Great Wheat Belt ofSoutheast Ear ope Sought HARRISBURG iSlJitll TELEGRAPH LXXXVI— No. 189 14 PAGES KAISER SEEKS GRAIN FIELDS IN NEW DRIVE German Army Hopes to Capture Big Wheat Producing Country in Southwest Russia Before Farmers Can Har vest Crop and Carry It to Safety; Odessa Believed to Be Objective of Late Summer Campaign London, Aug. 9.—Recent reports that the present German offensive in southwest Russia is aimed at the capture of Odessa are strengthened by a dispatch to the Times from that city say ing the belief is growing there that the port is Germany's main objective and that Bessarabia will soon become the principal theater of operations, as the enemy presses toward Odessa. The correspondent adds that the harvest is now being leaped in southern Russia and the enemy doubtless will try to secure it before it can be removed. Germans Make Use of Terrible New Poison That Tortures Before It Kills Hazebrouck, France. Aug. 9. British medical officers are trying to determine the nature of the new poison used, it is believed, for the first time by the Germans in the French town of Armentiers near the Belgian frontier. The poison bore' a certain resemblance to the gas which temporarily blinded a large number of British troops a fort night ago, but its effect are intinite ly more serious. A number of persons taken from Armentieres are in a grave condi tion. Many have died in hospitals at Hazebrouck, Aire-on-the-lys at St. Pol on the Ternoise, where most of the victims were taken. The first time the poison was ob served it coincided with the tiring into the town of a hail of shells of calibre insufficient to break the pav ing. These contain neither powder nor gas, but a colorless liquid which spreads over the soil. In the streets and courtyards and gardens, where the shells burst, traces of the nox ious liquid may be found. Penetrating Gas As the liquid evaporates it pro duces a heavy gas which penetrates from room to room and descends in to the collars. It is tenacious in character and seems to make more victims among women than men, closing about their hair. The fumes of tobacco seems to ace an antidot of men. The odor is variously described as resembling that of acetylene, mag nonette or pungent mustard. Its effects are not immediate. Some inhabitants of Armentieres who in haled the emanations in the fore noon returned homo without ex periencing any ill effects and took luncheon, but five or six hours later they were obliged to take to bed and their condition became rapidly worse. Victims Suffer The victims at first were affected in the bronchial tubes, then their eyes swelled and eventually they lost their sight. Their symptoms were accompanied by a feeling of burning inside and an incessant cough and fever. The skin turned an earthly color and in several cases death followed rapidly. Oc casionally, in addition to the symp toms mentioned, the victims were affected by terrible hallucinations and delirious laughter. British Repulse Attack on Lines in Flanders Bondon, Aug. 9.—To the northwest of Bixschoote the French gained fur ther ground against the Germans during the day. while the British repulsed attempted raids by hostile contingents at several points on their front, according to the official cam munication issued to-night. A heavy rain is again falling in Flanders. THE WEATHER For llarrlaburg ami vicinity I I'robubly showers tills after noon or to-night, cooler; Fri day partly cloudy. For Fastern I'ciuisylviinln t Prob ably Hhiinrra thlN afternoon or to-night, cooler! Friday partly cloudy) gentle northwest Hindu. River The .North and Went brunches 11l rlNe decidedly In the next twenty-lour bourn, except the upper portlonH, which will prob ably begin to fall tliln after noon, to-night and Friday. A stage of about R.K feet IN Indi cated fur llarrlaburg Friday morning, with n maximum stage of about 8 feet Saturday. A maximum atage of about 10 feet IN Indicated for Tonanda anil about 15 feet for Wllkea-Ilnrre. General (ondltlons The storm area thnt wan central nenr l,ake Superior, Wednesday morning, lias overspread the Atlantic Statea anil Southern IVew Kiighind, with ahowera generally from the tirent l.akes enatward to the Atlantic coaat and south and* eaat of the Ohio river. The showera were heavy and per sistent In the Susquehanna Val ley. Scattered ahowera fell In some localltlea In the Went, Temperature i 8 a. in., 78 degrees. Sum Rises, 5 : 07 a. m. Mooni Rises, I0i2 p. m. River Stage i 4.4 feet. ... . Veaterday'a AVeather Highest temperature, 88. I.oweat temperature, 73. Mean tempuerature, 78. Xnrmal temperature. 