United Allies Will Make Official Entry Mo Jerusalem, Holy City of the Christians, Today ;
HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH dL
' __ ®l K Star-Jn&epeiibcitt /
LXXXVI— No. 295 18 PAGES
HUNS MASSING TROOPS
FOR DESPERATE DRIVE
AGAINST WEST FRONT
Heavy German Reinforcements Have Arrived in France, Is Belief in Allied Capitals;
Where Blow May Fall Has Not Been Disclosed; Activity Against American Sec
tor Probable; Cambrai Bombardment Heavy; Increased Enemy Effort May Be
Intended to Draw Allied Attention From Massing of Troops
London, Monday, Dec. correspondent at Amsterdam of the Daily
Express reports the Germans are rushing troops to the western front with the
idea of smashing the entente allies before America is able to act.
Heavy German reinforcements have arrived in France, it is believed in allied capitals, but
where the expected blow will fall is yet to be disclosed. For the moment the infantry is inactive
along the western front but the artillery, and especially that of the Germans, is very active in
.various sectors,
On the British front the Germans are bombarding heavily the positions southwest of Cambrai
and east and northeast of Ypres, the two sectors which have seen virtually all the heavy fighting
in the past few months. From St. Quentin to the Swiss border, Paris reports great enemy artil
lery activity between the Oise and the Aisnc, in Champagne, northeast of Verdun and in upper
Alsace. The British and French cannon are leplying in kind against the German positions.
The heavy German artillery fire may mean that the Germans are attempting to find a weak
point and it ma)' be only for the purpose of drawing allied attention to one spot while the troops
from the Russian front are massed for a strong effort of a hitherto quiet sector. Strong local
German attacks on the right bank of the Meuse northeast of Verdun, have been repulsed by the
French who took prisotysrs.
KAISER'S GUNS
PREPARING WAY
FOR BIG BATTLE
——. * '
Heavy Artillery Batters Stead
ily oil Allied Line
in France
_ _ 11 y Associated Press
l.ondon. Dec. It Unusually ac
tive artillery lighting and aerial op
orations on the western front yester
day are reported in to-da.v's official
communication. This activity was
particularly noteworthy on the Ypres
and Arras fronts.
Operations of the nature and extent
indicated by the official British com
munication almost invariably lye
cede a great attack. The prelimin
ary bombardment, designed to break
down the opposing defenses and clear
the way for the infantry advance
may continue for a week or more,
while at the same time efforts are
made to clear the air of opposing
aviators to conceal the bringing up of
troops and other preparatins for the
attack. Yesterday's French And
British statements also epoke of
heavy artillery fighting at many
points.
Recent reports that the Germans,
reinforced by troops withdrawn from
the Russian l'ront. were about to un
dertake in the west the greatest of
fensive campaign of the war de
rived added signiflcancy from Secre
tary Baker's reference yesterday in
bis weekly war review to the massing
of German troops on the western
front and the expected attempt of the
enemy to break the allied line.
' ONLY 2 DAYS
left for men between the ages of
SI and HI years to enlist In tbc
war agnl" s t the Hun. After tlia
time all rrgistcretl men must take
their chances In being placed In
whatever hranch of the service
the government decides.
-*
THE WEATHER
For Harrisburg and vicinity: Fair,
continued cold to-night, low
est temperature about 8 de
grees: Wednesday Increasing
cloudiness, with slowly rising
temperature.
For Kastern rennsylvanln I Fair,
continued eold to-night; Wed
nesday increasing elondlnes*
and not quite so eold; light,
variable Minds.
Illver
The Susqoehannn river nnd all Its
tributaries will remain general
ly Icebound and nearly station
ary. A stage of about 3.8 feet,
lee reading, is Indicated for
llarrlsburg Wednesday morn
ing.
General Conditions
The great high pressure area from
the Northwest now covers near
ly all the country east of the
Itoeky Mountains and under its
Influence fair weather hus pre
vailed generally, except in i
Northern New England, West
ern Minnesota. Nehruska and
Colorado, where light snow fell,
and In Texas nnd Western l.oul
■inna, where rain lias set in.
An area of high pressure from
the I'ucWc ocetin is moving In
over the plateau region, nnd n
new depression has appeared In
the Far Northwest.
Temperatures continue below the
seasonal average over nearly all
the eouatry, with freezing tem
peratures and killing frosts as
far south as Jacksonville, nnd
heavy frosts over the Florida
peninsula as far south as
Tampa.
Temperature! 8 a. m., 6.
Muni Rises, 7:21 a. in.i sets. 4:38
P. m.
Moon i New moon, December 14.
ICiver Stugei 310 feet above low
water mark.
Yesterday's Weather
Highest temperature, ID.
I.owest temperature, sero. ,
Mean temperature, 10.
>orioal temperature, 84. i
Mrs. Belmont Urges
Soldiers to be Cheerful
With the American Army in
.France, Monday. Dec. 10. (By
the Associated Press) —Mrs. Aug
ust Belmont, of New York, won
the applause of several hundred
soldiers who crowded thet Y. M.
C. A. building in the American
field headquarters town to hear
her relate her experiences while
visiting the soldiers near the
British and French fronts. She
urged the soldiers to carry the
American fighting spirit through
out the war. She was given a
rousing cheer when she quoted
this line from a play In which she
appeared when she was Eleanor
Robson—
"If things are not cheerful,
folks must be."
Mrs. Belmont later returned
to Paris.
Teutons May Launch
Drive Within Week
Against U. S. Lines
Washington, Dec. 11.—The War
Departments expects the American
sector in France to be attacked soon
by the Germans, perhaps within a
week. The attack, when it comes,
will be delivered in the favorite
massed formation, wave of infantry
following wave. The purpose is a
double one:—
To Lreak the morale of the Ameri
can troops.
To test out the strength of the
American pcsitlon and material.
The German high command has
the most explicit knowledge of the
location and numter of the American
troops. All that the American public
ha been permitted to learn up to
this timo is that the sector ic in the
neighborhood of Verdun. It has been
admitted that a gradual and general
mobilization has Veen effected there,
infantry massed bofore great parks
of light artillery and back of this
line, the great ■ — of America rang
ing in caliber up to the wicked 12-
inch rifles .and the monster howitzers
manned by the United States Coast
artillery.
In the preceding winters of the
great war the armies had dug in by
this time, and comparatively little
activity was in evidence in any sec
tor. Now the smashing and counter
smashing before Cambrai has Infect
ed the entire western front, and there
is hourly expectation from the Swiss
frontier to the- end of the line at the
North Sea of sudden determined at
tacks in force.
Penn-Harris Brings Big
Convention to the City
The Harrisburg Chamber of Com
merce announced to-day that they
had secured the first large conven
tion booked for Harrisburg as a re
sult of the Penn-Harris hotel being
erected.
Through the efforts of the com
merce chamber, the 1918 convention
of the Sunday schools and the Chris
tian Endeavor societies of the Unit
ed Evangelical Church will be held
in Harrisburg September 25 to 29,
1918.
The officers of the church esti
mate that there will be at least two
thousand registered delegates at this
convention and as many more at
tending who are not official dele
gates. The Chamber of Commerce
plans to book as many conventions
as possible in advance of the open
ing of the Penn-Harris hotel.
General War Inquiry
Will Be Ordered
Washington. Dec. 11.—A ptenoral
inquiry into the operations of the
War Department in arming and
equipping the American forces was
decided upon to-day by the Senate
Military Affairs Committee. Secre
tary Baker and other department
heads will be called to explain va
rious features of war activities.
HARRISBURG, PA., TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 11, 1917
TEUTONS AGAIN
FAIL TO BREAK
ITALIAN LINES
Infantry Fighting Has Been
Checked From Asiago to
the Piave River
Washington. Dec. 11.—Rome dis
patches confirming earlier reports of
a lull after the fierce fighting in
i which the Teutons failed to break
through the Italian lines, say the
Austro-German commander sacri
ficed hundreds of thousands of his
best men without improving his po
sition. This description of the sit
uation is given:
"The fierce fighting of the last few
days has subsided into a period of
comparative calm. The superhuman
resistance of the Italian soldiers pre
vented the Austro-Germans from
attaining the strategical advan
tages of their objective, although
they succeeded in obtaining gains of
purely tactical character. The fail
ure of the enemy attacks is indi
cated by the inactivity on the entire
front for three consecutive days.
The invaders have desisted from at
tacking the positions in direction of
the Brenta canal on account of the
complete exhaustion of the forces
engaged.
Infantry fighting has stopped mo
mentarily, at least, on the Italian
front, from Asiago to the Piave
river. The Austro-German effort to
break through between the Piave
and the Brenta failed with losses.
The enemy then reformed his shat
tered forces and attempted to break
through between Asiago and the
Piave. He failed again. The Austro-
Germans captured some terrain, but
without improving their tactical po
sitions and at a heavy cost. An ap
parently local attempt to cross the
lower reaches of the Piave has been
checked by the Italians, who recap
tured observation trenches taken by
Austrian soldiers.
Crop Production Is
Greatest in History
By Associated Press
Washington, Dec. 11. —Many crops
this year exceed the production of
other years, while the value of the
country's farm products, with a total
estimated unofficially at $21,000,000,-
000, far exceeds any other year in
history. Final estimates of production
of the principal farm crops were an
nounced to-day by the Department
of Agriculture.
The production estimates are:
Corn, 3,159,494,000 bushels. .
Winter wheat, 418,070,000.
Spring wheat, 232,758,000.
All wheat, K50.828.000.
Oats, 1,587.286.000.
Barley, 208,975,000.
Rye, 60,145,000.
Buckwheat, 17,460,000.
America Ready to Pay
Debt to Civilization
Hy Associated Press
Rome, Monday, Dec. 10. Two
hundred thousand persons took part
in a demonstration to-day before the
American embassy. Among the
speakers was Congressman Fiorello
Da Guardia, of New York, wearing
his uniform as captain of the Amer
ican flying corps.
Captain Da Guardia said Italy had
given to America several genera
tions of worklngmen who had help
ed to build up the prosperity of the
United States. That country was now
returning the debt contracted and
was ready to shed blood for the tri
umph of the cause of the allies,
which was the cause of civilization.
MRS. A. .1. HERR IMPROVES
Mrs. A. J. Herr, 19 North Front
street, who has been seriously 111 at
her home for several days, is slight
ly improved to-day according to at
tending physicians.
THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
13 ARE HANGED '
FOR COMPLICITY
IN HOUSTON RIOT
Announcement Made at South
ern Department Headquar
ters; Some Go to Prison
By Associitted Press
San Antonio. Tex., Dec. 11.—Thir.
teen negroes were hanged at Fort
Sam Houston this morning for com
plicity in the riot at Houston, on
August 23.
The men wlio paid the penalty of
death were:
Sergeant William C. Nesbitt.
Corporals—Larson J. Brown, Jas.
Wheatley, Jesse Moore, Charles W.
Baltimore.
Privates William Brackenridge,
Thomas C. Hawkins, Carlos Snod
grass, Ira B. Davis, James Divine,
If rank Johnson, Rosley W. Young
and Pat MacWhorter.
The announcement of action on
the court martial's verdict was made
at Southern department headquarters
by the chief of staff, who also gave
out a formal statement in which
the names of the men sentenced to
life imprisonment were given
The hanging of thirteen negro
troopers for complicity in the Hous
ton riot was unknown to practically
a " officials of the War Department
until it was announced at Fort Sam
Houston.
Doubtless the death sentence of
the courtmartial and the prepara
tions for the executions were known
to a few high officials, but so far as
[Continued on Page 12.]
Twelve Yanks to Get Xmas
Boxes Through Generosity
of Harrisburg Women
The ready wit of some Harrisburg
women who were touched by a letter
from Lieutenant Rosa Boas, in
France, depicting the forlorn condi
tion of a dozen American boys in the
First Engineer Corps will result in a
most gorgeous Christmas surprise ?f
Hun U-boats do not interfere. Lieu
tenant Boas wrote to his mother at
her home, 115 State street, some time
ago, giving very conservative news,
as the custom is, but elaborating on
the fact that twelve of his comrades,
privates and all fine American men!
were absolutely without any friends
or relatives who would remember
them at Christmas time. He said the
fact was curious but true, and that
in the laborious and unpleasant work
they were compelled to do, a bit of
Christmas would surely be appre
ciated.
This hint was sufficient for M*s.
Boas and calling up some of her
friends, Mrs. Charles E. Covert Mrs
Christian Lynch, Mrs. Charles A.
Boas, Miss Almeda Herman and Miss
Elizabeth Nissley, the plot was soon
hatched to give those friendless en
gineers something that would make
them think kindly of their native
land. Each of the twelve were sent a
complete kit, not forgetting a deli
clous fruit cake, with a number of
little gifts and some real old-fashion
ed clear toys. They were shipped in
plenty of time to reach France before
Christmas, and the women sincerely
hope that the Huns will not be able
to intercept them.
Big Winter Show to
Be Held in City
The State Department rjf Agricul
ture to-day announced that a mid
winter exhibition of corn, wool, dairy
products, potatoes, poultry and prod
ucts, apples and vegetables would be
held in Harrisburg, January 22 to
24, under Joint auspices of the state
and the various agricultural, horti
cultural, breeders, vegetable growers
and other organizations as a stimulus
to food production next year. The
first midwinter show was held here
last year, out the exhibition plans
are for a much more extensive af
fair with SI,OOO In prizes.
It was also announced that the
State Board of Agriculture would
hold Its annual session here during
the show and that arrangements had
been made for meetings during the
same week in this city of ten organ
itations interested in agriculture and
£Ulcd branches.
Scene Near Holy City
Taken From the Infidels
The scene of Christ's agony on
the night before His Passion was
at the Mount of Olives, on the
east slope of the Kedron Valley,
near Jerusalem. Here was a gar
den or 'orchard which was a
favorite resort of Christ and His
disciples. Tradition located the
spot, and a high wall was built
| around it by Franciscan Monks in
I 1847 near the points mentioned
in the dispatches of the British
war office.
OFFICIAL ENTRY
INTO JERUSALEM
IS MADE TODAY
No Attempt to Define Future
Position of City Until
Peace Comes
\By Associated Press
London, Dec. 11.—No attempt will
bd made to define the future posi
tion of Jerusalem until a general
peace comes, the Times says it un
derstands. In tlie meantime the city
will be treated as in British military
occupation and will bo under martial
law. General Allenby will appoint
a military governor. While the Brit
ish flag will fiy over the city, the
French and Italian flags will be
placed over their national property,
such as convents and schools.
A solemn thanksgiving and Te
Deum will be held in St. Paul's Ca
thedral to-day in celebration of the
surrender.
Official entry into Jerusalem, the
Iloly City of the Christians, is
planned for to-day. Allied troops
entered tlie capital of Palestine after
it was surrounded and the Turks
[Continued on Page 13.]
Cold Weather to Continue
For Several Days, When
Snow or Rain Is Forecast
Harrisburg continues to shiver
during one of the coldest waves that
has ever gripped the city during the
month of December, A gradual let
up in the temperature is forecasted,
but for at least one or two days the
weather will remain cold. The low
est temperature last night was seven
degrees.
The weather will remain the same
for at least to-morrow. Weather
Forecaster Demain stated, and per
haps until Thursday when there will
be a gradual moderation of the cold
weather, followed by snow or rain.
The river is reported generally ice
bound.
The weather of the last three days
has been extremely severe for this
time of the year. The lowest tem
perature reported in December is one
degree above zero, December 27,
1914.
In several sections of the city last
night the electric current furnished
by the Harrisburg Light and Power
Company failed to respond when
the switches were turned on, and as
a result many sections of the city,
and the street lights, were out of
service- At the powerhouse it was
said a machine was out of order. The
trouble was repaired last night.
The coal situation continues the
same. Dealers say that the rush for
coal both in large and small quan
tities continues, and they are doing
the best they .can to supply the sud
den great demand. A great handi
cap which the dealers have to over
come is the delivery of the coal.
Where some dealers are supplied
with a few grades of coal, they say
that the labor shortage is such that
they cannot possibly meet the de
mand for immediate deliyeries. In
some cases customers are taking
home small .quantities of coal to see
them through the few of ex
treme cold weather. Dealers say that
if this continues they will advocate
the application of the "carry home
your purchases" idea to the coal
business.
REPORT AMKNI>MEXT *
By Associated Press
Washington, Dec. 11..—The con
stitutional amendment for nation
wide woman suffrage was reported
without recommendation to-day by
the House Judiciary Committee.
COUNCIL LOSES
VALUABLE TIME
OVER GARBAGE
Cily May See Repetition of
Last Year's Muddling
in Collections
.With the present contract fur col
lection of ashes and garbage ending
at tlie close of next month, residents
all over the city are predicting that
unless City Council acts soon the city
will foce a repetition of conditions
of last winter when ashes and refuse
piled up in every backyard in the
city. As the Commissioners intend
to have municipal collection of ashes
this part of the collection work is
the one which Is concerning the citi
zens more tiian the garbage prob
lem. A number of them, in discuss
ing the Situation, said tlrty doubted
if the city would be. able to equip
itself to lake care of the collection
work unless action is taken at once.
While there have been a number
of changes in department heads be
cause of deaths and appointments ex
p.ring, a number of persons are be
ginning to question the advisability
of any further delay in providing for
the collection work. No recommenda-
[Continued on Page 12.]
Speakers in Movies
to Aid Red Cross in
Membership Campaign
! The Public Safety Committee of
IJauphin county has arranged to
have speakers appear in all the mov
ing picture theaters of the city to
! morrow, Thursday and Friday to
I make pleas for the Red Cross In con
i nection with the big membership
campaign. Members of the bar and
seniors of the Technical High school
have volunteered their services.
The speakers were very effective
in the recent Liberty bond and other
campaigns of the kind. They give
their audiences very clear outlines
of the purposes to be accomplished
and the result has'been increased
subscriptions.
Military Ball Will
Be Picturesque Event;
Funds to Buy Smokes
Grand Army veterans will lead the
grand march at the big military ball
to be given in Winterdale Hall to
morrow evening by the Veterans of
foreign Wars for the benefit of the
Soldiers' Smokes fund. Every mili
tary organization in the city will be
represented in the grand march, the
Sons of Veterans, the Spanish War
Veterans and the Veterans of For
eign Wars will follow the Grand
Army in the order named. Repre
sentatives of the United States Army
at the aviation station below Harris
burg will also be present.
Members of any of the local mili
tary organizations atttending will be
asked to wear their uniforms. The
public is invited to the ball. Good
orchestral programs have been ar
ranged and the hall will bo decorat
ed in.the national colors.
Winter Drills Start
For the City Reserves
Captains of the companies of the
Harris bur;.; Reserves have called to
attention of members that the winter
drills in which the manual of arms
and interior guard duty will bo taken
up have started at the city Grays'
Armory. The drill nights will be as
heretofore. In January rifle practice
will be taken up.
To-night Captain Ross A. Hickok
will go to Steelton to assist in or
ganizing the defense organization in
that place. The Harrisburg Reserves
plan of organization has been adopt
ed at Jlummelstown and in a dozen
or more towns in-the state.
Prohibition Amendment
to Be Presented Monday
By Associated Press
AVashington, Dec. 11.—By unani
mous consent to-day the House
agreed to consider on Monday the I
constitutional amendment for na- I
tionwide prohibition which already
has been passed by the Senate. The
Judiciary committee to-day favor
ably reported the amendment, 1
Single Copy, 2 Cents HOME EDITION
WHOLE CITY TO
GET BEHIND U.S.
WAR PROGRAM
*
Seventeen Hundred Workers
to Take Part in Red
Cross Drive
MEN NOT MONEY WANTED
WHAT IS THE '
RED CROSS?
President Wilson heads it.
Congress authorizes it.
The War Department audits its
accounts.
Pershing in France approves it.
It is working for YOUR Army.
It is working for YOUR Navy.
It is working for YOUR allies.
It is workinng for YOU.
Kail in!
While the general idea through
out the country is that the Red
Cross campaign for 10,000,000 ad
ditional memberships will open De
cember 17 and close Christmas eve,
the idea in Harrisburg is that while
It will open next Monday it will close
next Wednesday.
Harrisburg, to an extent greater
than in any city in the United States
has perfected the campaign idea. The
city lias a volunteer organization
which is amost perfect. It has
learned that there is nothing to be
gained in "dragging" a campaign,
bo that the campaign which starts
[Continued oil Page 11.J
Beefless Days This Winter;
Iceless Days Next Summer
Ry Associated Press
Reading, Pa., Dec. 11.—Forty ice
manufacturers of Eastern Pennsyl
vania met here to-day at the sug
gestion of the government and made
arrangements for closer co-opera
tion and to conserve the ammonia
supply.
It was stated that there will be
iceless days next summer the same
a-s beefless days which have already
been inaugurated.
t
X ITALIANS Rj . aNS
' a Rome, Dec. ll.—Powerful attempts made by the Aus
a tro-Germans to retake Ageniia and Zuliani positions in
4 i
* J guinarily repulsed yesterday bynhe Italians, it was an
j J COTTON CROP IS REDUCED
lp Washingtop, Dec. 11.—Reduction, of more than a mfl
14*
! lion bales in tl • c tt< op ofthe c >m the last
i" J estimate made was shown in the final estimate of produc
'
J J UNABLE TO LOCATE STEAMER MUNDALE
*j * New \ork, Dec. 10.—Officials of the Munson Steam
, „ iiip Line here 4thout advices to-day regard*
" • ing the whereabouts of its steamer Mundale. The vessel.
7*
< 4
| * out wirele:;s calls for aid from a position about 50 miles
• southeast of Cape Hatteras. An oil steamer which caught
t # these message: reported it could find no trace of Mundale
' * Upon arriving at the position indicated.
"I
|l PANAMA DECLARES WAR O.N AUSTRIA
' * Panama, Dec. 11.—Panama declared war on Austria
i ft
i | yesterday: The nent in t Co-operation with the
| * canal zone authorities, is interning all Austrian*. The
* * zen: has no.w been, cleared of Germans and Austrians.
4
, I in accordance with President Wilson's recent order.
a ■ FORMER FIRE CHIEF DIES
* J Harrisburg—Thomas W. Reed, 75, chief of the city
• fire department i-n 1883, is dead at his home, 2041 Herr
a str!fet. He was widely knowrj in firemen's circles for hall a
t J century. Mr. Reed for many years was foreman in the
ft' old Harrisburg Car Works.
[ J SETTLE PROPOSED B. & O. STRIKE
J J Washington, Dec. 11.— Difficulties which threatened
| J a strike of 2,300 telegraphers employed by the Baltimore
a and Ohio Railroad and a tieup of traffic on one of the
4 l|
t # country s most important roads, were settled to-day by J
J the Federal Board of Mediation .and Conciliation under
* the direction of Commissioner G. W. L., Hanger. •
a
V
t MARRIAGE LICENSES
Charlca A. ilnhlp, Knoln, it ml Maripiret IS. I'latt, llirrivillti
7* Chart** H. Hoffman mid I.uln 11. Ingram, IliirrlnburK.
HALIFAX RELIEF
WORK DELAYED
BY SNOWSTORM'
All Activities Now on Sys
tematic Basis; All Can*
ada Takes Part
BAR CURIOSITY SEEKERS
Fear of New Disasters Ban
ished; Last Night a
Restful One
By Associated Press
Halifax, N. S„ Dec. 11. —The snow
storm which hampered the relief'
workers yesterday was of short dur
ation and last night was clear and
cole. As the snow which fell was near
enough to rain to be well saturated,
a hard crust had formed to-day,
further interfering with traffic prob
lems and with the work of clearing
away the ruins of wrecked buildings.
All activities, however, are now oil
a systematic basis and Halifax men
joined to-day with men from other
parts of Canada and from cities in
the United States in making further
progress toward bringing back more
normal conditons. The refusal to
[Continued on Page 6.]
Sweetens Coffee With
Peppermint; Saves Sugar
Washington, Dec. 11.—Stir your
j coffee with a stick of peppermint
I candy and let the scarcity of sugar
go hang.
This is the advice of IT. 11. Hart
man, traffic policeman at F. and
Fourteenth streets northwest. He
says it has sugar "skinned" forty
city blocks anyway.
Hartnian said when sugar got
scarce he experimented with sweet
ening his coffee with candy made
from sugar. He found peppermint
candy no* only furnished the desired
sweetening, but added a delightful
flavor o£ mint.