Huns Precede Grand Offensive With Violent Bombardment; Naval Guns Shell Towns and Giies kUk HARRISBURG SHHHi TELEGRAPH M Qfc otar-lnftcpen&cnt LXXXVII— No. 155 12 PAGES AMERICAN TROOPS BAR PATHWAY OF HUNS WHO LAUNCH TERRIFIC DRIVE FOR PARIS Yankees Pour Withering Fire With Machine Guns Into Ranks of Enemy Hordes PERSHING'S MEN QUICK TO LAUNCH COUNTERATTACK; Late Reports Indicate Americans Are) Holding Their Own In Face Of Powerful Attack By Associated Press With the American Army on the Marns, July.ls, 8.40 A. M.— The Germans at daylight to-day launched a violent attack against the American positions west of Chateau-Thierry, especially near Vaux. The attack came after a most violent bombardment of high explosives and gas shells throughout the night. The American troops sought shelter wherever it was available. When the enemy infantry appeared, the Americans swarmed out and met the j attackers with a rain of machine gun bullets. Yanks Hold Their Own The Americans wore their gas masks as they fought the: attacking Germans. An enemy bombardment of towns in the rear of the lines began shortly after six o'clock a. m. The latest report says the Americans are holding their own in the fighting, maintaining their positions. Great Guns Roar At this hour it had not been determined how the battle in the vicinity of Vaux was progressing. The whole line in both direc tions from that town was dense with smoke and gas fumes. The roar of the cannonade was punctured in the few intermissions with a terrific din of machine gun and rifle fire which seemed of the hottest character in Vaux itself. In this locality it was not known whether the Germans in this attack had begun another offensive, but the intensity of the fighting indicated to those near the scene that the operation was a renewal of the general attack that had been expected. Yanks on the Job The American forces on this front delivered a counterattack upon the Germans in the Vaux region this morning and drove off the enemy. It is reported that the Americans have advanced their own lines a distance of several hundred yards, but this has not been confirmed. It is clear that the German attack in the Vaux region com pletely broke down under the American counterattack. Further sharp fighting is likely to develop in this area at any time, however. Word received here shows that the enemy also launched an attack east of Rheinis, but on the sectors on that front on which French and Americans are fighting side by side the positions are reported intact. American Fire Is Deadly The American machine gunners here let the enemy come close to their positions and then opened a deadly fire into the advancing close formation of Germans. In their attick on the Marne front held by the Americans the Germans threw many bridges across the river. Over these the Germans are passing under a withering fire from the artillery. German progress is being stayed by the machine gunnes. The Americans and their French comrades have resisted the enemy to the utmost and are continuing this character of resistance. Americans Die in Tracks The operation at Vaux appeared to be a feint, for soon after it began the Germans attacked all along the Marne, where they were gallantly opposed by more of the American troops and the French. The first crossing was made at the peak of the big river bend. The American machine gunners and infantrymen fought and died where they stood here. Others of the American troops withdrew strategically as the enemy attacked from east of Chateau-Thierry to along the Marne, east of Dormans, making additional crossings. No Progress Shortly after eleven o'clock one of the American infantry regi ments launched a counterattack in the region of Conde. Reports received here shortly after 11 a. m. on the fighting to the east of Rheims said that the enemy, up to about an hour previously, had made no progress whatever there. In the Conde region, however, before the American counter attack, the German advance appeared to have eliminated the river salient. At 11.20 o'clock this morning the long range bombardment was becoming more intense. The aay opened sunny, but low clouds are now scurrying over the battlefield, threatening rain. The Counterattack ' Reports from Vaux this afternoon indicate the Americans had advanced their line in this region in the face of ther determined enemy attack. The advance pxtended a distance of approxi mately 700 yards, but the Americans subsequently withdrew to their original line for strategic reasons. Twenty-eight Germans wire taken prisoner in this sector. • The American barrage here broke up the enemy waves and drove them back in confusion. SINGLE COPY 2 CENTS BIG GUNS THROW SHELLS IN TOWNS 25 MILES IN REAR With the American Army in France, July 15. AN ENEMY bombardment of towns in the rear of the lines began shortly after o'clock a. m. Heavy shells from German naVal guns arc falling in regions far behind the actual battle area. .Many of these projectiles liuve fallen in the city of Mcaux, 25 mlcs from Chateau Thierry. In many of these towns the German shell lire is constant, the projec tiles being from ten and twelve inch naval guns. Reports from American advance positions said the American troops were "handling the enemy well" in the desperate fighting which is continuing. AMERICAN AND BRITISH TROOPS ! INVADE RUSSIA Call on Russians to Aid Them in Fight Against Germans TAKE MCRMAN COAST Bolsheviki Forces Withdraw in Front of Advancing Allied Host By Associated Press , London, July 15.