "A heavy storm cloud has gathered on tho political horizon In the Ukraine. The Government Is trying to ward off this threatened unrest by making arrests on a large scale. M. Gyzicki, Secretary of State of the Het man's Government, who is an out spoken monarchist, was among those Gener.il von Elchhorn had a bril liant career in the German army. He played an important rolo in tho de velopment of tho German military machine and was one of tho first com manding generals to use the tele i,n in iiirocfitiL' nnerations of trools in tho field. He demonstrated the practicability of the telephone during the Prussian army maneuvers in Sep tember, 1905. When the great war broke out he was assigned to the Russian front, where he tfook part in several cam paigns. His work attracted much favorable attention, nnd he was in command of the German arnjy which captured the Russian stronghold of Kovno in August. 1915. For this achievement ho was awarded the Order of Merltby Emperor William. He continued to direct operations in southern Poland until Russia's col lapse. In Anrll. 1918. he was sent to Ukrainia by Germany to supervise the establishment of a government for the new republic. General von Elchhorn was born on Februarv 13. 1848. at Breslau. He received .his education at Breslau nnd in the military school at Berlin. He entered the army in 1866, being as signed to the artillery. During the period between 1900 and 1914 he held commands at numerous places, nota bly at Saarbruecken and Frankfort. Ho is survived by a widow, one son and one daughter By the United Press Amsterdam, July 31. Three Russian Grand Dukes, one of whom is believed to have been Grand Duke Nicholas, former commander-in-chief of , the Rus sian armies, have been executed by the Continued on Tate Six. Column Sli GIRL OPERATOR STICKS TO POST AS TOWER AMD CLOTHING BURN Heroism of Pennsylvania Railroad Signal Employe Proves Women Capable of Substituting for Men in Many Lines THOUGH the signal tower was burn ing and her clothing was afire, Miss Pearl KlM'le," twenty-eight years old, a signal operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad on the Radebaugh branch re fused to leave the place till a substi tute was sent to relieve her at her w ork Mrs Thomas Robins, associate direc tor o! the woman's division, Committee on Public Safety, today made public the story of Miss Hippie's heroism. Just to refute the Inference that women have not the strength, nerve and bravery needed to become efficient In all the In dustries opening to them because of the war. Miss Kipple, who-lives In Hermlnle, pa was on duty when a hanging lamp fell. Burning oil was scattered about the flood. v MIb Kipple tnrew tne. lamp ott. spu, l t8""" of the ol,?n hrAdreM,8ettln Wjmksl xmm s mMJIIIkSIW GENERAL VON EICIHIORN German Field Marshal in. the Ukraine, who lias been aassinated DEATH TO FOES, AIMOF BATTLE General March Says Hope of Bagging Enemy Army Gone "U. S." FOR ALL FORCES By the Associated Press Washington, July 31. Tho battlo in the Aisne-Marno salient has developed into a life and death struggle between tho opposing armies. More limited objectives the Germans may have had in launching their attack at Rhelms, or for which General Foch hay have aimed in his counter-thrust, have been submerged In a greater struggle, the object of which on each side Is the destruction of tho opposite army. This intei pretation of tho battlo was formerly presented today by General March, chief of staff in his mid-week conference with newspaper correspondents. Whatever was tho original German purpose or tho hopes that governed the Allied counter-blow, he said, it is now"peyfectly ovident that these have been t-et aside. The object of each army now is the other army: each is seeking to kill as many as possible. Slip Out of Pocket In making this announcement. Gen eral March frankly admitted that the German resistance in holding apart the Jaws of the salient had frustrated any hope of bagging any considerable portion of the German armies in the salient. In two weeks time, he pointed out, the enemy has had ample time to withdraw his advanced divisions and to perfect his defensive positions along the front now established. """"" """" statement was ac cepted as explaining reports that the Germans have concentrated nearly a minion men on tnis narrow front, and a aisciosig the reason for the terrific lighting In which American forces have been engaged In the center of the battle front, where losses have not rvi r, divert either side from the struggle for critical positions. American Bear Uront The Americans hold the apex of th Allied drive, the vital point on which