74. News From Flanders Is of Scant Propqrtions; Artillery Only Is Active News from the Flanders front Is of scant proportions, the most im portant announcement being the British official report that the French have again effected a gain of ground on their front northwest of Bix schoote. No mention is made in either the British or the French statements oi' the extent of the ar tillery activity which yesterday was giving indications of growing inten sity. The front in France was inactive last night except for the customary artillery bombardment in the Aisne region and somewhat lively raiding operations on the part of the French forces. Itecent advices from Southeastern Kussia have reflected the opinion that the Teutonic offensive from Ga- Ijcia and Buffowina had the Black Sea port of Odessa in view, with the grain crops In Bessarabia the imme diate objective. Whatever the aim of the Teutons, however, the stiffen ing of the Russian defensive is at least slowing down their advance, having apparently checked It alto gether In some sectors. The slight increase in the number of Hritish vessels sunk by sub marines or mires last week, as shown by yesterday's report, is coupled with the announcement of an Increase also In the French losses for that period, although the total is as usual notably small. Four of the olass of 1,600 tons or more were sunk, against two the preceding week, and two vessels of the smaller tonnage, as compared with one. Italian losses were smaller. Austria Masses Many Big Guns on Italian Front For Fall Campaign Rome, Aug. 9.—Military circles report that General Conrad Von lloetzendorf, Austrian chief of staff, has moved his headquarters from the Trentino to the Isonzo, ordered huge artillery concentration, has withdrawn a majority of the troops from the first lines to spare them from bombardment and has taken other measures apparently in pre paration for an autumn campaign. These moves, says the Idea Nazi onale, have been provoked by ac tivity on the Russian front, although they have been slow In coming be cause the Austrian military authori ties, even in defiance of the Ger man supreme command, have hesi tated to report their mistake of a year ago when they weakened their Italian line to proceed against Gen eral Brussiloff. Four More Americans Decorated For Bravery Paris, Aug. 9. Four additional members of the American field serv ice have been awarded the cross of war. The men honored are W. York Stevenson, of Philadelphia; Howard R. Gamble, of New York;. Hugh El liott, of Evanston, 111., a student in Northwestern University and Charles Isbell of North Adams, Mass., a stu dent at Dartmouth. French Clear Germans From Trench During Night Paris, Aug. 9.—in the region of the Ridfife of Chevregny and the Pantheon there was artillery activity last ninht, nays the official report out to-day by the French war office. North of Vaux L#es Palameix, on the Aisne front, a French detach ment cleared a Heuton trench, in flicting losses on the Germans, and returned to their own lines unhurt. Home of Conscription Advocate Dynamited Montreal, Aug. 9.—The summer home at Cartlerville of Lord Athel stan, publisher of the Montreal Star, was dynamited last night. Lord Athelstan and his family were In the residence at the time, but were not injured. The house was badly dam aged. The Montreal Star has been a warm advocate of conscription. The evident attempt to take Athelstan's life followed the receipt by the pub lisher of numerous threatening let ters, posted in the United States, warning him that the passage of the Canadian conscription bill would re sult In his deuth within ten days and of other prominent Montreal persona. HARRISBURG, PA., THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 9, 1917. THOUSANDS FROM CITY AND NEARBY TOWNSATANNUAL GROCERS' PICNIC ~- ■ ■ V : *• ; ' "..'■ >■■ ;P: " ' ; -" : ■■;■;:■■-'•. '" : " ■ y • ■■- ; ' V/- .' ' v-, ■-■; ,v /- ' hbßMs6§wssß^^ RECORD CROWD LEAVES IN THREE SPECIAL TRAINS FOR BIG FUNFEST AT HERSHEY PARK; BASEBALL GAME, CONTESTS AND RACES; SCORES OF PRIZES FOR WINNERS OF EVENTS; BAND CONCERTS AND DANC ING TONIGHT With Jupiter Pluvius completely routed after a night of almost con tinuous rain and storms, clear skies this mornkig with gentle southwest erly breezes made an ideal day for the tenth annual retail grocers' pic nic at Hersbey Park. The attendance this year exceeded all previous records and long before time for the special trains to loave hundreds of persons were hurrying to the station. 