French Successful in First Phase of Hindenburg
HARRISBURG &f§|pil TELEGRAPH
QThc Star- IFnftcpfn&fnt.
LXXXVI No. 71 28 PAGES
" GERMAN LINE TREMBLES
UNDER TREMENDOUS BLOW
FRENCH PUSH
FORWARD IN
GREAT BATTLE
Entente Rushes Heavy Artillery to Launch Smashing At
tack Against Teuton Troops Before Hindenburg Can
Consolidate Forces For His Drive; Both Armies Bat
ter Against Stormy Weather to Win First Phases of
Campaign With Tide Favoring Soldiers of France
By Associated Press
London, March 23 v Private messages have reached
1 lie Hague that Emperor William is suffering from a severe
nervous breakdown, an Exchange Telegraph dispatch from
Ihe Hague reports. The Emperor's physicians are said to
have ordered him to take the cure at Homburg.
1 he initial phase of the tremendous battle which has opened in
Northern France has apparently turned in favor of the French who
are reported to have forced their way across the Ailette river and the
Crozat canal at several points. Along these waterways the Germans!
elected to make their first stand in defense of La Fere, toward which
General Nivelle is rushing his advance troops in desperate effort to
break the Hindenburg line before the German defense is consoli
dated.
Further south the French are attempting to batter their way
toward Laon but between them and their goal lie the great forests
of Coucy and St. Gobain and the comparatively meager advances |
reported from Paris indicate that the issue is still very much in j
Some ground has been gained northeast of Soissons, but the j
fact that the French report having inflicted "very heavy" losses on
the Germans is an intimation that the invaders are holding this I
section in force.
French refugees from the devas
tated wilderness over which the re
tiring Germans have passed add their
evidence to the accumulating proof
that Field Marshal Von Hindenburg's
purpose is to give battle to his pur
suffers on a line running from Lille to
Laon. This means that, in the event
of the French failing to break
through at La Fere, a further with
drawal of the Germans is due to take
place on the British front.
The sharp salient running from Ar
ras to Cambrai must be evacuated
and, in support of this assumption,
London reports explosions and incen-|
Millersburg Resident
Threatens Wife and Son,
Then Attempts Suicide
Milplersburg, Pa., March 23.—After j
attempting to murder his wife and ,
son, Paul Bowman yesterday in a tem- I
porary fit of insanity tried to take his |
own life. He slashed his throat from i
ear to ear. Although weak from the '
loss of blood, he will recover.
Bowman, who is an employe of the
shoe factory, has always been consid
ered a reliable citizen. Yesterday he
became deranged and after threaten- 1
ing his wife and son drew the blade !
across his own throat.
WE WEATHER
For Harrlsburg and vicinityi Rnln
anil warmer to-night, with loivmt
temperature aliout degrees;
Miturduy fnlr and somewlint
colder.
For Eastern Pennsylvania t Hnlu
and warmer to-nlKht Saturday
partly cloudy, somewhat colder
In went portion; strong south and j
southwest wind*.
Hlver •
IliKb temperature, with rnln. In the
next twenty-tour hours, will like
ly cause n general rise In the Sus
quehanna river tuid nil lt
branches. The rise will prohabl.v
he slleht to moderate. A stage
of nhout feet Is Indicated for
llarrlshurK Saturday morning,
tienernl Conditions
The Southwest storm Is now cen- '
tral over the l.ake Superior rc-
Klon, with Its southern extremity
reaching to the Texas coast. It
has caused rnln I n the last
i twenty-four hours generally over
a hrnad licit of country extend
ing from the (julf States north
ward through the central valleys
and the lake reislon Into Canada,
together with a Kenernl rise of !SN
to IS deKrecs In the temperature
over nearly all the eastern half
of tlie country, A high pressure
area from the I'acitle ocean coicrs
most of the country west of th
Mississippi river: It has caused n
Keneral fall of 'J to 21) deicrees in
temperature iteaerally over the
Plains States, central and south
ern Hocky Mountains and the
Southwest, At Modenn, Utah, the
temperature fell to zero this
mornini, the lowest ever regis
tered In the month of March,
Temperature* S a. in., 40 degrees
above sera.