the outcome of the struggle may hinge, and the fury of the German counter attacks is uccounted for by this fact Tho appearance of the all-American (Rainbow) division, the Forty-second, at this point was disclosed today. The German withdrawal since last Saturday, he added, had reduced the length of tho line another ten miles to fifty-four miles. The maximum Ger man retreat. In the center, is fourteen miles. The Third regular division also was identified as In action at Sergy and CJerges, where tho crack German guard divisions have been defeated In recent fighting by American troops, Hlx New Dlvialons ' General March announced the for mation In the United States of six moro divisions, numbered from 15 to 20 and to be located at Camps Logan, Tex. ; Kearney, Cal. ; Beauregard, La. j Trav Is, Tex.; Dodge, la, and Sevier, S C. As In the case of the six divisions an nounced last week, these will be built around two regular Infantry regiments in each case, General March announced also tho Continued on I'uce Two, Column One fire to It Fighting the flames, she called for help, but refused to leave her post. Neighbors heard her calls and put out the fire, despite her burns, Miss Kipple remained on duty till offclals sent a substitute. "No man could have done better than that," declared Mrs. Robblns MISSION IN GUATEMALA French Officers Arrive to Train Army for France By the Associated Press Guatemala city. July 31. The French military mission sent to this country to assist lu the training of the Guatemalan army, has arrived Guatemala has an army of about 8R. 000 men' and when that country Joined the ranko of the Entente Allies in April the event was looked upon as one thai Would give important aid in the tru- ge aaln8t,Gerrjnyt. t , KAISER LETS DUPES KNOW HISJEPULSE Press Prepares Public for Failure of Manic Offensive PROMISES NEW BLOW ON WESTERN FRONT Admits "Retiring" to North as Plan to. Prepare for Stroke BEGS FAITH OF PUBLIC Hypocritical Statement Re veals Germans Jarred by Upset of Plans By the Associated Press v Washington, July 31 Official dispatches today from France tell how the Get man high command has caused to be published In thp newspapers throughout Germany nn official statement preparing the peoplo to accept the defeat In the second bat tle of the Marne. but renewing the prome of u decisive blow against the Anglo-Fiench fiont. "After several days of desperate at tempts to attenuate tho gravity of the defeat of the German arms." say the dispatches, "Hlndenburg and Luden doiff have decided to make a full con fession. "An official note bearing as title 'tho situation on the Marne,' published in about the same terms in all the papers of the emphe, tries to make the Ger man public, piofoundly deceived, ac cept tho total failure of the ambitious program, which was destined to de velop into the Investment of Paris and the ultimate crushing of the military forces of the Entente. Admission of Defeat "Hiiidenhure's defense renews the promise of a decisive blow against tho AiibIo-Ftviu'Ii fronf. hut says the nhvslnirnoiiiv whlrh flio slrueiMfl lire. scuts on tlie front between Solssons and Khtims and in the Champagne In consentient'o of the German attacks and tho l'raiico-Hrillsli counter-ut tacits (one must note hero with what mm tlm American Intervention Is n.lt,u1l !, !.! In lin ttP.'Aukltv (if postponing for some tlino tho decisive blow. "With this end In view 'new basis for subsequent operations, proceedings for deplacements and strategical re groupings' have to be created. Whilst awaiting until preparations for future operations aie completed, they have been forced 'to retiro in the. northern direction of the Marne front.' "How far villi this tctirement be car ried out?" A retreat of about a dozen kilometers will perhaps be sufficient. It Is not thought necessary today that Hlndenburg should find himself under the obligation of withdrawing the front as far back ab the Vctle Bens for rubllc Confidence "The German interior front' Is Im plored 'not to i enounce Its confidence In our Hlndenburg on account of that ' "The tone of this official noto Is sig nificant The impression caused In Ger many by the defeat must have been very profound, their confidence must be seriously shaken for tho high com mand to Follclt and with a sort of hu mility that Is scarcely habitual to It, fresh favois. "The Badlsche Landes Zeltung is try ing to persuade its readers that the (lerman retreat was a part of llinden burc'n plans and that lie In ktlll con tinuing to Impose his will on liermany's enemies. In the Frankfurter Zeltung, Deputy Conrad Haussmann states that Von Kuehlmann is more popular now