'JMiree sections were needed to accommodate the enor mous crowd, and all the cars were I completely tilled by 8 o'clock when the first train left. Just before lcav-J WOULD SEND U.S. ARMY TO RUSSIA TO AID MORALE Member of Elihu Root's Mis sion Believes It Would Have Moral Effect By Associated Press Washington, Aug. a.—Members of the American mission to Russia, headed by Elihu Root, devoted ths day to conferring informally with administration officials and in see ing friends after having made a re port to President Wilson and Sec retary Lansing on their observations of present conditions in the new democratic republic. While the report itself has not been given out, it is known that tha commissioners expressed confidence that Russia, with America's finan cial and moral assistance, could be counted upon to do her share in the war and come out a great republic. Going a step further than his as [Cont'nued on Page IS] Landslides Block Tracks on Williamsport Division; Trains Many Hours Late Ho-avy rains yesterday afternoon sent hundreds of tons of dirt over the Northern Central tracks near Montoursville, south of Williamsport. Express train No. 568, due here last night nt 10.55, hit one of the slides, badly damaging tlie engine. No pais scngers were injured. Train ser.ice was knocked com pletely out. Passengers eastbountf reached Harrisburg to-day, seven hours late. One train was made up at Sunbury. The first train reached Harrisburg about 10.45 this morning. All passengers were given their breakfast at the Pennsylvania Rail road station at the expense of the Pennsylvania Itallroad Company, the trains stopping over here thirty min utes. Trains were sent to and Tyrone, and came east over the Middle Division. No freight was run out of this city. The slides are the worst that have occurred in several years. Tracks for a distance of 500 yards were covered with dirt and stone. Wreck crews and construction gangs from five different points were sent north and at noon to-day one track was completely opened and the second track went into service late this afternoon. Dog in Fight Bites Man's Hand When He Tries to End Scrap "Views of an Innocent Bystander," by D. W. Poet, of Speeceville, con tains an interesting bit of advice to the effect that when two dogs are settling a little matter of personal difference concerning the owner ship and monopoly of a private bone-burying ground, let them argue their points in their own way and language. Mr. Poet came here from Speece ville this morning and was looking over the city when a loud snapping and snarling attracted him to the Vicinity of the Metropolitan Hotoi. There in a circle of spectators two dogs Were being urged on to deadly combat. Things were going well enough for some time, but a sudden sortie by the bulldog caught the terrier un aware. Mr. Poet Interfered and the bulldog turned on him, biting his hand. lie was treated by a physi cian. ing members of the committee mak ing arrangements and the Municipal l/and paraded the downtown streets. Hundreds more left shortly after noon in special trains to join the,big crowd already at the park. By the looks of the baskets loaded in the baggage cars, not very many I women are in sympathy with Her j bert Hoover's food conservation plan. The baskets were packed to the brim with tempting articles to appease I the hunger of the big crowds at mess I time. In addition hundreds of pret- I zeis, packs of chewing gum, candy ) [Continued oil Page o.] CONGRESS MAY DOCHAUTAUQUA 'TURN' FOR WAR President Will "Do His Bit" to Enlighten Every Part of the Nation By Associated Press Washington, Aug. 9,—Congress may turn itself into a great Chautauqua when it finishes work here, to en lighten every section of the country on the need of prosecuting the war \ igorously, not only as a war for world democracy, but as a fight for American rights and preservation. President Wilson himself may "do his bit' in the same direction, possi bly by a speech on some occasion, or by a letter to congressional leaders. Plans were in a nebulous state to day, but all the undercurrent in offi cial quarters was toward such a move. Congress leaders were talking ot asking every representative and sen ator to go through his district during the recess. Those who favor the plan point out that the country is hearing many agi tators who oppose the draft and par ticipation in the war. They think that fathers and mothers who are giv ing sons to the colors should hear something of the other side of the question, Schwab Refuses to Make Steel Rails For U. S. at Price Fixed by Government New York. Aug. 9. —Wall Street was startled yesterday by a report that the Bethlehem Steel Company —the Krupps of America—had re fused to accept from the United States government an order to make rails for delivery In France and that its refusal for owing to a dis agreement over price. The particu lars were that the government had requested the Bethlehem company to make its proportion of 150,000 tons of rails at S4O a ton, and that the company had refused on the ground that it cost $4 0 a ton to make them. Therefore, in its opin ion, the price was unreasonable. Charles M. Schwab, the controlling force in the Bethlehem Steel Cor poration, was reached at his home in Loretto, Penn., last night, but re fused to discuss the report. Washington, Aug. 9.—Details of the report that the Bethlehem Steel Corporation lias refused to accept its proportion of the government's order for rails could not he confirm ed last night, but it was stated on good authority that several steel makers have taken such action. The price fixed for the 150,000 tons re quired at this time is S4O a ton. Speeding Erection of Big Airplane Assembly Plant Work on the new aviation assem bly project near Middletown is going forward with all possible speed. The entire twenty-one acres was cleared of corn to-day One hundred men and thirty-two teams are switching from one point of activity to another as fast <\s they are needed. The Pennsylvania Railroad has a force of mer. busy on preparations for a siding. The office building is completed. Contractors say they In tend to rush the work with such speed that each day will show siirns of rapid progress. Just before the three special trains pulled out this morning for Her sliey the TELEGRAPH photographer caught a few pictures of the big crowd going on the annual outing of the grocers. Above is one crowd wait ing for the conductor to let them out to the cars; the other shows them waving farewell to others who did not go until this afternoon. Below is a glimpse of the parade before the crowds left. TO ENLIST FOR QUARTERMASTER CORPS OF ARMY Local Officers Will Recruit For This Branch of Service An order received this morning by the local recruiting station from the War Department instructs them to accept men for enlistment in the quartermasters' corps of the National Army. All applicants will be ac cepted as privates and the men who enlist at the present time will have an opportunity to become noncommis sioned officers. All noncoms are to be promoted from the ranks of the men who enlist now. This gives the men who stand hlgn on the draft list the last opportunity to become non commissioned officers. Only a few special and technical units of the National Army will be made up of enlisted men; the others from men who are drafted. The quar termasters' corps now open is said to be one of the most desirable branches of the service. No arrangement has been announced whereby drafted men can specify the branch of service they desire, although thousands of letters, have been received at the national headquarters asking such assignment. The men enlisting before they are [Continued on l'age 12.] Too Much Publicity So Dogcatcher Quits; New Man Appointed to Job After making sl6 the first day, cornering the unlicensed canines of the city, the new dogcatcher has resigned, saying he didn't like all the newspaper publicity about his occupation. "City detectives are not heralded by the newspapers, why should a dog detective who must needs work covertly be given so much publicity?" he demanded wnen tendering his resignation. Good jobs never go begging for good men and his place was im mediately taken by Wllbert Add Shade, who satisfied Chief Wetzel concerning his ability as a rounds man of dogs. Urged on by the slogan, "A Dollar a Dog", Shade was ready to make a record cleanup when word came from the city treasurer's office saying thev were entirely out of tags and the new catcher would have to wait a few days until a sufficient supply had arrived. Not wanting to work a hardship on the residents of the city, Chief Wetzel is holding up the canine roundup. Live Crab and Paper Picker Have Trouble at Pennsy Trainshed One live crab, crawling along the tracks in the Pennsylvania railroad train shed this morning, caused all kinds of trouble for the man who saunters over the trackß picking up waste paper. The wire "gig" was useless and the paper picker seem ed to be afraid to use his hands.- He couldn't persuade the crab to crawl into his paper can, and when he scooped up the crab with a shovel, the "bug" crawled off the scoop. Finally he bowled over his can and pushed the crab into it with his foot. No use! Clinging" to a shoe string with one of his pinc ers, the crab got out again. Thei paper picker ended his trouble by putting his heel on the crawler, I which crawled no more. WAIVE RIGHTS TO EXEMPTION FORP.R.R.MEN Officials Higher Up Say It Is Up to War Board; May Be Exceptions Philadelphia, Aug. 9.—The Penn sylvania railroad has waived all rights to have its employes made exempt from military service on the ground that they are necessury to the country in keeping the rbad in full operation. Following a report from Holll daysburg, Pa., that 900 firemen were about to claim exemption from the draft on this basis, officers declared that the question of exemption had been fully considered by the board of directors, with the result that the railroad at present has no inten tion of asking the exemption privi lege. What action may be taken at Washington, where the affairs of all the roads of the country are in the hands of the Railroads' War Board, as a branch of the Council of Na tional Defense, is not knwn. Thus far, however, no word has come to the Pennsylvania that its attitude will be questioned. Samuel Rae, president of the Pennsylvania, Is a member of the Railroads' War Board. Many Men Registered Seven thousand Pennsylvania men come under the draft regulations, it was learned yesterday. By offi cers of the road it is, believed a large proportion of this number will be exempt under the regulation cover ing men with dependents. The stand taken by officialdom at "Broad Street" is that every line of business must expect to suffer from withdrawals for army purposes and that the railroads should not claim the privilege of exemption unless the drain should bring on a crisis. While the road is using every man in its employ to the limit, most of the men subject to the draft, it is said, would come out of the class of clerks and indoor minor officials. Locomotive engineers, almost without excep tion, are above the thirty-one-year limit, this group being made up of older men, who have served an ap prenticeship as fireman. Some loss es are expected from firemen and brakeinen, but these, It is said, could be filled without much trouble. With regard to the officers, few are liable to call and those mostly are no*,v filling places which, similar to the ease of the firemen, can be substi tuted. The road would not bind Itself not to ask lor exemption in exceptional cases. It Is possible, it was said, that here and there, where a man in a specialized field could not be re placed, an exception might be made. But as a general proposition, no exemption move will be made in this first call. Chambersburg Man on Cattle Ship Sunk by German Submarine Newport News, Va„ Aug. 9.—De struction of the British steamer Ar galla with forty American muleteers by a German submarine was reported by cable to-day to the ship's agents here. Captain Morris and ten of the crew were lost; survivors were landed at Glasgow. Whether any of the lost were Americans was not reported. The Arfcalia left here July 18 for a British port with a cargo of horses. She was anout twenty days out when sunk and it Is believed that she had landed her cargo and was en route to Glasgow. Americans on board Included J. G. McCaulfy, Chambershurflr, Pa., and William W. Wallace, Scranton. ' Single Copy, 2 Cents HOME EDITION i PRESIDENT TO NAME HOOVER FOOD DICTATOR Administration's Control Bill to Be Signed by Wilson Tomorrow LIQUORS ABE BANNED Chief Executive Given Great Powers Under Act Passed ' . by Congress Washington, Aug. 9. Ail is in readiness to-day for putting the ad ministration's food control and food survey bills into effect as soon as they become law with President Wilson's signature. The President will sign tlje bills to-morrow after the presiding officers df the Senate and House affix their signatures to the measures. This could not bo done to-day because neither House was in session. The first step in putting the new legislation into operation probably [Continued on I'ajic 4.] Farmer Narrowly Escapes Thunderbolt in Storm Walter Myers, a farmer living near Progress, while driving to Penbrook last night, stopped at the home of a friend to seek shelter from the storm. As he stepped away form the horse the lightning struck the fpnee to which the animal was tied and killed it instantly. The buggy was completely demolished. Myers was unhurt. The storm did little damage in the city. An abutment of the Mulberry street bridge was struck, also an iron pole at the southeast corner of Market Square. No damage re sulted at either place. f MOVING TOWARD. AIRPLANE FACTORY J ± 1' 1 !•!■'■ Ait}>. —H-.j: C "I'-'iny, o! '- ; 'w J York, who have taken over the ai he old Kc> r X State Fair and Industrial i nto save the stock A 7 holders in that concern to day issued the following ■ *§* 4 jj tatement: "Commonwealth Title Insurance and Trust d Company, of Philadelphia, have agreed subject to • *F i ination of title, to act as trustee under a trust agreement 7 covering first lien on the property for the protection-of jS j jfcthe not- holders." This property is the 310 acres* of M Aland lying along the river above Middle towp, near Har~ J ♦..risburg, which Hon! and Company propose to " X - x ** cs held under lease with the option of purchase. ih< - .erection M <■ H 4 I •an airplane, wireless and machine depot t< ,• * .i''out a half-million dollars. This is the first step toward * t # nrtanctrig the new venture, Hord and Company announc- 3| * • ing that they will not attempt to sell'more stock. 4 * * *• <£ £* ** 4? * * <& lis * v t the -World agitators are under arrest at (I everal others 1 fi I * resu ->t T attempts to dynamite freight cars, according to reports ~'* • to the United States marshal here, ¥ \\ NEW POST OFFICE BIDS i ® * Harrisbufg—Bids for the completion of the Harris- *jj® i bbut,r t , pott office will be opened in Washington, August |i 21 • accdrding to advertisements appearing to-day A T 4> thro ■ * Harrisburg—The annual inspection of the letter <■ , I carriers of Harrisburg, was held this afternoon. Em |I O ployes from the main office with those from branch, n J® offices marched to North Second street, where the in- jfl * spectiov) was mad. by Postmastc Frank C, Si** T • I j; MARRIAGE J . . Horry G. Hare. Trtndle Mprlnxx. and Kthel M. Stint, Mwku- L lrbur*( Jult un Albanl, cltr. and Gertrude Micron, Mlddletonn. T AMERICAN ARMY PREPARES GRIMLY FOR TRENCHES Expeditionary Force Takes Up Serious Work With Absolute Earnestness THE MEN WANT TO FIGHT Troopers Anxious to Get Sight of Real Warfare in France . By .Associated Press American Training Camp in France, Aug. 9 (by the Associated Press). —The deepest impression one gains after three weeks with the American soldiers training in France is the absolute earnestness with which the splendid young men of the army have undertaken the task which is before them. There is no disposition on their part or on the part of their officers to underesti mate in ny way the seriousness of that task and the hard work which remains to be done before America can take her place in the actual firing line. The troops that are here feel their responsibility keenly. They are, in deed. the small but effective nucleus about which will be builded the great army machine which the United States hopes eventually to have on the battlefields of France. Absorb War Knowledge The men ore earnest in their de sire to absorb war knowledge as [Continued on Page 4] BISHOP OF JiENVEII DIES Denver, Col., Aug. 9. —The Rt. Rev. Nicholas Matz, bishop of the Catholic diocese of Denver, died to-day". He was a native of Alsaee-Dorrain and 67 years old. He was the second bishop of Denver, which office he as sumed In 1889. TAFT IS IMPROVED Clay Center, Kan., Aug. 9.—Phy sicians to-day announced that for mer President Tafl has passed u comfortable night. They declared it might be necessary for him to take a longer rest than was contemplated and that he would not leave here to-day to resume his speaking trip.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers