British Suffer Enormous Losses infkdt Drives on France f HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH _ _ (The Star- flnfopmfrent. • LXXXVI— Xo. 130 14 PAGES FRENCH ARMY STANDS FIRM UNDER ATTACK Germans Make Fruitless Effort to Push General Petain's Men Back From Vantage Points Won in Recent Bat tles; New Lines Withstand Bloody Assaults SAVAGE BLOWS DEALT AT FOUR POINTS FROM HINDENBURG'S SHAKEN POSITION Crown Prince Able to Take Advanced Trenches at One Point After Paying Heavy Price For Few Feet of Ground; Gas Shells Liberally Employed in Battle Desperate attempts by the Germans to push back the French! from the vantage ground won in the recent attacks by General Petain's forces in the Champagne region have been renewed. As a whole the French line remained intact under the suc cessive severe blows dealt it early to-day in a sustained effort of an extremely violent and sanguinary character, gas shells being 1 liberally employed. The front was dented at only one point and this but slightly, the Crown Prince's troops gained a footing in ] some advanced trenches northwest of Mont llaut. ' At the Teton and the Casque, at positions northwest of J Auberive and at Mont Blond, on the front against which the at tacks were launched, the net German gain was nil, the valuable ground which the French need for the pushing of a further of fensive, particularly for observation purposes, being retained intact. Along the British line in France the comparative, quiet was broken into only by trench raids. Increas ing artillery activity from the Arras battle front, however, is reported to day, the big guns on both sides hav ing started up again in somewhat lively fashion near Bullecourt and further north along the Scarpe east of Arras. British losses of nien in the Arras battle was reflected in the figures of casualties published dur ing May, which total 112,233, includ ing 5,902 officers. The political situation in Spain is being closely watched, particularly in view of to-day's newspaper an nouncement in Madrid that the con stitutional guarantees would short ly again be suspended. Former Pre mier Romanones is quoted as declar ing that conditions in the country which is known to be suffering keenly in a general economic way from the war as well as directly from submarine sinkings, were be coming graver every hour. He con sidered the recent great meeting of _j>ro-ally sympathizers as of enormous importance and as perhaps likely to exercise "a greater influence on for eign than on home policies." IS HE A QUITTER ORJUST SLACKER? Which in the better term for a man who disobeys the Se lective t>raft Law and refuses to register next Tuesday for fear he will me drafted? 1)1 ITTKft) One who quits; especially, a contestant in any nianlv sport who shirks although physically fit; hence, a shirker; a coward. —Standard Dictionary. SI, M'KKR: A person who slacks fis negli gent. tardy, slow); a shirk. I THE WEATHER For Harrisburg mid vicinity > In settled, probably ahonrri and thunderstorms tn-niuht ami Friday; ivarmrr to-night. For Kastern Pennsylvania: Prob ably honrr> and thunder storms to-night and Frlda.V; warmer to-night; increasing south winds. River The main river will rise this nf tcriioon and to-night and prob ably fall Friday. All tribu taries will probably fall to night. but some may ride Friday a* a result of heavy >huner>. \ singe of about 7.S feet is Indi cated for llarrlsburg Friday morning. General Conditions The disturbance that Man central over .New Mexico, Tuesday morning, has moved northeast ward without much riiuiiKc In energy and la now central aloiiK the western shore of I.ake Michigan. It has caused show ers and thunderstorms In the Inst twenty-four hours In the l>ower Missouri. Middle and Vpper Mississippi and Lower Ohio valleys and over the south ern and western portions of the I.ake Region. There has been a general fall of 2 to 14 degrees In temperature over the western half of the country since Tuesday morning. Hilling frost, with temperature degrees below freezing, oc curred at Helena this morning. It Is warmer In the Eaat. Temperature: 8 a. m„ AO decrees. *uni Rises, 4:31 a. m. Moon: l ull moon, Jane 5. River Stage; 0.2 feet. , Yesterday's Weather Highest temperature, 7. Lowest temperature. SI 1 Mean temperature, 64. .Normal temperature. 6. July Wheat Drops 89 Cents, But Bakers Do Not Favor Cheaper Bread By Associated Press . Chicago. 111., May 31.—July wheat to-day went under $2 a bushel and touched $1.94, which is S9 cents lower than the price which imme diately preceded restrictive regula i lions by the Board of Trade here i two weeks ago. Flour prices have to a large extent followed the lead of wheat. No agi l tation has developed among bakers to reduce bread prices, however. At The top of the market the B-cent loaf was advancd to 10 cents and the ! 15-cent made its appearance. This was brought about largely by the was advanced to 10 cents and the Supporters of Allies Force Spain Again to Suspend Constitution By Associated Press Madrid. May 31.—According to the newspapers, the constitutional guar antees will lie suspended again in two ! oi three days. Former Premier Count Romanones has declared to an intimate friend i that he regretted he was not invited to the mass meeting held by pro-ally sympathizers last Sunday, lie said that if he had been present he would have maintained the declaration made in his letter to King Alfonso at the time he resigned He added that many Liberals who were parti- I sans of the Allies would also have j liked to be present. Asked what he thought of the situation in Spain, the former pre ! mier declared that it became more j grave and more confused "every day and every hour of the day." The constitutional guarantees were suspended in Spain at the end of March following several strikes and serious disorders throughout the country. It was reported in Wash , ington that a revolutionary move ment was in progress, but this was denied by the Spanish ambassador, i The operations of the censorship have cut off definite information re j garding the recent internal situation I in Spain. George Weidman Groff Home From China After Five Years at Canton George Weidman Groff, formerly of Old Orchard, who is professor of scientific agriculture in the Christian College at Canton. China, arrived in Harrisburg at 12.30 to-dav after five years in the Orient. He was preceded by his wife and young son. who have been in the city for some months. Mr. Groff is a brother of Mrs. Ralph T. Diehl, of Paxtans He will remain in Harrisburg untii the latter part of the week, when he goes to State College 'for Groff day next Sunday. Mr. Groff has been one of the pioneers of scientific farming in China. He expects to remain in this country until the latter part of 1918 studying and further ntting himself for his work in the Christian Col lege. Mh Groff left in Canton Mr. and Mrs. A. Groff. formerly of Old Orchard, now connected with the big . missionary book rooms at Canton kXhey are in. good ilealUi. HARRISBURG, PA., THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 31, 1917. SENATOR ALLEGES SICK WERE ILL-TREATED ON V. S. HOSPITAL SHIP U.S.S.. SOI/ACE. SKA3TQR CAI/32FR.' Die I lilted States hospital ship, Solace, and United States Senator William M. Calder. of New York, who read to the l.nited States Senate a "round robin" signed by thirty invalid sailors aboard the Solace, alleging ill treatment and unsanitary conditions on that vessel. Among the charges made by the men were that, while ill with high fevers, they were compelled to carry their own baggage on board the ship; that drinking water, was \or\ scarce and always very warm; dishes used by men sick with measles were washed in the lavatory, where vessels were standing around tilled with germs of scarlet fever and mumps; all food was served to men on one platter. The Senate has as jet taken no action. EXPERTS GO OVER PARK PLANS WITH STATE OFFICIALS Final Session Before Commis sion Goes Out of Office; Street Lines Up Arnold W. Brunner and Warren J. Manning, landscape architects and engineers, are meeting with Gover nor Brumbaugh and members of the Capitol Park Extension Commission and the City Planning Commission, at the Capitol this afternoon, going over details for taking up the work of improving the tract as soon as leg islative appropriation makes the money available. Street lines through the park zone are under discussion and the city authorities will be asked to approve two streets, running north and south, and one east and west throughout the tract. Much of the work to be dis cussed at to-day's session has to do with plans already outlined and was made necessary by reason of the fact that the Capitol Park Commission goes out of office to-night, by legis lative enactment. Final details of its work were placed in the hands of the Department of Public Grounds and Buildings and the commission concludes its duties with everything in shape for the state to take up the grading and other preliminary improvement work as soon as the $350,000 to be provided by the Legis lature is at hand. SOI SA EN LISTS By Associated Press Great Lake, 111., May 31. —John Philip Sousa, who held the rank of lieutenant when he was director of the United States marine band at Washington, to-day became an en listed man of the United States Navy. He began the organization of the Great naval training station band, which he hopes to develop into one of three hundred pieces. I.OMi DIVORCE Sl'IT Beginning divorfce proceedings against his wife on January 26, 1903, Kavid Daub did not have the decree issued until to-day. The case was heard at the October term of court in 1904. and the divorce from Maria S. Daub granted on January 23, 1905. 5D| TO y|-* Registration Day S| • JUNE 5 "There Must Be No Gaps In The Ranks" PRESI In this hour of YOUR Country's need will they put YOU down as a MAN or as a GAP? "ALL MALE PERSONS" AGEI) 21 YEARS AND NOT PAST 31 MUST REGISTER BIG WAR TAX IS PLACED ON SUGAR COFFEE AND TEA I Senate Committee Removes Proposed Levy on Mu nitions Profits Washington, May 31.—The Senate I Finance Commitee to-day decided to ! p/ovide in tlie war taS* bill to raise i $80,000,000 by consumption taxes of i two cents a pound on coffee, Ave cents ! on tea, one-half cent on sugar and | three cents on cocoa. Substitutes for tea and coffee also will be taxed. Raise Millions From the next taxes the com . mittee estimates the following reve i nue will be raised: Sugar, $50,000,000; : coffee, $18,000,000; tea, $3,000,000, and cocoa, $7,000,000. Coffee and ! tea taxes will be levied upon imports, j Arrangements are being made to take care of import contracts made before May 1 by requiring purchasers from importers instead of the latter to pay the taxes. Under the House bill it was proposed to tax coffee 1 cent a pound and tea 2 cents. The decision to abolish the present special tax of 12 per cent, on war munitions was said to I e due to two reasons—diminishing of the tax and [Continued on Page 11] Coal Profits Permit Payment of a Great Dividend to Stockholders New York. May 31.—Directors of | the Lehigh Valley Coal Sales Com pany to-day declared a cash divi dend of 30 per cent, payable July 14 j and authorized an issue of new stock j for subscription by present stock j holders equal to 30 per cent, of their ' holdings. The company has the con j tract to dispose of the product of j the Lehigh Valley Coal Company ; and is controlled by stockholders of ] the Lehigh Valiey railroad. It is | capitalized at $10,000,000 of which j about $7,600,000 has been issued. I The stock dividend of 30 per cent. brings the capitalization of the com | pany to approximately the full au [ thorized amount. HALF REGISTERED UP TO THIS TIME CLAIM EXEMPTION Majority Have Dependants; 175 Persons Away Fvom Home Sign Up First unofficial totals of draft registration at the office of City Clerk R. Ross Seaman, of persons who will not be at their homes in points out side the county on June 5, were com puted to-day. Of the 175 who registered, not in cluding the 27 who signed this morn ing; 80 claim exemption from draft, the majority because they have de pendants, a few for physical disabil ity and several because of their posi tions. Ninety-five do not claim ex emption on any ground. The proportion rlaitning exemp tion increases with the age. The to tals for each year from 21 to 30 in clusive witli the number not claim ing exemption follows; Twenty-eight years, 8 of 11. Twenty-two years, 14 of It!. Twenty-three years, 11 of IS. , Twenty-four, 15 of 26. Twenty-five years, 6 of 19. Twenty-six years, 13 or 22. Twenty-seven years, 7 of 19. Twenty-eight years, 9 of 17. Twenty-nine years, 5 of 12. Thirty years, 7 of 17. Total, 95 of 175. Few Have Training All but eleven of those signing are natural born. Of the eleven four are aliens, one n naturalized citizen, and six declarants of intention to ap ply for naturalization. Only 15 of the 175 have had any military training, three in the Ital'- | ian army, one in Trinidad. British West Indies, and the remainder in National Guard units, or United States service. Five ball players of the Harrisburg New York State League team have signed, and one member of the Legis lature, John Hudson McKinney, of Franklin. Pa. ! An appeal was made by the city-i I draft registration board members to i | all employers in the city to make I some arrangement on Tuesday so I that employes who must register can | do so at intervals during the day j instead of crowding to the registra | tion places at night. Wants Interpreters I City Clerk Seaman also asked all I persons who can speak foreign lan j guages and are able to act as inter- I preters to volunteer their services for the registration. Three interpre- I ters have already been selected for the Seventh ward. They are Lazar IShumandan, Petru I). Petrieo and ; George Rasadan, who offered their I services. Determined not to let any one es | cape registration, Sheriff W. W Caldwell this morning gave instruc tions tib dare pick up proclamations or objects* of any nature dropped by Allied aviators in invaded territory. The. inhabitants are forbidden to ap proach any flying machine that may be obliged to alight in Belgian ter ritory and are obliged whenever an, aviator lets fall any object | to notify the burgomaster, who, in j turn, must report immediately to the | kommandantur. This measure is supposed in Bel gium to he intended to put an end to propaganda by the aviators of the Belgian, French and British flying corps, who have until now succeeded in keeping the Belgian.- remaining in occupied territory more or less posted on the military situation. Great Lakes Training Station Said to Be in First Class Condition Chicago. May 31.—The Great I„akes Training Station is one of the health iest communities in the world. Dr. Frank Billings, chairman of the health and sanitation committee of the Illinois State Council for De fense, announced to-day after a tour of inspection of the camp yesterday. Dr. Billings svas accompanied by Dr. Arthur Reynolds, for years health commissioner of Chicago, and Dr. K. J. Doering. formerly with the United Slate Marine Medical Service. deferring to a report that there has been an inordinate number of cases of spinal meningitis at the station, tiie doctors said they had found that less than one-half of one per cent, of the sailors who have passed through the station have been affected by the malady. At no time had there been a case of typhoid fever In the camp, they said. Scarlet fever and measies have visited the camp, but were quickly^stopped. Penn-Harris Hotel Plans Are Near Completion Final revision of the plans for the new million-dollar Penn-Harris Hotel was accomplished this afternoon at a meeting of the directors at which the architects and representatives of several contractors were rocetved. ■ rank A. Dudley, president of the i 'nited Hotels Company, which has i 'ten given the lease for the op | ration of the hotel, also was present. Kinal action probably will be taken I the directing board beforu the s nd of the week. Single Copy, 2 Cents BRITISH LOSSES TOTAL 112,233 I IN ONE MONTH Heavy Casualty Hecord Due to Great Offensive at Arras 5,902 OFFICERS ON LIST Number of Dead and Injured Less Than in Battle of Somnie By Associated Press London, May 31.—British casual ties as published in May srfiow a total of 5,902 officers and 106,031 men. The British offensive on the Arras front, involving some jf the severest lighting of the war, naturally has re sulted in a large increase in casual ties over the inactive winter season. Casualties for the last fow months have not been received, but in Feb ruary the total reported was only 1.243 officers and 17,185 men. Heavy Losses The assertion of the British that their losses are 50 per cent, smaller than in the battle of the Somnie, not withstanding the fact that larger forces are engaged, is not borne out by Hie May figures, although in the absence of the casualties report for April, curly in which month the offensive was launched, the showing is not conclusive. The casualties recorded in the first three months of the Somme drive were 307,169 officers and men. In August of last year, the second nonth of the Somme battle, the cas ualties were 127,94.". as compared with 112,233 for May. the second month of the Arras battle. KIDNAP RICH BABY By Associated Press Springfield, Mo„ May 31.—Lloyd. 14-month-old son of B. H. Keet, vice-president of the Holland Bank ing Company, was kidnaped while his parents were attending a dance at the Country Club last night. Bloodhounds were placed on the trail of the kidnapers early 10-day. s ' | , i k 1 I -. -. ■ . ■. •vl "- i. ■■■<-• • . 1 1 > I I J 1 ( | 3 ' ' r ; r , the I counti j I 4 s 1 ' r Philadelphia, was nominated to-day by President Wil- j I i ATTACK ENROLLMENT IN COURT s > p I ions to enjoin Governor Gardner, Mayor Ed\vards and I other tUui county and city officials I j dr.isr ).*;gist:t;on no' ,I'ijrv ! m the C it ■ ,rt herc to- . 1 I j POWDER PLANT PI OWS TIP [ Scranton, May 31. An explosion at t J . Powder Mills near Moosic.P*., to-day killed Thomas I Thomas and seriously burned Thomas Johnson an<| j|j I Geor R. Brown, all .< ■ > ; \ RIFFS WATCH SLACKERS" i| Jacksonville, Fla., May 31. Sheriffs along tl)* i F I * whe ■ • - • • ■ - the ' ite tor fore n ore* by launch or steamer to escape registration. The Sheriffs , • will detain any person within the age limit (suspected of. 11. trying to escape. * <-1 -t - _____ . i | MARRIAGE LICENSES ... L , n . ,r< '". o K hu Hockvllle, ■< l.onle llvrore Market, li .rH ■ n Jwl r* ~Mrv Kllmnbeth < orcj, Harrlaburt; ..TILVM I , . W*yeboro, HIMI Clara Hell HIKKIIIM, Williams- . i , J. ; "'.r'' 1 " aad Anna Jnnett Swnnberry, lltirrlnbursi Jo-| I -Luir"l . M WOn " , ."" d y'" 1 " Ktaerle, l>eter*biir< ' Samuel l,oel> and Mary Amanda alburn* fctouvbburg. V^iiiqivi(>> HOME EDITION GIGANTIC PLOT TO HARASS U. S. IS UNCOVERED Federal Agents Find Head-* quarters of Anti-Enroll ment Gang PRINTED CIRCULARS Scheme Is Well Organized and Has Finances in Plenty By Associated Press Columbus, Ohio, May 31. —A gigan, ! tic propaganda plot with national j headquarters in this city, organized i (o induce young men of military ago all over the United States to refrain from.registering for conscription next Tuesday, has been uncovered by state and government secret service agents, , according to announcement to-day ; by Governor Cox. Details of the plot, which was said | to have extended into many states, became known when United States j marshals raided a printshop and office at 111?4 South High street, | where practically all of the propa ganda literature was printed and dis tributed. It was stated that the plot j appeared to be well financed and well organized. KIIiLKI) HY GUARDSMAN By Associated Press Chicago, 111., Hay 31. —An uniden tified man, lurking near a railroad bridge at the outskirts of Chicago, to-day was shot and killed by a pri vate in an Illinois National Guard regiment. The man was shot after he had knocked down with a brick another guardsman who ordered him to approach for identification.