' ■ ; • i. j ■ • ; r ' ■ £ ,?v/'r ''. - ]VT British and German Armies Fight Bloodiest Batt Gain HARRISBURG {dSpftl TELEGRAPH (The Star- Unfctprn&fnt - LXXXVI— No. 107 24 PAGES „ BIG BATTLE RAGES WITH NO DECISION British Burst Through Oppy Line in Fighting That Is Bloodiest of Present Offensive; Supreme Effort Made by General Haig to Smash Wotan Line Back of the Hindenburg Positions; France's Iron and Coal Fields at Stake The British have burst through the Oppy line and are fight ing the bloodiest and sternest battle of the present offensive in a great effort to smash the famous Wotan line before its organiza tion is completed. The Hindenburg line, outflanked and pierced in several places, has failed to stop the forward suige of the British armies and the W otan positions arc the last gieat barrier barring the road to Douai, Cambrai and Germany's richest prize, in France, the great coal and iron fields north of Lens. The Wotan line runs from Drocourt to Queant, a stretch of fifteen miles running north and south about five miles west of Douai and Cambrai. Around Queant, the southern extremity of the line, General llaig has formed a great human nippers and is striving with all the powyr at his command to close the jaws of these nippers. Realizing the menace of the situation, the Ger mans are fighting with a grim determination which reckons no cost in blood tOQ high if it halts their advancing foe. Germans Counterattack Furious attacks are being- made by the Germans to stop the progress the British are making in. smashing | through the Hindenburg line in northern France. General Haig. however, has made good the most _ telling Kiiins effected in the renewal tB of the great drive yesterday. Fresnoy, three miles east of Vimy, j and the captured lines north and south of it are firmly held after the repulse of numerous severe counter- > attacks. A deep salient has been created in the Opp> line here. British Hold Fast Near Bullecourt In the Croiselles district southeast of Arras, the sector of the Hindenburu line taken yester- | day was also subjected to a heavy j countei drive but this valuable posi tion likewise remains safely in Brit ish hands. The Germans in Bulle- i court are nearly surrounded and | threatened with capture, corre spondents report. only on one narrow front was the British advance negatived. This was in the vicinity of Chetisy and on the Arras Cambrai road just to the north. Here the advanced positions taken were evacuated under the German pressure. New Successes Meanwhile activity (fcveloped and a new British success was scored in another part of the fighting front. Northwest of St. Quentin a deeper j wedge was driven into the German line and the Malakoff farm north east of Hargicourt was captured. The German, official report admits the loss of Fresnoy and of ground in the vicinity of Bullecourt to the Brit ish. It claims the capture of more than 1.000 prisoners. The renewed fury into which the great battle of Arras has flamed has diverted attention from the possible more significant events which arc shaping behind the battlefront. The German censorship has lifted as far as to allow newspapers and mails from Germany once more to reach the outer world, but there is ■ [THE WEATHER For llarrisburg und vicinity: Haiti l hi* afteraoon ami to-night; Saturday generally cloudy; con tinued cool. For Mantrrn Pennsylvania: Haiti to-night; Saturday cloudy, proh illy ruin in north portion: con tinued cool; fresh to ntronK rant winds, shifting to went, Saturday. Hlver A (general rain. Indicated for the >UM4|uehaiinn Valley duriiiK the next twenty-four to thirty hours. will probably cause a Kcncral. though probably not very decided rise in the river and 11 m tributaries. A stage of about 4.4 feet la Indicated for llarrisburg Saturday morning. General Condition* The center of the Southwest storm has moved from Went Texas to Knst Tennessee during; the last twenty-four hours with some Increase in intensity. It has caiiM*d rain since last report generally south and east of the Ohio ri\er. except the Florida peninsula, and In the Missouri. Middle and Lower Mississippi valleys and the Wet Gulf States, the heaviest reported occurring in \\>t Tennessee. Temperatures have fallen 4 to 20 degrees over nearly all the ter ritory between the Itooky Moun- | tains and the Mississippi rive* and continues helow normal over nearly all the remainder of the country. Fvosta occurred this morning It Pennsylvania, Xfw York, Michigan and In the West. Temperature: S a. m., 42 degrees. Sun: Klses. 