Sunt Itlses, tliOl a. m.
Rive* statci ti.il feet above low
water mark,
Vesterday'a Weather
Highest temperature, fit.
liowest temperature, 85,
Mean temperature. 44. i
ikormal temperature, 40,
diary fires in the district about Arras.
This additional retirement would
' mean the evacuation of about 500
more square miles of French territory,
i including tlie great coal mines around
I Lens.
The whole question at present ap
| pears to be whether the allies can
move their heavy artillery fast enough
so as to strike a smashing blow at the
Germans before the latter can effec
tively organize their positions. Mili
tary critics in Paris and London be
lieve that a few days will decide this
[Continued on Page 21.1
Robert Burns Lodge is
Planing Big Celebration
on 47th Anniversary
Robert Burns Lodge, No. 404 Free!
I and Aicepted Masons will oommem- i
I orate the granting of its warrant and!
the constitution of the Lodge with
| special services next Thursday even
■ ing. The charter for the lodge was
granted in 1870. The committee in
charge of the arrangements is as fol
| lows: Charles PP. Lusk, chairman;
l Henry M. Gross, John M. Mumma,
Charles C. Schriver, George A. Gor
; gas. John Flickinger, Andrew S. Dell
; inger. George T. Baker, Howard W.
j Haker, Charles W. 8011, I. Birkitt
Dickinson, Edwin C. Dewey, John O.
; Dean, Robert D. Frazer, George \V. |
Fisher, William H. Fisher, Frank G.i
1 1' ahnestock, Jr., George C. Fager, Cur
tis W. Fisher, William H. Hampton,
I Howard D. ilertzler, Edwin H. Hess, i
Walter Keister, Ira C. Kindler, John
;X. Ivinnard. Samuel W. Kreider, R. j
Monroe Leonard, Clayton G. Miller,!
James W. Miller, Charles W. Mitchell,
j Eugene E. Moyer, John H. Mumma,
I H. Lloyd Myers, Isaac L. Nisley, An- !
| drew S. I 3 atterson, Francis C. Neely,
George Roberts, C. Wayne Singer,
• James W. Storey, John A. Witmeyer
and David H. Wise.
: .
Spring Softens Iron Heart
of Chief and He Gives
Hurdy-Gurdys Leeway
Just to prove that he has a warm
place in his heart for anything that
reminds one of spring, Chief of Police
J. Edward Wetzel said this morning
that instead of driving the men with
i hurd.v-gurdys from the city streets he
1 will welcome them.
Of course, that carries a proviso
iwith it. They will not be allowed to
I play the same tune more than six
times In one place. Neither will they
be allowed to grind out tunes in Mar
ket or Walnut streets. Traffic conges
tion might result or some music-struck
soul be brought suddenly to earth by
a gentle push from an auto.
Then, too, complaints of nonmustc
loving citizens such as Shakespeare
speaks of might force the Chief to
take action. It is a common complaint
from irate citizens to declaro that
some forgetful "grinder" is serving
the same tune for the hundredth time,
and would an officer please como and
request tho honor of the grinder's
presence In some other part of the
city.
500-MILE HACK CALLED OFF
By Asaociattd I'rets
Indianapolis, Ind., March
annual 600.mile automobile race,
scheduled tor the Indianapolis Motor
; Speedway on Memoriul Day, was de
claerd off to-day by James A, Alii- I
Hon, secretary-treasurer of the com
, pany, because of the threatening war
conditions.
HARRISBURG, PA.,FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 23, 1917
| LOS ANGELES MEN INVENT FRENCH RIFLE FOR AMERICAN SOLDIERS [
, v '
Inetnn T t L- ? 1 ic i la J ds - °, f k° s Angeles, have invented and sent to the War Department in Wash
j i which the soldier can shoot over the trench without being seen. This is done bv means
or reflecting lenses, and by raising the barrel.
FORMER CZAR IS
HELD CAPTIVE IN
IMPERIAL PALACE
Deposed Empress Also In
terned by Order of Revolt
ing Russian Duma
Tsarskoe Selo, Russia, Thursday.