than before his fall." Still Claim Initiative The entire German press, the Socialist Included, Is obediently toeing tho lino laid down by the German official com muniques regaidlng the retreat from tho Marne. This line substantially is that General Foch's formidable attack to pinch oft the whole of the German's Marne salient was in vain, that his great sacrifices In men have been boot less und that the initiative remains with the Germans. To this. It Is added that the German concentration on a "shortened chord" means a Btroogor front. To the American official report of the capture ofSeringes-et-Nesles, Sergy and Roncheres. the Volks Zeltung of Cologne appends this comment- "These localities are situated in the zone evacuated by the Germans days ago, undetected by the enemy." PRESIDENT'S WIFE SPONSOR OF FIRST HOG ISLAND SHIP Mr. Wilson Also Coming to Launching Ceremonies at Shipyard Monday Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, wife of the President, will christen the Qulstconek, the flrst ship to be launched at Hog Island. The vessel, a 7500-ton cargo carrier, will glide from the shipway a few minutes after noon Monday. President Wilson also will attend. Be cause of the President's presence, se crecy Is being observed about the time of departure and the route to be taken. Announcement that Mrs. Wilson would christen the ship was made at the Whlto House today Launching of 'the Qulstconek will bo the biggest factor in speeding up ship production throughout the East. Charles M Schwab, director general of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, this afternoon enthusiastically made this prediction. The greatest crowd of persons that .ever saw a launcning win be present when the first snip leaves way No. 1, It Is ald there will be 100.000 there. When you thlnkjof writing, tblnk of ,WHITWO. Aiv. A AilT?TTr A . OF FERE; ENEMY HURLS FOUR VAIN ATTACKS UPON OULCHSj FORMER CZAR WENT TO DEATH PROPPED UP AGAINST POST Nicholas in Such Collapse He Could Not Stand When Facing Firing Squad, Berlin Newspaper Is Informed By the Associated Press Amsterdam, July 31. Given two hours In which to preparo for the end, Nicholas Romanoff, former Russian Emperor, was taken out by exe cutioners in a state of such collapse that , It was necessary to prop him against a post, says the Lokal Anzelger, of Berlin, which claims to have received from a high Russian personage an atcounl of l the Kmpcror's last hour. j Nicholas was awakened at 5 o'clock i on the morning of the day of his execu tion by a patrol of a noncommissioned 1 olllcer and six men. He was told to dress and was then taken to a room where the decision of the Soviet council was communicated to him He was In formed the execution would bo carried out In two hours. The former Kmpcror, It Is added, re BENNETT IN DARK ON PARTY FIGHTS Lieutenant Swears He Did Not Know Fifth Ward Faction Affiliations NEVER USED BLACKJACK Ry a Staff Correspondent West Chester, Pa July 31. Several astounding statements were made today by Police Lieutenant David Bennett, as a witness for him self In tho Fifth Ward conspiracy case. "I did not know tho Carey men fiom the Deutsch men. I did not know there were two factions in the. Re publican party In Phlltdelphla. "Tho Deutsch faction In the Fifth Ward stood for decency and cleanli ness In the conduct of the election. "I really did not know twenty, seven policemen transfeircd from the Third District were Caiey men" They were the more remarkable of the statements made by Bennett under a lashing cross-examination by Assistant District Attorney Taulane. The Lieutenant was plainly nervous, and often stammered while leplving to Taulane. He was Just as emphatic, however, In his strenuous denials of the Commonwealth s evidence as was Isaac Deutsch yesterday. Bennett gave himself a clean bill of health as a police commander. He didn't mingle in ward politics, ho never blackjacked or clubbed anv one during his entire police cai ecr, was his contention. In describing the raid on "Battling1 Abe" Cohen's poolroom, he admitted Cohen was battered by police black jacks, but not by him. as the prosecu tion witnesses testified. Denies Dlackjacklnc Cohen Lieutenant Bennett's raid on "Bat tling Abe" Cohen's poolroom, September 5 last year, had a conspicuous place in the Commonwealth's testimony. Attorney Gray tried to minimize the significance of the raid. Here ly what Bennett had to say of the occurrence: "I did not use a blackjack on Colun. I never ued a blackjack or a police club on any one In my life. I did not smash Cohen's show case The case may have been broken, but If It was, my foot or knee was knocked against the case Continued on Pace Mi. Column Het en CZECHO-SLOVAKS CAPTURE IMPORTANT BR1PC- " LONDON, July 31. The enpttue by too CzecUo-Glovnl.-s in a surprise atack of a laige'iailvvay budge at Syzrain, in the V-mc.-region, is repoited in a Moscow dispatcli tiniismitted by the Ccn tinl News coi respondent at Anvteulnnt. This c.iptuie, the message says., secuies. to fte Czecho-Slovnks in This region com munication with Siberia, FRENCH WAR WIDOWS SEEK HELP OF POPE ROME, July 31. Two hunched tthousaiul Fiencli w i widows, lepiesented by members of the old Ficuc'a sub 1 1 toCfty nUclres-ed the Pope, asking- his help and a benediction behalf of theii fntheiless chihiien. Amojig the lendris who tai. here wcie the Duchess of Deohad, the Princess of Cl u.v nt nn TonneftuCj the riincess Depopicha? and the Piinccys alu. . NO PEACE OFFER TO ALLIES Balfour Denies Enemy Has Made Any Proposals By l7ie (jnited Press London, July 31. No enemy Govern ment has approached the Allies on the subject of peace, Foreign Secretary A. J. Balfour declared today In the House of Commons. , It was recently reported that German peace agents were working In Spain to approach tho Allies British Casualties Decrease London, July St. British casualties reported during July totaled 67,:01. This compares with total casualties reported In June of 141,147' The losses for July are divided as follows: Killed or died of wounds Officers, 5!1 : men, 8474. Wbunaed or missing Officers, 1537; men, 68,759 7C TJrkT FV T?TT3AT 17 A OT . L iJ'ft. ceived tho announcement of the i of d(ath with great calmness sentence great calmness He re turned lu his bedroom and collapsed In a chair. After a few minutes he asked for a priest, with whom he was allowed to remain unattended Subsequently he wrote several letters When the escort arrived to take him to the place of execution, Nicholas at tempted to rise from his chair, but was not able The priest and a soldier were obliged to help him get to his feet. The condemned man descended the stairs with difficulty, and once he fell down As he was unablo to Bland without support when the place of execution was reached, he was propped against a post. He raised his hands, and seemed to be trying to speak, but the rifles spoke, and he fell dead. ENEMY ROUTED BY U.S. BAYONETS Prussian Shoe k Troops Beaten in Fierce Hand- to-Hand Fighting YANKEE WOUNDED SLAIN By EOWIN L. JAMES Special Cable to Evening Public Ledge. ropuriaht. ijs, bu Xrw York Timet Co. With tho American Army, July 31. Sergy changed hands nine times In twenty-four houis. That tells tho story of the bitter fighting when the German command threw, two fresh guard divisions against tho Ameri cans north of the Ourcq Monday in an endeavor to put then! back across the stream. The result may bo best told by say ing that the Americans are not only on the north side of the Ourcq, but in positions further advanced than when the Crown Prince hurled his violent attacks against our line Mon day. At least one German division was rendered flghtless for some time to come. Had the Americans not held back these fighting Piusslans the French would not have been able to make their advance north of Fere-en-Tar-denois and also on our right. The Prussia! and Bavarians now trying to hold back the Americans were brought hurriedly from the rear where they had been held to make an attack against the English, prepara tory to the Crown Prince's grand drive in August, Beat Kaiser's Best Troops It should be a source of the greatest pride to America that fler youthful soldleis are uble to hold their own against the Kaiser's best shock troops, for Riich the Prussian and Bavarian guaids are. At Sergy was an American division which met the Fourth Prussian guard division. The result speaks for Itself. As told In these dispatches yesterday. It was part of the German plan to stand on the north bank of the Ourcq and hold tho Americans while tho withdrawal behind the lines was made more easily. Tho charge of the Amer icans across the river on Sunday, in which they took Serlnges and Sergy Continued on I'aire Kleien. Column Tho FLIES TO COMMONS SEAT General Davidson Takes Oath, Goes Dack to Front Special Cable to Evening Public Ledger London, July 31, According to the morning Post, Major General Davidson, who has been elected for the Fareham division In place of Lord Lee, has lett general headquarters In France by air plane, motored from his landing place to Westminster, took the oath and sat In the House of Commons a while. Then he went back as he had come and was probably on duty again, while the House was still talking about national ship yards. He was anxious to take his seat before recess, could get only a few hours off, and there was no, other way to come. Sft i"K!" I i-fA's.