4:54 a. ai. Moon: Full moon. May 6. Hlver Stage: 4.2 feet. Yesterday's Weather Highest temperature, #O. Lowest temperature, 43. Mean temperature, 52. Normal temperature, 57. | little information as yet as to what i lias transpired within the borders of ; the German empire during the last week. The German chancellor is once more reported to be about to make a pronouncement on peace be fore the Reichstag and his hand has apparently been forced by the junk er. These reactionaries, enraged j and alarmed by the apparent domi nance of the Socialist party, with its program of peace without annexa tions or indemnities, have presented an Interpellation to the chancellor in the Reichstag demanding that he clarify his position. The junkers are , stll clamoring for the annexation of Belgium and all reports indicate that ( the government must very shortly ' take a definite stand both on the j question of war aims and internal ' reforms. Germans Make Desperate Efforts to Regain Lines Lost in British Drives British Headquarters in Franco, via ' London, May 4. —The Germans made , j desperate counter-attacks throughout I the entire night against the position i won by the British yesterday, but were everywhere rapulsed. All through the brilliant moonlit'i night and again to-day British sol- I diers were fighting on a wide front. ! tenaciously holding the positions won yesterday in the face of the headlong i ounter-attacks or their foe. In some places the lighting ebbed and flowed as in the old days in the Soinme cam paign, when the casualties inflicted \ on the enemy were regarded as more i important than specific gains of ground. The present fighting, how- I ever, is more intense. The latest reports from the batle I j front show that the Hindenburg line i was pierced both northwest and southeast of Bullecourt for long dis tances. The Germans bitterly de- ] fended these strong points and at tempted several times to retake them ; I but once the British were in the doep trenches they held on. The men fought so steadily that 1 there was neither time for tliougr.t <>f food. The battlefields were dry j i and dusty, however, and water bot ! ties had to be replenished, time and i i again, whenever it was possible to • do so. British Compelled to Fall Back From New Positions in Cheristy London, May 4.—The British last i night made progress northwest of St. Quentin and northeast of Hargi court, capturing Malakoff farm, the war office announces. On the Arras from the British have maintained I their hold on Fresnoy and all the positions captured in that neighbor hood In yesterday's drive. > The British were compelled to fall | back from the advanced positions | captured yesterday in the neighbor hood of Cherisy and Astride, the , Arras-Chambrai road, the statement I adds. Annexation of Belgium Planned by Reichstag Amsterdam, May 4, via London. — | A Berlin dispatch says that during a j discussion of the tselgian Question in the Reichstag main committee, fhe progrcssve party declared that j the annexation of Belgium must be regarded as an accomplished fact and discussion concerning it was un desirable. A Center speaker said that the leaders of the Flemish people con sider it would be dangerous for Bel gium to come undbr the old dynasty. : A Conservative deputy considered i that the whole question was whether I | the coast of Flanders was to come | under German or English influence. HARRISBURG, PA., FRIDAY EVENING, MA Y 4, 1917 CONSIDER MEANS OF SOLVING FARM LABOR SHORTAGE Now Agent Is Installed at Bu reau of Chamber ol* Commerce ; TO DISTRIBUTE WORKERS Food Gardening in City and Country Will Be Placed [ j on Systematic Basis JI. G. Niesley, who was recently selected by State College to direct the work of the newly organized Dauphin County Farm Bureau, was | farm agent, this afternoon at one 1 o'clock in the office of the Chamber ' of Commerce, at a meeting of the t officers and the executive comrnit -1 tee of the bureau. All of the officers and the mem bers of the committee, who are ac i tive farmers with the exception of i Robert McCormick, the treasurer, i were present at the meeting. Prof. F. P. Weaver, of the extension bu ■ reau of the agricultural department 1 of State College, was also present | at the meeting. Will Distribute Workers Following the installation of the new farm agent general plans tor . work were discussed. The most im j portant discussion was that of as _ | sisting the farmers in the labor t problem, now confronting them. The Chamber of Commerce is now ready to become actively engaged in [Continued 011 Page 16] 200 Carpenters Out; Men Under Agreement Continue at Their Work i Officials of the Carpenter's Union , this morning announced that more than 200 of the men were still out on the strike as their demands for 50 cents per hour and an 8-hour day have not been met by many of the contractors. Men who were under agreement for the contractors who have met the demands of the union , | are still at work. A majority of the members of the Master Bricklayers' Association, it is said, have refused to sign the new 1 scale, although the union is making | every effort in that direction. Where I • the contractors have signed the union men have returned to work. ; The men have asked for an advance from 65 cents to 75 cents an hour. • The master bricklayers say they 1 have offered to compromise for 70 cents an hour, but the men are holding out for the full amount. Mrs. Wilson Presents a Fine Virginia Ham to Joffre For His Wife By Associated Press Washington, May 4. Madame Joffre, wife of the marshal of France is going to get a fine big sugar-cured Virginia ham, a gift from Mrs. Woodrow Wilson when the marshal returns to Paris. During one of the marshal's calls , at the White House Mrs. Wilson learned that Madame Joffre was very fond of American ham which is very scarce there. Mrs. Wilson sent to ; Virginia and procured an extraordin arily fine ham and sent it to Marshal Joffre, asking him to take it back to Madame Jeffre wth her compli , , ments. The ham carefully packed, will go with the marshal's personal . effects when he leaves the United States. Definite Plans Made to Send Hospital Units to the French Front By Associated Press Washington, May 4. Definite 1 plans have been completed for send ing United States army base hos-1 pltals to the fighting front in France. The number of the units, the time of their departure, the means of their . transportation and their exact des -1 tination cannot for obvious reasons r be disclosed. The sending of the American hos pital units is in accord with the plan .! to increase hospital facilities behind the front. • Turkey Plans to Destroy Its Jewish Population , , By Associated Press London, May 4.—According to the ' Jewish Chronicle, the Turkish gov ernor of Palestine has publicly pro i claimed the intention of the author • ities mercilessly to destroy the Jew ish population, applying the same policy adopted in Armenia. The Chronicle says that many thousands of Jews in Palestine are starving and r I homeless. OOAI/ AT S 13.20 j . By Associated Press New York, May 4.—The lowest bid offered on a city coal contract for the next eleven months is $13.20 ; a ton. This is nearly 60 per cent, above the price paid by the city for coal last year. The feeling was expressed by city officials that much of the Increase in the bids was specu- I latlve. CAPITOIi HI 1.1. Ol'T NEXT WEEK , Chairman Woodward, of the Houne : approriations committee, will have the! appropriation bill for Capitol Park ' extension reported out next week, j The subcommittees are favorable to I allowing as much of the half million asked as possible. t LEADER OF RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT UNDER FIRE gmmm K Iqjiv EL V . J|L $ H| MHr ] PROF Professor Milukoff, minister of foreign affairs for the Russian provisional government, has been designated as the strongest . figure in the reconstructed empire. He is now under lire of the soldiers and workmen organizations tor his statement that ltussia will not desert he r allies. To-day's reports are to tho effect that his resignation is demanded because he did not consult 1 abor in formulating this policy. MAY KILL PLAN TO ALLOW EXPERT NAME ARCHITECT Five Members of School Roard Cast Rullots Against Joint Finding Dr. K. L Keen, llarty M Kretx, Harry A. Boyer, William A. 801 l and George A. Werner, five members of the City School Board, yesterday aft ernoon voted against the plan pre sented at a meeting of the Schoci Board and Citizens' Advisory Com mittee, to submit the selection of an architect for the high school devel opment program to Professor War ren P. Laird, dean of the School of Architecture of the University of Pennsylvania, an authority in this country on architectural questions. While this recommendation to /the [Continued on Page 17] Social Democrats Hit at Milukoff's Policy By Associated Press London. May 4. —A Petrograd dis patch says that the Novaia Zhizn, the organ of the Social Democrats and other Extreme Left newspapers, severely criticise Foreign Secretary Milukoff's not to the Allies asserting Russia's determination to vigorously push the war against Germany. The note will be discussed this evening at an extraordinary general meetine of the Council of Workmen s and Soldier's Delegates. English Are Two Weeks Ahead in Their Schedule By Associated Press Washington, May 4. —The British forces on the western front are two weeks ahead of their attacking schedule, according to a cablegram received here to-day by Secretary Balfour from the Foreign Office. The advance, it said, has been much faster tnan expected and the losses smaller. The losses were said to be only one-half as large proportionally as those on the Sotr.me offensive last year. This is attributed by members of the mission to an incomparably better artillery preparation and the fact that the men are not allowed to outrun the guns. Advertise Bids For Riprapping River Slope Commissioner E. Z. Gross of the Park Department, to-day advertised for bids for riprapping the river slopes front Calder to Maclay streets. The proposals will be opened May 14 at the Park offices. This important improvement, de layed throughout the entire sum mer last year, will be started as soon as possible this spring, Com missioner Gross announced. When the slopes\ are planted, serious wash-outs along the bank, which usually occur with the spring floods. Will be prevented. Fortunately so far this year the river did not get high enough to cause any seri ous damage to the slopes. Vawter Completes His Defense in Murder Trial By Associated Press Ohristiansburg. Va., May 4.—The defense in the trial of Professor Charles E. Vawter, charged with murdering Stockton Heth, Jr., rested this morning after presenting two witnesses who testified that they saw Vaster between 9.30 and 10.30 o'clock on the night of the shoot ing and that he was not drinking. Mrs. Vawter was not recalled to the stand to-day for continued cross examination as had been expected. After a brief recess the state then began the introduction of testimony in rabutuU. FOURTEEN U. S. GUNNERS PICKED UP BY BRITISH I . Americans Missing From Tor pedoed Rockingham Are Rescued at Sea ' Loudon, May 4.-—Tlie admiralty reports that the missing boat from the Rockingham, with ull the four teen men, has been picked up by a British steamer. The gun crew on the Rockingham was in charge of Chief Petty Officer Arthur Wood. Captain Charles Edwards, of the American steamer Rockingham, was j barefoot when he arrived in Lond'on j derry, Ireland, late Wednesday night j and the 32 members or his crew who were with him were scantily clad. They were eared for by the Ameri can consul. Tried to liscnpe Captain Edwards said that he . lighted two submarines on Tuesday 1 afternoon at a distance of five miles | and attempted to escape by steering j a zigzag course. Despite his efforts a torpedo struck the steamer near I the engine room on the starboard I side and killed two men. One of the vessel's four lifeboats was smashed, but the others got clear just before the steamer sunk. One of the submarines came close to a lifeboat and asked the destina tion, carao and tonnage of the Rock ingham. Captain Edwards asked the Questioner to tow the lifeboats toward land, but the man pretended not to understand, although he spoke good English. He finally refused to give any help, told the refugees they could get ashore as best they j could and the U-boat submerged. The three lifeboats kept to gether until nightfall, when one got separated. A patrol boat rescued the men in the two boats which had remained in company, but could not find the third. Heroism Shown in Rescue of Drowning Soldiers By Associated Press Paris, May 4.—A Marseilles dis patch to the Matin says that the pa trol ships which went to the rescue of the torpedoed transport Arcadian showed great heroism and determina tion in saving the victims of the sub marine. Both officers and men leaped overboard and held up drowning sol diers. One patrol saved 236 men in an hour and a half. Ex-President Taft's Son Is Rejected by U. S. Army Cincinnati, 0., May 4.—Robert A. Taft, a lawyer, son of former Presi dent Taft, was rejected by physicians examining applicants for the officers' reserve corps at the General Hospital here yesterday. His eyes were found to be weak. Young Taft was approved in all other departments of the test. OFFER U. S. BIG PLANTS By Associated Press Pittsburgh, May 4.—A. L. Humph rey, president of the Pittsburgh l<Vn ployers' Association, It was announc ed to-day, has offered to the gov ernment many manufacturing plantß in the Pittsburgh district represent-, ing an invested capital of $500,000,- 000 and employing 100,000 for war time needs. PHtI.ADBI.PHI4 OKFIC&Rg HERB Colonel Hamilton D. Turner and Major Harry A. Hall, of the Second Artillery Regiment of Philadelphia, were in consultation with Adjutant General Stewart to-day regarding the equipment and recruiting of the com mand. GOVERNOR MAS THIRTY 811.1.K Governor Brumbaugh has thirty bills In his hands for action, the larg est number at any one time In weeks ! Most of them were passed this week ' by the Legislature. The Governor has 1 vetoed over a score of bilis. 1 STEELTON PLANS GREAT PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATION I Steel Mills and Industries to Re Closed; City Invited to Take Part Steelton is to have the greatest I I borough-wide demonstration May 19] !in its history. Aside from Steelton ; ; residents taking part In the demon- 1 1 stration, invitations have been ex- j ! tended to all orpar'nations in this j j city and to residents of Highspire, I I Oberlin, Enhaut, and all surrounding 1 I towns. About 12,000 people from Steelton and nearby hamlets will i take part and several thousand are expected from Harrisburg. About 150 residents, representing churches, fraternal, civic, Red Cross [Continued on Page 15] Bands Will Play French National Hymn in Honor of Jotfre on Visit Here j It was announced at the Chamber j "f Commerce office this morning that | definite information as to the time of | arrival and the length of the stay of j Marshal .Toffre and the French Mis- J sion in Harrisburg on Tuesday had [ not yet been received by the commit | tee yet, but that such information j is expected early to-morrow morning. | As soon as the definite time of ar • rival of tbe French general is learn ed the committee will make detailed I plans for the big reception, j The committee has already planned for plenty of music and the "Savior of Franc#," the Minister of Justice and the other members of the party , will e greeted with the martial strains of the "Marsellaise," the French national hymn, as they set foot in Harrisburg. It is the plan of the committee to have the l-Fench general and his party complete a I short line of march so that every j person in the city will be given a chance to see them. Three bands will be secured for the occasion. 