di Jb 4U 4k Red Cross Campaign leaders Believe Membership Will Reach 10,000 +4k+ WF
HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH
(Ehf Star- UniJepfubcnt
LXXXVI— No. 100 16 PAGES ,
KAISER STOPS
ADVANCE BY
MASS ATTACK
Thousands of Germans Sacrificed by Berlin in Effort to
Stop Steady Forward Push of General Haig's British
Army; Losses Enormous in Fourth Day of Terrific
Battling Which Brings No Decision
FRESH RESERVES OF TEUTON TROOPS ARE
RUSHED UP TO FILL THE GUN-TORN GAPS
Importance of Issues on the French Front Overshadow
Internal Difficulties in Enemy Countries; Electric
ally Charged Wire Fence Erected to Keep News From
Leaking Over Border
The fourth day of the terrific struggle on the British front in
France has opened with both sides still striving vainly for a de
cision. The Germans have resorted to the terribly costly tactics
of massed attacks and have apparently succeeded in checking the
British advance. This partial success has been won, according
to spectators of the titanic conflict, at a staggering toll of human
life.
Last night's fighting in the great battle in the Arras region
seems to have ben chiefly in connection with a renewed German
effort to wrest from the British the vilage of Gavrelle. Through
the capture of this place on Monday, General Ifaig pushed a sharp
wedge into the German lines along the Arras-Douai road. The
Germans have sacrificed thousands of men in attempts to retake it,
but have failed completely.
Last night's efforts were as fruitless as the rest. The at
tacking forces were caught by the British arillery barrage and
broken up.
On the Aisne battle front the French also had to contend
with violent German reactions. Several powerful attacks were
made in an attempt to drive General Nivelle's forces from the
plateau near the Ghem-Des-Mese. The Germans lost heavily in
the breaking of these assaults by the French artillerv fire.
l{Dinars of Revolt
It would seem as If the revolution
ary mutterings which were ominously
•welling through Europe prior to the
Inception of the great battle were
drowned In the thunders of the bat
tlefield. but indications are not lack
ing that momentous events are about
to occur behind the lighting lin.es.l
The summary adjournment of rtie
Reichstag, when its sittings had bare
ly opened, is given added significance
by hints in the German press that
the strike agitation in Germany may
burst forth with renewed violence on
May Day, the great international So
cialist holiday. A nation-wide labor
demonstration in Sweden is also plan
ned for that day and may have its
counterpart in Spain.
No news of any Importance has
come from Austria" in several days, a
fact which has given fresh vigor to
the ever-recurrent report of inten
tions or efforts on the part of the dual
monarchy to seek a separate peace.
No confirmation of thq reports is
available, from any reliable source,
but there is more definite tidings of
the status of affairs in Turkey, the
r -*
President Sends
Appeal to Farmers
The White House,
April 24, 1917.
To the Farmers of the Country:
At the present moment it is our
plain duty to take adequate steps
that not only our own people be
fed, but that we may, if possible,
answer the call for food of other
nations now at war. In this great
est of human needs I feel that the
American farmer will do his part
to the uttermost.
By planting and increasing his
production in every way possible,
every farmer will perform a labor
of patriotism for which he will be
recognized as a soldier of the com
missary, adding his share to the
food supply of the people.
WOODROW WILSON.
V
THE WEATHER
For llnrrlsliurg anil vicinity: Kalr
tn-niuhl aii<l Friday, not much
rhlinKC in temperature.
For Kastern Pennsylvania: Oirr
<■ll xt to-night, probably nhonrrn
la rant portion; Friday (Mrs
fresh Mouth to west wind*.
River
The Susquehanna river anil all it*
liram-lies will fall alon ly or re
main nearly stationary. A stage
of aliout 4.5 feet la Indicated fur
Hnrrisburg, Friday morning.
tieneral Conditions •
The Ktorni from the Southwest
that wan central over Hnstern
lowa, Wednesday morning, linn
moved slowly northeastward to
the northern border of the
<>reat I.liken. It has caused rain
and NIIOIV in the I,like Region ,
and I pper >1 insissippl Valley,
rain In the Ohio Valley, Middle
Atlantic Slates and Fast Ten
nessee and light. scattered
showers In tieorglit and .North
ern Florida.