—American and British troops have ocupied the whole of the Murman coast, in Northern Russia, says a dispatch from Mos cow to the Central News Agency by way of Amsterdam. After capturing Kem, a railroad station on the White Sea coast, the dispatch adds, the American and British forces advanced toward To roki, the Russian Bolsheviki author ities having withdrawn to Nirok. The commanders of the entente allied forces have issued an appeal to the population on the Murman coast requesting help against Ger many and Finland. It is declared I the Murman coast is Russian terri tory under the protection of the en tente powers. Germans Outwitted At the express request of the Rus sians considerable allied forces now are on the Murman coast, which is on the Arctic Ocean to the extreme north of Russia. On this coast there are several harbors which are free from ice all the year round and are connected by rail with Petrograd. More forces are being sent and the local population is co-operating with the troops which have already arriv ed to defend these railways. Meanwhile the Germans are mak ing a desperate attempt to secure the control of the Murman coast. They need the harbors for submarine bases now that Zeebrugge ijas been closed and Ostend rendered of little value while the British mine fields make it ever more difficult for.their submarines to reach the Atlantic. The total German force in Russia is thirty-two German and lifteen Austrian divisions, composed mainly of old and inferior men. This force is spread over a vast area from Pet rograd to the Black Sea. In Finland, threatening the Mur man railway the Germans have rath er more than a division but the bulk of this body is in the south and not easily within reach of the Murman railway. The railway may, however be attacked by airplanes. Elevator Rules Take Joy From Lives of Many by Long Delays Many a tenant of the Harrisburg office buildings had the joy taken out of life this morning when his eleva j tor man instead of greeting him with his usual "good morning" informed him that he would have to walk to his second floor office hereaftpr, "First Stop Third Floor" is the little sign on the elevator cage in the of fice buildings that makes a tenant think- seriously of moving his office to the third floor. Another angle of the elevator re strictions thai, exasperated the busi ness men was the ruling that the elevator cannot move until loaded to half Its capacity. Instead of rush ing In the elevator and belpg whirred to his office on the slxt floor, the business man who arrived a little late this morning had to stand and fume while the elevator operator waited for a load equal to half the capacity of his elevator. To-night | will find the men who want to work overtime walking up the stairs to their offices and carrying their own candles. m In some of the buildings it was re ! ported that letter carriers on the up per floors were compelled to wait and lost much time, because of the delay in getting a sufficient number of per sons going to lower floors. Others said they had been compelled to wait at least five minutes before the ele vators came for them. Elderly per sons calling at business places on the second floors of buildings also com plained that they found it difficult to walk as in the majority of buildings the first floor is much higher than the other ones and as a result more steps must be ascended. HARRISBURG, PA., MONDAY EVENING, JULY 15, 1918 HARRISBURG AT TURNING POINT IN ITS HISTORY Must Seize Upon Great Opportunity Knocking at Its Door or Sink to the Level of Stagnated Communi ties Lacking in Will and Vision; Houses Few and Conditions Frightful; Rents High and Going Up; What Are We Going to Do? [This is the first of a series of articles to appear in the Harris burg Telegraph dealing with housing conditions in Harrisburg and their improvement. The ser ies is designed to show the need and point the way to better ments. The Chamber of Com merce proposes to seek govern ment aid in meeting the demand for houses suddenly augmented by the greatly increased activi ties of local industries engaged in the manufacture of war supplies and the construction here of two very large military depots. This appeal is warranted by the cir cumstances and is a verv proper move, but it is incidental to the greater work the city must do for itself, and it is the purpose of the Telegraph to go thor oughly into the matter of perma nent development along the most modern approved lines.] HARRISBURG is at a turn ing point in its history. The city never was so prosperous. Never have its in dustries been so busy; never were its people so generally em ployed at high wages. Never has it grown so rapidly as with in the past year. Never has its prospects to the eye of the un thinking appeared brighter. But in reality we are facing a crisis. Our very growth is largely responsible. Our old clothes have be- COMMUNITY SONG UNITS URGED FOR PERIOD OF WAR Plan Works Most Successfully in Other Cities Where Big Crowds Congregate Community singing is becoming a nation-wide movement atf a result of the war. Harrisburg has had a large part in this interesting devel opment. In Philadelphia there has been growing upone feature of thesinging which should appeal to the singers of this city. In a single block of that city twenty-three men have gone into the service and somebody suggested getting together once i week and singing patriotic songs in honor of the boys who had gone out. An adjoining block where seventeen boys had responded to the colors felt that these boys should also be honored in the same way and as a result in a short time several blocks had combined for community sing ing in honor of the soldiers, and once a week there is singing in dif ferent parts of Philadelphia where organizations have been perfected, the meetings being held at given points where the singing of patrio tic songs express the sentiments of the people. An incident of each weekly song fest is a brief address and a report from the boys who enlisted from the particular neighborhood. In one case a young soldier of the vicinity who had remained with his wounded comrade.s until they could be carried [ back was the hero of the occasion. Would Work Here It has been suggested that some of the competent community singers of Harrisburg might iret together and arrange for neighborhood singing organizations of the character indi cated. These organizations could cover several neighborhood blocks and meet once a week at a central [ point. In Philadelphia a cornetlst I usually leads the singing. | The Telegraph would be glad to i give any assistance in this matter | that is possible and as little in the way of expense is involved it ought to be an easy matter to interest the singers of nil parts of Harrisburg in community organizations. Per haps the open space about school buildings would be most convenient for such gatherings once a week on a nlghi r specified. What section of the city will bte first in tftts patriotic effort to honor the boys and "keep the home fires burnlhg?" Haitens Declare War on Germany; Vote Unanimous By Associated Press Port Au Prince, Haiti, July 15.—| The council of state acting in accord-] ance with the legislative powers given It under the new Haltien con stitution, has unaiinously voted the declaration of war upon Germany demanded by the president of the republic. come too small for us, and some of them are shabby to the point of ihame. We have made Harrisburg attrac tive with j)ublic parks, paved streets, filtered water and ample sanitation. We have invited industry to locate here, and it has accepted. With in dustry have come workers —and we no longer have place wherein the stranger may quarter his family. Wo must have more and better houses at reasonable rentals or—we must see the city miss its great opportunity and sink lo the level of thousands of other stagnated communities whose people have not bad the vis ion or the will to provide place for the sll'ts the gods have lavished upon them. Houses Few; Hents High Empty houses at reasonable ren tals do not exist in Harrisburg. De spite the few complaints filed with the committee named by Mayor ICeister to investigate rentals, the fact can *be easily proved that rents for fair houses are beyond the reach of the purse of many self-respecting families desiring decent living condi tions and are rapidly going u-p. One Emerald street renter, for example, was recently compelled to move Into apartments because the rent was ad vanced at one leap from $29 to S6O a month. This is an extreme case but the Telegraph knows of other rent increases almost as unreason able, and almost invariably when a [Continued on Page 7.] BOARD 2 CALLS NINETY MEN FOR NATION'S SERVICE Quota For Hill District Sched uled to Leave For Camp on July 2(5 City Board No. 2 this morning an nounced the names of the ninety men who will be sent to Camp Wadsworth, Chralotte, S. C., July 26. Tii men will entrain at 10.15 Friday evening. will assemble at the board headquarters at 11 o'clock Friday morning for final instructions before they entrain. The quota's as announced follows: Eeon B. Husler, Dickinson, Cum berland county, Pa.; Eramett C. Wolf, 22 6 Hummel street: John E. Schillinger, 112 South Fourteenth street: George E. TJwens, Liverpool: Frank Earl Blair, 1839 Park street: John E. Zook, Central Y. M. C. A., Philadelphia, Pa.; Charles J. Miller, R. D. No. 3, Halifax; Paul .E. Shaff ner. 1333 Haehnlen street: Paul J. Yost, 175 North Front street, §teel [Continued on Page 2.] Girl of Seven Near Death in City Swimming Pool Anna Stauffer, seven-years old, 222 Chestnut street, narrowly escaped drowning in the city swimming pool at Island Park this afternoon when she went beyond her depth. Play mates pulled her from the water un conscious. Patrolman Joseph Demma went to Island Park with the pulmotor and succeeded in reviving the girl after five minutes work. She is at the Harrisburg Hospital. CHOI.KItA IN PETROGRAD By Associated Press I.nnilon, July 15—Several hundred from Cholera, according to travelers who have arrived in Stockholm, says persons are dying dally in Petrograd an Exchange Telegraph dispatch from Copenhagen. The disease, they add, now is prevalent in many parts of Russia. THOUSANDS 11.1, OF FEVER By Associated Press San Juan, Porto Rico, July 15—Ten thousand persons In San Juan have been HI of a three-day fever during the past two weeks acordfng to doc tors of tHe sanitary service. W. S.'S. Ask any banker what he thinks of them .... • I itarßUY 'EM TODAY ONI.Y EVENING ASSOCIATED I'ItESS NEWSPAPEII IN HAIIItISHIJItG ROAR OF GREAT BOMBARDMENT HEARD IN PARIS PARIS, July 15. THE inhabitants of Paris and the suburbs, nays the Matin, heard violent artillery iiring in the early hours to-day. The sky toward the east constantly was lit up as if by a great elec trical storm. Those who were on the boule vards after midnight listened to the cuunoiiuding while small groups gathered on the liigli points of the city to watch the distant heavens.. The noise of the liring was particularly loud in the southern part of the city. The seetor of tile battle line nearest Paris is that west of Chateau Thierry, about forty-live miles east-northeast of the French capital. American and French troops are burring the German pathway there. GREAT DRIVE IS LAUNCHED ALONG 65-MILE FRONT Allied Soldiers For Hours Are Subjected to Terrible Temp est of Artillery Fire HUNS CROSS THE MARNE Americans Prove Valor Under Fire by "Handling Enemy Well" By Associated Press After a wait of thirty-three days I since they were halted in theil' plunge toward Ccmipiegne, along the west bank of the Oise, the Germans at dawn to-day launched a new phase of their mighty offensive by attacking lrotn Chateau Thierry to Maison de Champaigne, north of Massignes and far east of Rheims, over a front about sixty-five miles in length. Latest reports say the Germans have crossed the Marne at several places. This probably refers to the reaches of the Marne between Chat eat Thierry and Dormans. Yankees Break Vp Attack American troops are engaged In the battle in this particular region and reports say they are "handling the enemy well." They broke up the German drive in the Vaux region west of Chateau Thierry by a dash ing counterattack. Reports show that, so far as the length of lino is concerned the pres ent drive is the greatest of the year. At first, it was bejieved from the French war office statement that the line was about fifty miles in extent, !>*• apparently the report from Paris told simply of the length of the French-held lines under attack. Measurements of the line where fighting is known to be going on, however, chow that it is 105 kilome ters, or 65.1 miles long. The attack against the Cambrai front on March 21 was over a front of 55 miles. [Continued on Page 10.] City Circus Grounds to Be Quarters For Trucks Enroute to Ocean Port That the circus grounds at Twen ty-first and Greenwood streets, are to be used for quartering army motor trtieks during the coming week, was the announcement made this morn ing by military authorities. It is said that the trucks will be quartered there for the night en route to an Atlantic port where they will be shipped to the battlefront. The circus grounds are owned by S. F. Dunkle, Nineteenth and Derry streets. For military reasons, It Is stated, no details could bo given In regard to the camping of the trucks other than the fact that about 25 trucks will be there every night if plans materialize. I THE WEATHER] Korrruit for Jul)- 15-20, Inclu sive, for North nml Middle At lantic States) No present Indica tion* of much warmer) tempera ture will vearatce somewhat l>r low normal firm hnlf mul near ly normal aeeond linlfi no Indi cations of rnln of consequence. For HarrlsburK and vicinity! Fair to-nlKht| Tuesday partly cloudyi not much change la . temperature) For ICaxtern Pennsylvania) Fair to-nlicht) Tuesday partly cloudy) gentle to moderate west and northwest winds be coming variable. River The main river will rise slowly.* All tributaries will fall slowly A staKe of about 3.0 feet Is In dicated for HarrlsburK 'l'ues d a Vm or n Inif. Temperaturei N n. m„ 112, Sum Hlsfs, ,t)4a a. m.j sets, 8)17 p. m. Moon) First quarter, July HI. Itlver StaKei S a. in., 3.1 feet above lov-wuter mark. Yesterday's Weather Highest temperature, N2. I.owest temperature, til. Mom temperature, 72. Norma! temperature, 75. . Grand Offensive Is Heaviest Enemy Has Launched Since the Attack in March INFANTRY GOES OVER TOP IN WAVES AFTER HEAVY GUNFIRE French Meet First Shock of German Onrush Determined to Prevent Division in Allies' Lines By Associated Press Paris, July 15.—A new offensive by the Germans was begun last night in the region between Rheims and the Argonne. On the front between Chateau Thierry and the Main de Massiges the Germans attacked this morning, the war office announces. The French arc meeting the shock of the enemy attack with energy, and the battle continues. The struggle is preceeding on a front of about 80 kilometers (approximately 50 miles). London, July 15.—The Germans have crossed the Marne at several places in their offensive begun this morning, according to advices received here. 1 he main attack, it is added, seems to be in the Champagne. The advices to this effect came to the Central News. The feeling in London on the situation following the German attack in France is that the developments are quite satisfactory. Advices received here regarding the German offensive state that the attack began on a front of thirty miles between Chateau Thierry and Blighy southwest of Rheims. The Germans also attacked east of Rheims, between Prunay and Maison de Cham pagne, on a front of twenty-five miles. ® T X PLEAD FOR INTERVENTION ? r ojp* j? Washington—A plea for immediate' military intervene * >n by the allies in Russia was made to-day to a group of *jf c X Senators hy Madame Botchkarova, former leader of the lnrnh, HnrrlxburK, and Dorii A. Hear, 43ardner, 11. U., "V" :1 lOdward I'niil and Annie M. Morrow, Harrlaburgi l.ewln K. 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