-. m &., LJ T 3TAl 1 &M! r 1 "HT . '.iwTTVi i-'Oi.i.iiiioo xxiianiai, All Assaults i WEDGE PERn; i V . vts Violent Fightine Raees riflR'.f&J - w f i ft FA Right Bank of the Ourcq River U. S. SPEARHEAD DMVEtf TO DEPTH OF TWO MILES B 5. Allied Flankinc Movement's' -A Tl .. . 17 !. T. . 5 rfi &i Auicuicns to envelop forces ,trlis of Crown Prince NEW RETREAT IS NEAR Persbing Soldiers at Apex of Long Front Won by -Foch : By the Associated Press Paris, July 31. American troops maintain their post- ,? ,"$J tl In !. I C I "a' ..'i.el .... ,4, mc ic!uii ui oeringm-v-t 'v;j -cMies wnicn iney earned alter ,? violent fighting, according to an otR'-m cmi siatement irom tne war Office, to- t"i day- M Tho Germans made four attack it J? against the new French positions ea fj Of OuIchv-lp.Phntpnii. Thiiw omm; wSit& -S pulsed and the French line was h)rp 1 Intact. tfflf On the right bank of the OurW?T?J there were violent combats cut.r'st ,iX ; Fere-en-Tardenois. . ,AMh$, Tha l?.Annli nn.1 .!. ''-- -1 - ... - i.ttvit l,v UIU UtIIIUIMUi.1 riea oui raias ai a numoer or o points on sectors easCxJktGl' the Marne sallenfjt there)' chango in the general situation! these points. f S. The statement sajtef $ "After a heavy bombardment thJ Germans ntacked the new Fjrench positions east of OuIchy-le-Chateatl. Our troops repulsed four enemy a saults and maintained their lines In tact. 4 "On the right bank of the Ourctj there were lively combats northeast Of Fere-en-Tardenois. The village of Seringes et-Xesles passed from hand to hand, but was finally taken by Ameri can troops in a counter-attack. "A number of raids were made by the Germans near Mesnll-St. Georges, west of Montdldler; in La Pretre wood on right bank of the Meuse and in the Vosges. (Americans are holding part of theso lines. They, were without result. Our troops made a succesful incursion Intq thti German lines northeast of Perthes? , les-Hurlus (In the Champagne) and'" brought back prisoners." , Tho newspaper Echo de Paris said' today that a semiofficial note emanat ing from Hlndenburg and Ludendorff ' declared tho German command had been compelled td postpone for some" timo the decisive blow against tho ' French and British, owing to the ne situation. French aerial observers, 6ays the Matin, report that there are signs be hind the present German battlefront of preparations for a continuation of the retirement northward. The enemy is destroying much material ana; bijifj fires have been seen. By the United Press London, July 31. Heavy fighting at various points on the Solssons-Rhelms salient, with Americans east of Fere-en-Tardenoto holding the heights beyond Serlnges and Sergy, was reported in dispatches ' -52 here early today. . - 5! (American positions beyond Seringes ana sercv are at me point 01 ine iar-i tr, 4V.AC, Alllail nl.nnna tntnawl IHiii.tM, M. .A. w.coi nmcu au.u.iwc bunaAU j: 04,v,, ' Vwi4fl the Important German strategic center 3rSjHfJJ on the Vesle River. Serlnges is about $8 ten miles from Fismes.) j1- $6 Ilk n..Hn ....Ik. .lA AUIa.4 nn1.H ' V as being delivered in "dense, stormiiHrJ Sa waves." it claimed aereat ot Amen- .... I.-....., nl. .. .. .1 O.l.lnl. nnnlnl.Mli.B and asserted the battle decreased-.in,'." l!i violence arter tnee compats. - fti By the Associated Press . &$$$iy Washington, Jul ?l,yn Through attacks by American troop .yf; -7 In the vicinity of Sergy. southeast?, 0J4 Fero-cn-TardenoIs, the German line JS lilt ouibauiiB-xvut-iiua aaiiciii. utta vwm r .'. ,1pnd 1n the ilpnth of nearlv tlrn. T. ,. , . .u. ... . .,.. " i-r: -f-x nines, mm in uw ucw ui ..mM3r-.wF--!V servers here General Foch has pilif7" the preliminary step 'toward fereiitfT another withdrawal of the GeraftM.-'-Ov frtn.i TiavAtnnrr-ipnr ) flnnlr .ftuaci " .W..V-M . ,-...-..- ........ ,Yf. tions by French troops on the by the British on the east Dectcd by officials here today; such flank operations be successful i the American forces be able, to' the r ground, the enemy would the choice, it is believed, bet withdrawal or envelopment of1-" forces from one side or tho otaif -j Hie rtllicj nun piniucau. The American thrust to the Berth of Sergy. which officials believe wff. ranit mgu in ji.itierig.iii iiiiiiigry j tory when full details are known, ' considered toaay as not alone J suit or American dash and I oslty, but as having a etHtf .v o &VJ : xrm rf1 ' f M . -5: K. . -:t!S jLtV2 if iffl ? -rfnj&ffl ,r;$tt ' ft P ". . i.,'3 i"l. HWi'iJ. .. . T T ?. -'v' -. -.Lr- iO.VST jfOf.,r,- 'h-fl ' l-IV' 'SB V ...y - . St-i 'IX ' ,i $i.