Temperature: s a. ni.. 44 degreea.
Sun: Rises, HiO.l a. m.
Moon i Full moon. May A.
River Stage: 4.11 feet.
Yesterday's Weather
Highest temperature, W,
l.owcst temperature, 38.
Mean temperature, 47.
>or 111 a I temperature. SB.
third member of Germany's imperial
triumvirate.
Appalling Stories
Returning travelers tell appalling
stories of the devastation wrought by
disease and starvation in the Ottoman
empire. The also repeat the oft-told
story that the Turkish people are sick
at heart over the war and Its entailed
miseries, but arc kept In subjection
by the iron hand of Enver Bey and his
German colleagues.
A striking example of the rigidity
of the German censorship '.4 afforded
by the news that no German news
paper is allowed to leave the empire
without being passed by the govern
ment officials. Wire fences charged
with electricity have also been erect
ed along the German-Swiss frontier
and every possible precaution has
been taken to prevent the details of
what is transpiring within the realms
of the central powers from reaching
the rest of the world.
Rusa Maintain Silence
Apart from France, there are few
developments of importance in the
war theaters. The British continue to
drive forward in Mesopotamia but
there is a curious silence In regard to
the Russian armies in that region. An
attack on a fairly large scale has
been made by the allies on the Salo
niki front but there is nothing as
yet to indicate whether a general of-
I fensive is planned in this region.
McAdoo and Sec. Balfour
Reach Understanding
on All War Problems
j Washington, April 26.—Announee
i ment was made to-day that British
. Foreign Minister Balfour and Sec
-1 retary McAdoo have arrived at a
' completed understanding on ques
| Hons affecting finance, trade ship
: ping, banking, exchange and kindred
| problems. Mr. Balfour expressed
j himself to-day as tremendously
pleased with the sympathetic under
' standing and the co-operation of the
American government.
The actual detailed working out
| of the broad principles outlined will
form the major podtion of the next
ten days of the commission. Mr.
Balfour devoted himself to-day to
co-ordinating the suggestions made
by Secretary McAdoo, with the ten
tative plans brought over by the
British commission and to arranging
for the most efficient linking up of
personnel in the two governments.
Germany Drains Country
to Rush Up Reserves to
Check British Advance
London, April 26.—Telegraphing
to-day from British headquarters in
France, Reuter's correspondent,-
says:
"The Germans are still hurrying
up fresh reserves to press their
counter attacks. They are fighting
a great delaying battle although not
now standing upon any well pre
pared system of defenses, and can
only hope to check our advance by
using up great masses of troops,
whose breasts have taken the place
of parapets.
"This policy must result in great
ly accelerating the process of ex
haustion, and if continued long the
situation will resolve Itself Into the j
simple problem of which side can ;
longest maintain the deadly pace.
Prisoners declare that the. German
army is now being drained at a
rate which brings collapse within a j
measurable distance."
IT'S GOING TO BE UNIVERSAL TRAINING FOR THESE ANYWAY
FORESTALLING OF
FOOD IN MARKETS
IS AROUSING IRE
High Prices Offered For Eggs
That They May Be Placed
in Storage
TRY POTATO CORNER
Farmers Being Promised $1.50
Per Bushel For All Tubers
They Raise
] A prominent woman of this city—
one much Interested in all good work
—phoned the TELEGRAPH to-day to
invoke the aid of this newspaper in
overcoming the forestalling of food
: in the markets of Harrlsburg.
In going through one of the lead
ing markets yesterday she was told
I by a patriotic woman from the coun
try that men were tramping up and
I down through the market offering
j higher prices for eggs than the pre
vailing market figures in order to
place thein in storage.
"I didn't sell one egg to these men,"
said the farmer's wife, "because I felt
it was an outrage to purchase eggs
I for the purpose of storage at a time
1 like this. I would rather sell my
eggs for less than the market price
than to permit these men to deprive
the poor people of an. opportunity to
buy them at a reasonable price."
Seek to Tie I'p Potato Crop
This Instance would seem to indi
cate the need of a sharp lookout in
the markets of Harrisburg. It is bad
enough that the price of food should
be increased through a possible short
age of supply, but it is outrageous
that selfish men will endeavor to cor
ner the market by offering a some
what higher price now that they may
profit by a still higher price a few
months hence, Buyers say.
It is also said that men are going
through the country districts. Roberts
Valley has been mentioned as one,
offering farmers and others $1.50 a
bushel for all the potatoes they can
grow during the present season. It
is said this is preliminary to monopo
lizing the entire crop of potatoes in
this part of Pennsylvania And some
steps will undoubtedly be taken by
the Committee of Public Safety to
check the food grabbers.
Sixty Cents Will Be
Added to Cost of Coal
by Wage Increase
By .Issociatcil Press
New York, April 26.—£0al men esti
mate that the wage Increase granted
to 175,000 miners In the anthracite
fields will raise the retail price of
hard coal an average of sixty cents
a ton. The agreement signed last
night by representatives of the oper- j
ators and the United Mine Workers !
of America adds approximately $30,-
000.000 a year to the miners' wage's i
and is the largest Increase awarded in 1
the history of the anthracite indus
try.
The advance averages 20 per cent.,
virtually the same as that recently re
ceived by the 223,000 workers iri the
bituminous fields. The agreement re
mains In effect until April 1, l9is.
HARRISBURG, PA., THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 26, 1917.
SAFETY BODY
HEARTILY ENTERS
PATRIOTIC WORK
I Food Conservation Will Be
Given Especial Attention
by Local Committee
' A permanent organization of the
I
, Dauphin County Committee of Public
' Safety, recently appointed by Gover
j nor Brumbaugh was effected at an en
j thusiastic meeting held in the Board
! of Trade Building yesterday after-
I noon.
The local members of the General
Committee of Public Safety joined
with the county committee in forming
the organization.
Gilbert Outline* Steps
The meeting was characterized by
great earnestness and the spirit of
co-operation was manifest in all the
[Continued on Page 16]
MATCH HEADS
FOUND BEFORE
FATAL BLAST
Munitions Company Officials
Declare Malice Was Back
of Explosion
By Associated Press
Chester, Pa., April 26. —r That
conclusive evidence of the existence
of a plot in the destruction of the
plant of the Eddystone Ammunition
Corporation at Eddystone, Pa., near
here on April 10, -esulting in the
death of 129 men and girls was lack
ing, was admitted by Captain Walter
M. Wilhelm, vice-president and gen
eral manager of the corporation, the
principal witness, at the inquest be
gun here to-day by Coroner Drewes.
About fifty witnesses were sum
moned. Conflicting testimony was
given by a number of the witnesses. I
Asked directly whether he had any !
definite information as to the cause'
of the explosion Captain Wilhelm
said he had none but "that be did
not believe the disaster was the re
sult of an accident." He said he
based his belief on evidence turned
over to him following the company's
investigation.
"First of all," he said, "the dis
aster was caused by an explosion in
the loading room near vibrating table
No. 4, and right at a pellet box con- I
taining from 800 to 1,000 powder j
(Continued on Page 11)
250,000 Berlin Workers
Strike, Washington Hears
By Associated Press
Washington, April 26.—Reports to 1
the State Department through offi
cial channels tell of a strike of 250 -
000 laborers In Berlin. While the
name of the official who gave the
information is withheld, the depart
ment says the in.-ident shows the!
growth of desire for peace on the
l )a rt of the workman. It is reported
also that bread rations have bicn'
reduced from 1,900 to 1,600 grams I
per week.
PARK EXTENSION
FUNDS WILL BE
VOTED PROMPTLY
Governor Brumbaugh all d
Chairman Woodward Dis
cuss Appropriation
Governor Brumbaugh and Chair
man Woodward, of the House appro
priations committee, conferred this
morning- regarding the bill to make
the appropriation for Capitol Park
Extension and it will -be drawn up
and presented next week.
The Board of Public Grounds and
Buildings late yesterday afternoon
adopted a resolution asking for
$500,000 for the grading, planting
and other parking work, which let
ter was received by the chairman of
the appropriations committees to
day.
Mr. Woodward went over the mat
ter in detail with the Governor to
day and assured him that every ef
fort would be made to vote the
(Continued on Page 11)
MEMBERSHIP OF
5,000 EXPECTED
BEFORE TONIGHT
Red Cross Anticipates Returns
From Canvass Will Place
It Across Mark
The prediction was made at Red
Cross headquarters at noon to-day,
on the strength of many encourag
ing reports ireceived from leaders of
the house-to-house canvass, that
when the thirteen ward captains
make their first returns to-night
the membership of the Harrisburg
chapter will cross the 5.000 mark.
At 1 o'clock this afternoon en
rollments had reached 3,885. One
hundred and eighty memberships
were taken out this morning by the
[Continued on Page 10]
American Ship Is Sunk
by U-Boat's Shellfire
By Associated l'rcss
Washington, April 26. —The de
struction without warning by sub
marine gunfire of the American I
schooner Percy BlrdsaH, of New !
York, was reported to-day to the :
State Department. Time and place !
were not announced.
The submarine tired ten shots,
seven of which struck the schooner
below the water line, some of them
while the captain and crew of nine
were taking to the boats. The sur
vivors were rescued by a British pa
trol boat after being in the boats
about an hour and u half.
HOPE FOII KL'SSIAN PEACE !
By Associated l'rcss
Petrograd, April 2fi, via London.—
A telegram received here from Itiga I
indicates tliut the Germans are con-!
tinuing unremittingly their attemptsi
to parley with t{jp Russian soldiers, i
At one place the Germans displayed I
a placard on which was written. |
"Russians: Do not uttucK. We uiso
will not attack."
FRENCH NOTABLES
VISIT PRESIDENT
AND SEC. LANSING
1 War Commissioners Pay For
mal Calls on Administra
tion Officials
By Associated Press
Washington, April 26. The
s French commission began its first
2 day in Washington with a round of
c official calls. The first was at the
j State, War and Navy Departments.
Former Premier Viviani, head of
j j the mission, Marshal Joffre, Admiral
r Chocheprat and Viscount De Cham
' brun called first at Secretary Lan-
sing's office. Former Secretary of
. State Elihu Root was conferring with
Mr. Lansing at the time. The clerks
. of the great building lined the halls
_ and gave the Frenchmen a reception
. of almost continuous cheer and hand
; clapping.
After spending a few minutes with
Secretary Lansing, M. Viviani, Mar
shal Joffre and Admiral Chocheprat
went over to the White House to be
formally received by President Wil
son.
As the French party left the build
ing the cheering was acknowledged
[Continued on Page 1]
( Robert B. Reeves Succeeds
Homer Black as Secretary
of Christian Association
. Robert B. Reeves, of New York
city, was this afternoon elected gen
eral secretary of the Young Men's
Christian Association of Harrisburg
to succeed Homer Black, whose term
of service ended in February. Mr.
Reeves was the unanimous choice of
the special committee composed of
A 1 K. Thomas, the Rev. James F.
Bullitt and Edward J. Stackpole, Jr.
who submitted their selection before
a special meeting of the board of di
rectors to-day, and the new secretary
, was elected without a dissenting vote
' as the choice of the board from a
large number of applicants from
various sections of the country.
Mr. Reeves is a man of high ideals
of service and with years of experi
ence behind him, having served in
' a number of cities, most recently at
Troy, New York, where he success
fully followed two of the biggest
Y. M. C. A. secretaries in the coun
try. For the past few years he has
been in business in Now York city,
but the lure of association work was
I too strong and he determined to rc
jturn to it. lie has been strongly
| recommended by William Dietrich I
I formerly of Harrisburg, who Is at
I present general secretary of the
| Young Men's Christian Association
iof Brooklyn, N. Y.. which boasts of
I the lurgest association building In the
i world and the second largest mem-
I bershlp. Word was sent Mr. Reeves
|of his selection to-day.
CUT I.IUI UU ADS
By Associated Press
j Tallahassee, Fla., April 26.—The hill j
j to prohibit lhiuor advertising In this
i state after July 1 passed by both'
! he-uses of the Legislature, went to !
j Governor l.'atts to-day for his np-i
proval. The Governor is expected to '
| sign the measure.
WHEAT AGAIN SOARS
By Associated Press
, Chicago. April 26. Wheat con-;
i tinned its sensational advance to
[ day. < m first trades May sold up 41,4
.cents to $2.55; July C cents to
I $2.21 and September 4 U cents to
i | 1.2 V 3;
Single Copy, 2 Cents
URGES CONSUMERS
NOT TO HOARD UP
FOOD SUPPLIES
Wholesale Grocers Declare
Accumulation of Provisions
Forces Prices Higher
"BUY AS YOU. EAT"
Purchasing in Quantities Re
sponsible For Hardships
to Many
With prices of groceries and other
provisions soaring higher daily, offi
cials of the Evans-Burtnett Com
pany, Witman Brothers, Witman-
Schwarz and othor local grocers
urge consumers not to accumulate
food.
This, they say, has aided material
ly in forcing the prices of foodstuffs
up and has caused producers to
raise the price of all goods and also
to limit the supply.
"If the consumer would use sound
judgment and not buy more provi
sions thun he heeds for immediate
use, they could aid greatly in reduc
ing the hardships which they and
others have to endure," the say.
While it is rumored that there is
a shortage of cans for canning fruits
and vegetables, in this section, those
familiar with conditions said this
morning that there is no immediate
danger and that housewives here will
not suffer, as glass jat-s are almost
exclusively used here. These are
plentiful.
In an effort to avert a shortage of
| tin cans the National Preparedness
League and the Federal Government
have issued orders to big canning
concerns not to can peas, beans,
corn and other products, which can
be dried, but only to can perishable
fruits. Some producers of canned
goods have made complaint of the
shortage of cans, but it is the belief
of those familiar with conditions
that there will be plenty when the
season opens.
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FLOUGH AT M'-dHt "
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U S. TAKEN OFF BLACKLIST Jl
I London, April 26.—-The British blacklist of '►
. the 1
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mp
GERMANS PLAN FOR REPUBLIC , >
1 Washington. April ?6. -- :
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i'.'Mcan
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, GEN. WOOD DENIES ORDER IS RESCINDED ' ,
*•' . ' ' ' v*r<s L
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r> . • ' '
1 t the order had be cd which
to take command o( the new department of the south* 1 t
I ■ . f ;*>, tl . V
M'ADOO MAY ISSUE MORE CERTIFICATES | >
Washington, April 26-~-Secretary McAdoo is con*
g another ftering of $200,000,00< . J I
ites due June •
within the next ten day*.
• J
. 1
[MARRIAGE LICENSES
• !
Ralph Wll-on \<un(, If arrlabiir*, nnd l.nura Hnrhnrn Monmllla, '
Dnncannon.
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I'l 'ft A A w--- yy, rj
HOME EDITION
CONSCRIPTION TO
GET A MAJORITY
I OF HOUSE VOTES
Canv as s of Congressmen
Shows Army Bill Is Safe
From Pacifist Attacks
MAY VOTE SATURDAY
Senate Leaders Equally Con
fident of Sufficient
Support •
v
Majority For Draft
Washington, April 26.—A poll
taken to-day shows tliat 257
members of the House, forty more
than a majority of tlie entire
IMHIJ, will vote for conscription.
Tlie supporters of tlie Dent volun
teer bill are able to rally exactly
11:8 positive "yea" votes for the
hill. Kiglity me miters have either
declined to express their views or
are absent from Washington.
By Associated Press
Washington, April 26. Results
of the canvass to ascertain sentiment
of the House membership on the ad
ministration bill providing for rais
ing an army by selective draft, caus
ed renewed confidence to-day among
champions of the measure of its pas
sage by the House by a safe ma
jority. This was the reeling despite
the enthusiasm created among op
ponents of the bilt by Speaker
Clark's speech in opposition to the
draft system. Senate leaders were
equally confident of the bill's pass
age there.
The House canvass, taken by
friends of the bill, disclosed, it was
stated, a majority of from sixty to
seventy in favor of the measure.
Debate on the hill continued in
both houses to-day. In the Hous<;
the leaders tigured on reaching a
vote by Saturday at the latest and
in the Senate, Chairman Chamber
lain sought an agreement to tix a
i vote by that time. L