NIGHT EXTRA-.-Business Heart 'of Thompsortown Wiped Oat by frre-'-NIGHT EXTRA HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH M Sty Star-Independent • •!, 9 . j- > LXXXVII— No. 76 16 PAGES YANKEES TAKE THEIR PLACE IN LINE THAT IS STOPPING HUNS British Launch First of Their TEUTON LOSSES REACH 400,000 WITHIN 5 DAYS German Advance Held Up Everywhere During Night, Says French Official Statement; in North Enemy Has Been Definitely Checked; in South Teutons Have Been Unable to Push West of Roye and Noyon GERMANS REPULSED IN LOCAL ATTACKS FROM ALBERT TO THE SOMME RIVER Enemy Unable to Make Gains West of Noyon; on This Front Americans Are Assisting British and French to Drive Back German Assaults; French Hold Strong Positions Along the Oise By Associated Press London, March 27.—The zone of open warfare is continuing to enlarge as the entente forces fall back fighting under the enor mous weight of the German numbers, says Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters in his dispatch to-day. It is now clearly established, he adds, that the present offensive is the great main effort of the Germans and that it has not been as successful as they anticipated, the enemy being a long way be hind his time table and having failed to break through and begin rolling up tactics. The Germans are now pushing against the British line with the full pressure of their masses. They have thrown in their reserve more rapidly than they intended, it is declared, and are therefore wearing themselves down although they are naturally tiring the defense in process. The general feeling, the correspondent reports, is that the days of trench warfare are definitely past. Germany's supreme effort to break the allied front in the west apparently is no nearer accomplishment to-day than it was on the day the great drive started, and she is estimated to have lost 400,000 men in the futile effort during less than a week's fighting. Forces Massed For Drive She has not given up the attempt, however, the advices from the front indicating her forces are massed for a drive in the region of Roye and Noyon in an effort to break through there as a pre liminary to a rolling up process either to the north or to the south. As'against the chances of her accomplishing this purpose may be counted the factor of forewarning for the allies. There seems no doubt now as to where the heaviest hammer stroke is to fall and the opportunity is offered of disposing the vast allied reserve forces to meet it —an opportunity lacking in the earlier stages of the drive. . The entente line as it now runs, with British, France and Americans standing together presents an unknown front through out the battle area. There has been a slowing down in the Ger man pressure north of the Somme, except possibly in the vicinity of Albert, where the British are holding doggedly. In the Noyon region and along the line of the Oise "to the jeast the French,'by their valient defense, have likewise compelled the Teutons, weak ened by their ceaseless efforts and heavy losses, to relax the force of their pressure. Success Not Decisive One Meanwhile it is clear that the Germans themselves are being compelled to admit that their success in driving back the Entente lines for such great distances on so wide a front is by no means decisive one. "Nobody can foresee what will result from it," General Von Ludendorff declares in an interview in alluding to the victory he claims. Positions in East Not Secure Concurrently the Germans apparently are finding their position in the cast, where they were supposed to have insured peace with Russia and the Ukraine none too secure. Odessa, the Black sea port upon which they relied to insure them the shipment of sorely needed grain from the Ukraine byway of the Danube, has been recaptured by Bolshevik and Ukrainian troops, the Russian semi-official news agency reports- Tlisi follows shortly upon the news of the recent recapture of two other Black sea ports, Kher son and Nikolayev, by the Bolsheviki. It was upon Odessa that Germany also was reported as relying as a key point on the "direct route to the East" she boasted of having secured in her scheme of penetration into the Orient. Ger many is reported to have left control of affairs in Ukraine largely in the hands of the Austrians while she was engaged in her great effort on the western front, and apparently thev arc making none too good a job of it. Having regained nearly all the devastated Sommc region in their offensive the German armies now find themselves before an allied defense which grows stronger each hour. In the north the enemy has been definitely checked and in the south where his 1 -'-"nUnucd on Page R.) • , SIKGLIi: COPY, 5! CENTS FIRE DESTROYS 75 AUTOMOBILES IN CITY GARAGE Spectacular Blaze in Early Morning Guts Big Build ing in Walnut Street LOSS PLACED AT SIOO,OOO Structure a Seething Mass of Flames Few Minutes After Discovered Fire this morning gutted the en tire second floor of the City Garage, extending from Walnut street to Strawberry, in River street. The loss is estimated at more than SIOO,OOO. Seventy-live Automobiles The blaze started on the second floor of the building near the Wal nut street entrance. The origin is not known. C. K. Wolfe is the owner of the City Garage. His losses were partly covered by insurance, but about lif teen Buiek cars owned by George B. Zech, local agent, were destroyed, Mr. Zech stating that he has no in surance on the cars. Seething Mass of Flames The fire was discovered shortly after 5 o'clock. It spread rapidly and a general alarm - was sounded. At 5.30 the entire floor was a seething mass of flames. It was only the fact that the floor was concrete and that prompt and efficient work was done by the firemen, that saved the building and those nearby. While all the cars f>n the second floor, about seventy-five in number, were burned, sixty on the first floor were saved. Paul Guyer, a fireman with the Royal Fire Company, was overcome by the oil smoke, but he was rescued without further injury. The building is held by the Com monwealth Trust Company for the Valley Railways Company, which plans to convert the site into a ter minal in the future. It adjoins the llarrisburg Public Library, where thousands of books wej-e stored. On the opposite side of Walnut street is the old historic Fager school build ing. Both the school biulding and the Public Library have large Red Cross stores to be shipped to the soldiers. The Remington Typewriter Com pany's district offices were on the first floor of the building at the Wal nut street entrance. A large number of typewriters were in cases, C. C. Merrill, district manager, states, but these were not damaged, save by water. Watchman Discovers Blaze The fire was discovered by James Rogers, the night watchman at the [Continued on Page 16.] THIEVES SCATTER GEMS ON FLOOR IN JEWEL ROBBERY Pass Valuable Diamonds to Pilfer Rings From Show Jewelry valued at close to $3,000 was taken from the display window of the store of P. H. Kaplan at 206 Market street last. nighf. The thieves took forty-three rings, rang ing in value from $8 to S9O; two scarf pins and a lavallere valued at s£so from the display window, con taining several thousands of dollars worth of other jewelry. They over looked a Howard watch bearing a price-tag of $350. Entrance was gained through a v-indow on the second floor opening on a balcony overlooking the store room. A hole was broken in tho window, through which the thieved reached and turned the latch, police say. Tlio thieves, it is said, made their way to the display window past the jewelry cases in the store, containing much jewelry, without touching the contents of the un locked cases. The drawer of the cash register, which was unlatched, was pulled open a foot and the contents, consisting of more than 20, were undisturbed. Several valuable dia mond rings were scattered on the llocr. There are footmarks on the win dow in the rear. The window opens on a very narrow alleyway between two buildings. In the alley a ladder is always standing. This was ap parently undisturbed. Access to the window could bo gained from a small rt of above it, off of which roof a window opens Into 'he third floor of the building. The loss Is only partly covered by insurance. Detectives Murnnno and Shulor are working on tho case, and Chief Wetfcel gave the case his per si mil attention this morning. HARRISBURG, PA., ODESSA RETAKEN i BY SLAV TROOPS; NAVY TAKES PART Kiev Bankers Refuse to Float | Loan Requested by Germans | KAISER'S GRIP WEAKENS Important Seaport Slips From Grasp of Teutons in Fierce Conflict By Associated Press London, March 27. —Odessa has j been recaptured by tho Soviet and ■ ■ Ukrainian troops after a bloody] : battle in which naval forces took! part, says a Moscow dispatch from the semi-oftlcial Russian News Agency. The German war office on March 13 announced that Odessa had been entered by German troops. Odessa is the most important sea port of Southern Russia and the fourth city of Russia in size. Press reports say that when the Germans captured Odessa they seized two worships and large sup plies of artillery, ammunition and arms. In the shipyard as Nikolayev. according to these reports, the Ger mans took possesion of many ships, including uncompleted dreadnaughti [Continued on Page I.] Pershing Has Nothing to Report on Action of Troops in France By Associated Press Washington, March 27.—General Pershing cabled'the War Department early to-day he had "nothing to re port" so far as the American troops were concerned in the progress of the battle on the western front. It was said at the War Department that the dispatch received from Gen eral Bliss in Paris last night and vhlch was sunposed to contaiit some information on the battle was con cerned entirely with the routine of the American participants in the inter-Allied war council. JI'DGB M'CAKHKIiI, IMPROVES Judge S. J. M. McCarrell. who has been 111 at his home, 121 Locust street, suffering from a severe cold. Is Improving, it was said to-day. SCORES SEEKING CITY'S PLOTS FOR WAR GARDENING Chamber of Commerce Be gins • Allotment of Space Window This was a big, consequential day for 1-larrlsburg—War Garden Day. At an early hour Superintendent Shir ley Watts was on the job at the Chamber of Comemrce offices in the- Dauphin building to receive appli cations, which came in at a lively rate when the news spread that the throttle had been pulled wide open In the war garden engine, the reli able machine which will eventually plow through Germany. At the Dr. Muck Spends Day in Jail While Officials Host on, March 27.—Dr. Karl Muck, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, con ductor, now in federal custody as an enemy alien, spent to-day in the ICast Cambridge Jail, while agents of the Department of Justice examined number of letters and documents seized at his home here. Officials in charge of the investigation stated that the activities of a close friend of the orchestra conductor were be ing investigated and that another ar rest might follow. Dr. Muck made no effort, so far as was known.'to appeal against his de tention, on the ground that he was a citizen of Switzerland, but friends declared counsel had been engaged to protect his interests. Hans Sul ;:cr, Swiss Minister to the United States, declared at New York last night that If any representation in Dr. Muck's case were made to the legation he would proceed as in the case of any Swiss citizen. WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 27, 1918, For Raising Foodstuffs [Continued on Page 16.] Examine Private Papers THOMPSONTOWN BUSINESS HEART IS WIPED OUT Fire Destroys Dwellings and Stores in Early Morn ing LOSS IS PLACED lIIGHj Several Women Flee From Flames in Their Night Clothing The entire business district central part of Thompson town, a village of several hun dred inhabitants in Juniata J county, about 40 miles west of the city, was destroyed by fire early to-day. Telephone lines into the town were destroyed by fire and defi nite information as to the losses is lacking. It is known, however, that four dwellings, two general stores, a drugstore, music store, and half a dozen or more barns and outbuildings were wiped [Continued ou Page 10.] Harrisburg Man Is Reported Killed in Monocacy Explosion By Associated Press Heading, Pa., March 27.—Bert Martinson of Harrisburg, was killed, Ralph Lobach, of Monocacy, was fatally injured and three other men were injured, one seriously, by the premature explosion of a heavy charge of dynamite in a drilling at the Birdsboro Stone Company's quarry at Monocacy to-day. The dynamite exploded without an elec-' trie connection while another drill hole nearby was being charged with the explosive. The man badly in jured is Dominic Pensel, an Italian. First reports were that four men had been killed. While the name Martinson could not be found in the city directory, friends of Fred G. Martienssen, 2024 Derry street, are anxiously awaiting more definite information from Reading, as it is believed lie Is the person who was killed in the ecci i dent. Mrs. Martienssen was in Read ing to-day, it was said. AMERICA VIEWS BIG DRIVE WITH ALL CONFIDENCE Turning Point Close at Hand! in Great Struggle Is Belief | at Washington ' Washington, March 27.—Belief that the turning-roint of the battle in France is near at hand pervaded Washington to-day and American military observers who are closely > following developments in the ter rific struggle centered their attention on the front held by the French in r.nticipatlon of a powerful counter thrust. Hints in the British press that I some change in the situation may be expected goon have strengthened the view here that the steady British withdrawal is part of a definite bat tle plan, the ultimate object of which is the launching of a great l counter-offensive. The most prob t able place for such a movement, it ! is believed, is from the flunking po rition the French held last night clong the left bank of the Oise liver. War Department officials to-day r.wa|ted confirmation from General Pershing of British official state ments that American troops were fgliting side by side with the French and British. Nothing to show Amer ican participation reached the War Department last night and General Pershing's reports offered only de tails of fighting in the region of Nesle and Npyon, previously reported ir. dispatches to tho Associated Press. FAVORS WAR AGAINST TURKFY London, March 27.—There Is a ! strong movement in progress In the Caucasus for a declaration of war' against Turkey, says an Exchange j Telegraph dispatch from Moscow, ' dated Saturday. Reading members, of the Caucasus Diet are quoted as declaring the nationalists will never' agree to the passing of Caucasian I districts into the hands of the Turks, HUNS PREPARE TO MEET GREAT ALLIED BLOW Press Prepares People For Reverses When Entente Strikes Hard jUAIG TWICE IN DANGER British, Troops Pass Through Two Crises in Big Battle HUNS REALLY PLAN TO BOMBARD LONDON l.ondon, March 27.—Lieuten ant General Von Rohc, a German authority on ordnance, says in the Vosslsche Zeitung of Berlin that the bombardment of Paris Is merely in the nature of a trial for guns which are really intended to bombard London, says an Ex change Telegraph dispatch from Copenhagen. London Is about 125 miles from nearest point on the front. By Associated Press London, March 27 The British delivered a counterattack to-day between the angle of the Ancre and the Som me, and recaptured Morlancourt and Chip illy, the war office an nounced this evening. Washington, March 2 7.—Official French dispatches received here to day say the newspapers In Germany are preparing the people for a Franco-British offensive, forecasting the entry of a powerful army of re serves. By Associated Press l.ondon, March 27.—There have been two critical moments thus far in the battle raging in France, Ma jor General Frederick B. Maurice, chief director of military operations at the War Office, said in an inter view to-day with the Associated Press. "The first was on Saturday when the enemy got across the Tortille river and nearly reached the line on the Somme," General Maurice de clared. "The second was on Monday when he took Councelette and a sim ilar danger of breach was present." Bolsheviki to Transfer Ex-Czar to Ural Region [ l.omlon. March 27.—The Bolsheviki government has decided to transfer i Nicholas Romanoff, the former Em j peior, and his family from Tobolsk to the Ural region, says an announce ment in Petrograd newspapers trans mitted in a Reuter dispatch. It was decided to take this action in view of the possibility of complications in the Fur East. After his abdication last March the former Emperor and his family were imprisoned Pt Tsarkoe-Selo. J,ast August they were taken to Tobolsk, Siberia. Wilson Summons War Council to White House Wuxhlngton, March 27.—President Wilson summoned most of the ex ecutive officials who are members of the War Council to the White House Tor a conrerenc,. at 2.30 o'clock this afternoon, Among those called were Secretary McAdoo, Food Administrator Hoover, I • * * * * COL ROOSEVELT LEAVES FOR PORTLAND ♦ | New York—Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, accom- , k J * panied by Mrs. Roosevelt left here to-day for Portland * ' *G* • , ♦ jH Maine, vh'cie he i„ to deliver a speech to-xn no\ night ♦ * a at the Republican State convention. , jt MARRIAGE LICENSES t £?.'"•. 's;v:r.iv ass t ssssrwusa; ? (JitT C ' S " ,,k ' WftHikjftkifl, and Vivian T. Wallace, Sfclrratnaa- NIGHT EXTRA