March 22, via London, March 23.—0n
his arrival here to-day, in the custody
f four members of the Duma, Nicholas
Romancff, the deposed Emperor, was
turned over imerodiately to the Tsar
skoe Selo commander and taken to the
Alexandrovsky Palace, where the for
mer Empress Alexandra already was
interned.
The special train carrying the for
mer ruler arrived at 1.30 o'clock on tlie
[Continued on Pasc 19]
LOCAL MEN WILL
BE AVIATORS IF
WAR BREAKS OUT
Flying Corps to Be Recruited
to 4,000 and Life Appeals
to Many
The bells of hell go ting-a-ling-a-ling,
For you—but not for me;
For me the angels sing-a-ling-a-ling,
They've got the goods for me.
0, Death, where is thy sting-a-ling-a
ling.
And Graves, thy victoree?
The bells of hell go ting-a-ling-a-ling,
For you—but not for me.
In a crowd of young men talking
"war" in the cigar store at the corner
of Third and Market street this morn
ing, was a young fellow who hummed
the English trench song, one section
of which appears above. The martial
melody of the song sung by the Brit
ish soldiers in hundreds of miles of
French trenches wasn't at all out of
[Continued on Page 25]
Report That Government
Has Placed Monster Order
With Schwab is Denied
Rumors circulating In Steelton this
morning that the Bethlehem Steel Com
pany had landed a government contract
t'nat would keep the Steelton plant busy
for two years were denied by both
Steelton officials and H. E. as
sistant to E. O. Grace, president of tlie
Bethlehem Steel Company, over the
long distance telephone.
Mr. Lewis said none of the depart
ment heads who would have charge of
this matter knew anything of the con
tract and that as far as he knew there
was no contract that would affect the
local plant under consideration.
Rumors were to the effect that the
manufacture of a certain kind of steel
was possible in the Steelton plant and
that the work would be steady on this
material for two years. Rumor also
had it that several government officials
were in Steelton several days this
week,
—
Cannot Get Along
Without TELEGRAPH
To the Edlliit of the Telegraph i
Please deliver me your paper
attain, startlag to-day If possible.
After takliiK your paper for over
H4 rears I cannot stop It even for
a cheaper paper. I'lease start It
to-day uiihlb If possible, and oblige
m. it, ii vvmsov,
IU.I Nayford HI,
FIVE HARRISBURG
GIRLS ARE EAGER
TO ENTER NAVY
Apply at U. S. N. Recruiting
Office For Enlistment
Under New Law
Five Harrlsbnrg women have made
application to enter the service of the
United States Navy within the lust
week, according? to Chief Quarter
master W. E. Quirk, in charge of the
local naval recruiting station, 300
Bergner Building.
Quartermaster Quirk has not yet re
ceived any delinite orders from head
quarters as to what the requirements
for the enlistment of women are, hut
expects full details within a day or so.
[Continued on Page 251
PREPAREDNESS
COMMITTEE TO
MEET NEXT WEEK
Governor Receives Many Let
ters From Prominent Men Ac
cepting Call to Duty
Go% - ernor Brumbaugh to-day an
nounced that the Committee on Safety
and Defense of Pennsylvania .would
hold Its first meeting in the State
Capitol next Wednesday morning at
11 o'clock. The Governor will address
the committee at the opening of its
session and probably participate in the
discussions.
Numerous acceptances of appoint
ment on the committee were received
by the Governor torday and he stated
that he had heard from practically
every man named. "I am more than
gratived at the hearty response to in
vitations to serve on the committee
from men of affairs who will give
the time from their business to serve
the Commonwealth," said the Gov
ernor.
Preparations to complete the inven
tory of the military stores In posses
sion of the State In order to ascertain
just what will be needed to have the
division of the National Guard take
the field at maximum strength are be
ing rushed and the information will
be sent to the War Department at the
earliest practicable moment.
BILLY SUNDA Y IS MUTT
OF A PACIFIST SO HE PLANS
TO ENLIST TO
Buffalo, March 23.—-"Jesus, you're
sure taking: a lot of back talk 1 from the
Kaiser," remarked William Aslier Sun
day as he unfolded his newspaper and
sugared Ills breakfast coffee yesterday
morning.
"I wish, Lord, you'fl tell America to
help wipe Germany off the map, as you
commanded Israel to destroy the idola
trous and corrupt Canaanltes. Count
Billy Sunday In up to his neck when
war conies"
Tho evangelist, who has taken Buf
falo ana la poised for a spring drive
against the New York division of Sa
tan's army, Is ready to turn the fight
against "Teuton frlghtfulness tho min
ute Congress gives tin word."
"What'U 1 do?" ho echoed, "Why,
I'll turn that New York tabernacle Into
a recruiting station, I'll call for re
cruits—volunteers for Christ and the
United States army, I'll have recruit
ing officers there to Blgn them up, I'll
raise enough of an army myself to beat
down to the dust the devil's hordes that
are murdering our women folk,'
34 LIVES LOST IN
U-BOAT'S ATTACK
ON U.S.STEAMER
Teuton Captain Disappears,
Leaving American Seamen
Sink to Their Deaths
By Associated Press
London, March 23.—A Rotterdam dis
patch to the Daily Telegraph says that
it is reported there that thirty-four
members of the American steamer
Ilealdton were either killed when the
vessel was attacked or drowned sub
sequently. A torpedo which penetrat
ed the engine room is said to have been
responsible for the death of 13 of the
men.
A lleuter's dispatch from The Hague
[Continued on l'age 17]
GIRLS IN SUICIDE
PACT SHOOT EACH
OTHER TO DEATH
Hold Revolvers at Temples
and Pull Triggers Simul
taneously
Portsmouth, N. H., March 23.—Two
young women who were killed in a
Portsmouth cafe last night were defi
nitely identified to-day as Margaret
("Peggy") Spalding, daughter of
George F. Spalding, of Newton, Mass.,
and Ethel Stanton, daughter of J. I-
Stanton, city passenger agent of the
Rock Island Railroad, with headquar
ters at Los Angeles. A note signed
"Peggy and Ethel" found in a room in
the Rockingham Hotel, which they
[Continued on Page 19]
German Bread Ration
is Again Cut Down
Amsterdam, March 23.—The bread ra
tion in Germany will be diminished
one-fourth, beginning April 15. owing
to the scarcity of wheat, according to
a dispatch from Berlin in the Weser
Jieitung of Bremen. The potato ration
will be continued at five pounds week
ly and the meat ration will be in
creased by 250 granims weekly.
It Is announced, adds the dispatch,
that the curtailment In the use of
wheat is necessary to Insure the pres
ent stocks lasting until next harvest.
"Jesus will be our comamnder In
chief, and lie has von Hlndenburg
beaten to a frazzle. And maybe he
hasn't it in for Germany for the mis
erable heresy that crawled out of Leip
slc and Heidelberg."
Billy Sunday believes the United
States will be at war with Germany be
fore he opens Ills Gotham revival cam
paign In the tabernacle at Broadway
and 168 th street, on Easter Sunday. If
tnere Is a call to arms he believes his
first duty Is to the nation rather than
to New York
In the summer of 1882, when Abra
ham Lincoln called for volunteers,
Billy Sunday's father left Ills log cabin
at Ames, lowa, to become a private In
Company E of the 23rd lowa Volun
teers, One month afterward he con
traded nmasles and died, and four
months later little Billy was born,
"I'd be a poor mutt of a spineless
pacifist, 1 said Billy, recounting the
story, "If 1 didn't show up in the front
rank now, wouldn't I?"
WILSON DRAFTS WAR
MESSAGE WITH AID
OF CABINET MEMBERS
Sinking of American Steamer Healdton Adds to Gravity of
Situation But Cannot Cause Immediate Change in
Government's Policy; Everything Is Dropped by
Government to Get Nation's Armed Forces Into Shape
For Waging War On Germany
By Associated rrcss
Washington, March 23. President Wilson's address to Con
gress was taken up in its tentative form at to-day's cabinet meeting.
Practically all the secretaries had been asked to bring material for
points upon which it will touch.
\Y liile the exact nature of the President's address necessarily
will be determined by the developments of the next ten - days, it is ex
pected to be specific in character and probably will outline compre
hensively just what steps lie believes Congress should take to meet
the warlike operations of German submarines.
Administration officials realize that during the period of waiting
a sustained effort is being made in Germany to place the responsi
bility for war on the United States. The hint of an offer of mediation
is regarded as an added evidence of this movement but the President
and all his advisers are determined that if war actually comes it shall
be clear to the world that it has not been of America's thoosing.
The President, to keep in touch with army and navy prepara
tions, cancelled practically all engagements to-day except one with
Governor McCall, of Massachusetts, who wanted to confer on ways
in which that state might co-operate with the federal government.
Preparing Xation
Sinking by a German submarine of
the American steamer liealdton, with
the probable loss of a score or more
of her crew, many of whom were
Americans, while another grave addi
tion to the long list of German aggres
sions against American commerce,
cannot cause any Immediate change in
the situation between the United States
DRIVER KILLED UNDER CART
Harrisburg.—Sagi Istevan, a driver employed by the
Central Iron and Steel Company was instantly killed this
afternoon at 2.45 o'clock, when a horse which he was driv
ing ran away in Second street, near Cherry, overturning
a heavy two-wheel cart and pinning its driver beneath.
CAPITOL COMMISSION ACCOUNT CLOSED
Harrisburg.—The account of the State Capitol Build
ing Commission, which constructed the present State
Capitol under the act of 1901, was to-day closed at the State
Treasury. Edward Bailey, of this city, treasurer of the
commission, paid to the State the balance of $30,967.96 and
the additional sum of $42,676.08 as interest on the balances
for several years.
AMERICAN AVIATOR MISSING
Paris, March 23. J. R. McConnell, an American avi
ator with the aviation corps in France, has been missing
four days since last seen engaged with two German ma
chines over the German lines.
KILLED SELVES FOR LOVE
Portsmouth, N. H., March 23.—Light was thrown on
i the suicides later to-day when the police made public a
paragraph from the joint note left by the young women.
It read: "We have experienced perfect love for ch
other and cannot bear the thought of separation. So we
will end it all."
CRANE MAY GET JAP POST
Washington, March 23.—Charles R. Crane, of Chicago,
was understood to-day to be under consideration by Presi
dent Wilson for appointment as ambassador to Japan, to
succeed the late Ambassador Guthrie. Mr. Crane was ap
pointed minister to China in the Taft administration but
recalled before he left San Francisco because of a pub
lished interview dealing with far eastern questions.
NORWAY AND GERMANY NEAR BREAK
Amsterdam, March 23, via London.—lndications of
renewed tension between Norway and Germany are ap
pearing in the German newspapers.
FRENCH OFFENSIVE DIES DOWN
Berlin, March 23. By Wireless. The war office
reports to-day that the French offensive on the Mace
donian front is dying down.
DESPERATE FIGHTING MARKS BATTLE
Paris, March 23.—A violent attack was made by the
Germans last night north of St. Simon, in the region east
of Ham. To-day's war office announcement says the
Germans gained some ground at the beginning but were
counterattacked immediately and driven back as far as
Seraucourt-Le-Grand, three miles northeast of St. Simon.
HARVARD PREPARES FOR WAR
Cambridge, Mass., March 23.—-A semi-official an
nouncement that in the event of war the college year at
Harvard University probably would be terminated within
a short time and the university plant turned into a military
training camp, was made to-day. The announcement was
in the form of an editorial in the Harvard Crimson.
MARRIAGE
Ira l.eater Wagner unit Carrie May Powell, lfarrlxliurK.
Harry Herbert tu|i|ij, l.ykt-nn, nml Kllen l.avetia Hateman, Wlco
n !•<-,
Single Copy, 2 Cents HOME EDITION
and Germany, it was saiil here to-day.
A virtual state of war already exists,
government officials believe, and they
are doing everything possible to pre
pare the nation to meet that con
dition.
The destruction of the JTealdton,
however, will be included by President
Wilson in his summary of German
[Continued on Page 21.]