300 Labor Unions to Be Represented at Convention Here 3 Days Next Week More than 300 labor unions will t}, represented in the convention of th® American Federation of l.abor to ha held here May 8 to 11. Prominent speakers will address the meetings tp, he held In the Board of Trade build**' ing. including John Price Jackson. Dr.' J. R. Anderson, of the Association ht" Labor Legislation and H. M. Bioolts, I president of the Central Ijibor Union. | The Railroad trainmen will be repre-J sented by George B. Rowand and S.l R. Turner. The credential and auditing com mittees were at work this morning In the Federation headquarters. Plans are being made for the entertainment qf the men who will come to the city,.' One of the evenings, possibly Thurs-! day, the delegates will attend the MiA-; jestic Theater In a body. The meef irigroom will be decorated by Keene*"' the florist. ' Neither Scott Nearlng or Samuel Gom tiers will he able to speak at the I convention as had been expected. Both men have asked to be excused because of previous engagements and signi fied their willingness to come to Har risburg when they are able and it Is suitable to the Federation. HI SS TO SEND MISSION Petrograd, May 4.—A commission ■ representing the Russian provincial government will leave in the near future for America, to confer with I American government officials, con jcerning the Industrial, economic and financial relations of the two coun tries. Information to this effect was ! obtained by the Associated Press : from a high official source. I.V> GERMAN DBI.BGATtON!! By Associated Press Copenhagen, via London. May 4. | The fierman Socialists have sent an Imposing delegation to the Intern tlonai conference,! at Stockholm. ; IN AGAIN Davy Lowe has been sent to Jul I again. Single Copy, 2 Cents HOME EDITION RUSSIAN MINISTRY ATTACKED FOR ITS STRONG WAR STAND Resignation of Milukoff, Strong Man of the Revolution and Best Friend of Germany's Enemies, Demanded For His Proclamation Stating That Country Would Continue War Without Slackening Effort; Parade With Red Flags Disquieting reports come from Russia of the attitude to ele ments among the soldiers and workmen toward the provisional government. Demonstrations are oecuring in the streets of Pet rograd against Paul N. Milukol, the minister of foreign affairs, his resignation being demanded. Professor Milukoff is considered one of the strongest men in the new Russian regime, a true friend of the entente cause as a whole and thoroughly in favor of an energetic prosecution of the war by Russia. The radical elements opposed to him appear to have beee excited to action by the provisional govern ments's communication to the allied nations, made public yesterday which committed the government to continuation of the war without slackening of effort. They declare they should have been consulted in this matter. Pctrograd, May 4. Some of the banners carried by the paraders were inscribed "Down With Guchkoff" (the minister of war), and "Down With the Provisional Government." The executive committee of the workmen's and soldiers' delegates discussed M. Milukoff's note to the allies all of Wed nesday night, it adjourned at daybreak yesterday without having reached a decision. Later in the day the committee sat in special session with the council of the provisional government of a dis cussion of the government's motives in issuing the note. The executive committee finally decided that it must take some action regarding the note, but it saw no reason for demanding the res : ignation of the provisional government. The committee induced the soldiers engaged in demonstrations to return to the barracks. Petrograd, May 4. via London.— Detachments of soldiers have gather ed in front of the palace which is used as the headquarters of the pro visional government, carrying red flags with inscriptions demanding *' HOUSE STRIKES OUT CENSORSHIP | if 4 ensorship section of ! the A t , CHICAGO GREETS FRENCH ENVOYS.- L 11 at noon Marshal Joffre and former Premier V i were greete i *, ► jj SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES INSURANCE ' Washington, May 4. Tnt admin ! 1 1 insurance of lives of crews on American merchan- ► * ships was reported favorably to day by the Senat' | f Finance Committee. L I n £ DISCUSS SHIPPING PROBLEMS Washington, May 4. lmportant * i j < CONFER ON ARMY BILL -,i , j Washington> May 4 Conferees of the He j : ( ;n the an 1 1 N sidering • conscript >n The principal differ- II cnoe is the. age limit The Senate made it 21 to 27 and 1►; i • the HOUM made it 21 to 40. j i ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PROSECUTE ' ] Philadelphia, May 4 —Attorney ( i ' day annou t , < • prosecute every person who had anything. to do with 1 | I' alleged fraud in the Pittsburgh Life and Trust Company. ' ! '■ * ' ■ i !' ' . ...... V *v' ,i < MARRIAGE LICENSES "<*Wr , !| 1 > SSlff SZZZ SiES.",:? WaEiri:? , KlUHbethtown. *' •!', Ralph KUrltlnger Mannlnu a n d Kettle Lonltc Ballet*, Harrlaburs.l > i • the resignation of Foreign Minister Alilukoff. The resignation of M. Milukofl was demanded by thousands of sol [Continued on I'HKC 17]
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers