7) I !• ir nv mr * j British Am New Blow Northwest of SL Quentin; Capture Honbn Three Mies Away HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH M LXXXVII— No. 207 14 PAGES Matter at the Post Office at Harrtsburer' 08 * HARRIS.BURG, PA., WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER IS, 1918. ° N NKVVSI'AI'KR IN It Altli'lMl'lil'lC "SW" HOME EDITION. YANKEES SMASH HUN COUNTER OFFENSIVE HAIG ATTACKS IN ST. QUENTIN; TA KESHONLON War Office Hears of Renewal of Opera tions Against Germans by British Troops; Bulgarian Troops Withdraw to Positions Further North / - U. S. ARMY OF 4,800,000 PLANNEDBY NEXT JULY By Associated Press Washington, Sept. 18.—An army of 4,800,000 by next July after all deductions have been made for casualties and rejections, is what the enlarged American military pro gram calls for. General March explained this to the House Appropriations Committee to day in discussing the new seven billion dollar army estimates. There are about 3,200,000 men under arms, General March said, and the plan is to call 2,700,000 of the new draft registrants to the colors between now and July. * UJ l , • + By Associated Press London, ,Sept. 18.—4.30 P. M.—ln their attack to-day northwest of St. Quen tin the British scored an average advance of from two and one half to three miles on a fifteen-mile front, according to reports up to this hour. The tow nof Hargicourt was captured by the British. Prisoners to the number of 1500 are reported. With the American Army in Lorraine, Sept. 18.—2.30 p. m. —German infantry attempted to attack the American lines west of the Moselle Tuesday evening but the enemy troops were driven back by the fire of the American artillery. When observers reported that a light line of German infantrymen was approaching, the American big guns threw a terrific barrage into that area. There were no further movements by the enemy. No Living Germans Left Observers reported this morning that there were no living Germans in the region where they were sighted last night. Quite a number of dead were seen, however, American aviators report that on Tuesday American gunners destroyed a big German gun in the region of Dachaussee and a number of gun emplacements nearby. The dugouts where the German gunners had taken refuge also were shelled. German aviation machine gunners and bombers attacked what they supposed to be the American positions in the region to the west of Yaqdieres last night. The mist and low clouds, however, prevented the Germans from finding their targets. The Germans themselves were located and driven back by aircraft fire.' Several machines were hit. the observers reported. When last seen the crippled planes were returning hastily to their own lines. Field Marshal Haig, two months from the day of the Allied offensoive on the Marne, has begun a closer investment of St. Quentin. His troops are attacking northwest of the city with the evident intention of outflanking it on the north. The new operations against this bastion of the Hindenburg line follow the British capture of Ho'lnon village, on high ground three miles northwest of St. Quentin, Tuesday night. Holnon is on a hill, as is Maissemy, captured late Saturday. These hill positions dominate the terrain north of St. Quentin and the road connecting the city with Cambrai. Nearing Big Enemy Base From these favorable "jumping off" points the British are mov ing in toward the city. The Germans here are on or near the Hindenburg positions and captured documents show the enemy troops have been ordered to maintain their positions. lo the north the Germans are using their big guns actively against the British lines. Tuesday evening the Germans attacked Moeuvres, west of Cambrai, an dpressed the British back to the western outskirts. Southwest of Metz the Germans attempted to strike back at the Americans west of the Moselle river last night. The Amer ican artillerymen, however, smothered the effort and the Germans were driven back with losses. * Hun Army Ordered to Make Desperate Stand By Associated Press BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IX FRANCE, Sept. 18.—The Ger mans urt> in their defensive positions near St. Quentin and the Four teenth Reserve Corps has been ordered not to give up one foot more of ground. A captured document, signed by General Von Morgeil, dated September 10 and addressed to the Fourteenth Corps, says: "Hitherto, owing to military reasons, we have allowed the British to occupy desolate enemy country. Now. however, you have 4aken up strong defensive positions. Not one foot more of ground is to lie given up." " After exhorting the men to defend their homes, their families and the Fatherland, the document adds: "You arc more than a match for the enemy, who only attneks with dash when accompanied by tanks. These we will destroy. I expect every man from general to junior private to do his duty in the imminent decisive battles." General Von Morgen was reported to have fled hastily in ac automobile early in the British attack north of the Ancre. GERMANS WILL YIELD GROUND AT LORRAINE Elaborate System of Defenses Built Before Metz in Hope of Stopping American Army; Enemy Is Burning Towns Along the Moselle River By Associated Press | Burning towns along the I Moselle river indicate the j Germans are preparing a | further retirement in the 1 Lorraine sector. It is said an elaborate system of de ! fenses has been constructed to receive the German ■armies which will defend ! Metz. Allies Gain in Macedonia j As the Aljied offensive in ! Macedonia continues to develop, jthe impression is growing that |an operation of major propor ! tions has begun there. The front YANKEE AIRMEN HAVE BIG PART IN U. S. DRIVE Enemy Airdromes Practically Bombed Out of Commis sion For Fighting By Associated Press With llie American Army on the Lorraine Front, Sept. 18.—Aviation played a large part in the American offensive in Lorraine. This is indi-i eated by a summary of the first four days of the battle. In spite of the j rain which before the battle had | transformed airdromes into seas of I mud and which during the combat j handicapped the aviators during two of the four days, the airmen were | highly successful. During the fighting they made I more than 3,300 sorties, the sum j mary showing that the machines I were aloft for an aggregate of 4,000 j hours. During this time enemy air [Continiicil on l'agc 12.] I ;Clemenceau Says Day of Glory Has Come; France to Fight on For Peace By Associated Press Paris, Sept. 18. —"We will fight | until the hour when the enemy conies ' to understand that bargaining he | tween crime and right no longer is j possible," declared Premier Clemen i ceau in an eloquent address in the Senate last evening.' "We want un honest and a strong peace, protecting the future against the dominations of tho past." "The day of glory has come," he continued. "Our sons are complet ing the formidable task of their fathers and with brotherly nations are securing a supreme victory. All right-minded humanity is with our troops who arc liberating the nations, from the lurot of evil force." . PLAIN "BILL" WELTMER HOME FROM FRANCE WITH DOUBLE SILVER BARS ON SHOULDER Back at Steelton Home After Ten Years' Absence;'in Uncle Sam's Service in Philippines and in France Plain "Bill" Weltmer left Steelton ten years ago, arfd disappeared as though the earth had swallowed him up. His mother and father both dead, "Bill" never came back to look things over. Bast night, however, in strolled Captain William Weltmer of the Sixth United States Infantry, and the home folks werg so glad to see hlni that they soon organized an informal reception. "Bill" has had many experiences is almost shut off from the world and except for official reports there are few details known. It appears, however, that the attack which was launched on Sunday is gaining important ground east of Monastir. Sofia admits the Allies have been successful at some points and says the Bulgarian troops have been withdrawn to positions farther north. Reports from allied sources tell of the success of the drive over the high ridges which the Central Powers have held for the last eight teen months or more. Drive Two Months Old Two months ago this morning, the Allies struck the western flank of the German forces in the Marne salient. When General Mangln [Continued oil Page 12.] BELGIUM REMAINS FOE OF GERMANY; DECLINES PEACE Reaches Decision After Con sultation With Allies at War With Kaiser Paris, Sept. 18,—The Rrlginn government, lifter consultation with the Allies ncroriling to the Petit Parlslen, lins decided to re fuse without elaboration, the re ported offer of a separate peace, made by Germany. An Amsterdam dispatch Tuesday said dispatches received from Berlin declared nothing was known in com petent circles In Berlin regarding the reported separate peace proposal to Belgium. Information was received in Lon don Sunday night to the effect that Germany had made an offer to Bel gium. The terms Included the pro visions that Belgium should remain neutral until the end of the war. that Belgium should use her good offices to secure the return of the German colonies and that the pre-war com mercial treaties shall again be put into operation. The proposal con tained no admission that Germany had wronged Belgium nor anything concerning reparation -or indemnities. Oysters Scarce Here; Railroads Are Blamed Although this is the third week of the oyster season, they have so far been a scarce article in the city. Once more war gets tho blame for the shortage of this famous foodstuff. Railroad congestion, coupled with the scarcity of labor to gather oysters, is the cause of the curtailing of the shipments. Since oysters are not on the priority list dealers are unable to know when their shipments will arrive after they i have been ordered. since leaving the borough. He en listed in the Regular Army, shortly after his departure, serving in the Philippines, and working his way into a commission by force of merit alone. He served some months on the other side with the "Yanks," and has now been assigned as an in structor at Camp Sherman, Chillo cothe, Ohio. Captain Weltmer is staying with his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs Robert Atticks, 3 4 North Becond street, during his sojourn In Bteelton.l GROSS COUNTS 10 MONTHS TO YEAR; FIRE DEPT. SHY i Figures $4,500 Too Low in j Annual Budget and Deficit Is the Result HAS TO ASK FOR MORE Council Must Find Funds to Make Up For Careless ness in Estimating Because Commissioner E. Z. Gross, head of the city tire and park depart ments, carelessly estimated pay for tire apparatus drivers for only ten months of the year, instead of twelve. Council yesterday was required 't# provide almost $4,500 more for that part of the budget. The ordinance appropriating' the money was introduced yesterday in council by Commissioner C. W. Burt nett. It provided that of $23,000 from unexpended 1917 city taxes and 191S w ®ter rents. $4,46S should be appro priated to the fund for payment of tire apparatus drivers. Commissioner Gross when question ed about tlie additional fund furnish ed to the lire department budget made this explanation: "In making up my part of the budget I multiplied the number of tire apparatus drivers by the amount of money each re ceives a month. Then I inadvertent ly multiplied the total by ten instead of twelve, for the months in the year. The result was that the fund would not reach." He lamely added that he had dis covered the error after the ordinance was ready for tlnal passage but let the mistake stand to save printing, hoping to have it corrected later in the year. No public announcement was made at that time, however, and the public was left to believe that the tire department would cost the city about $5,000 less than is actually the case. The careless .inefficiency into which the city government has fallen under the present form of gov ernment is illustrated by the incident. Draft Registrants May Enter Navy or Marines; Sea Call Comes First By Associated Press Washington. Sept. 18. —Provost 1 Marshal Gqjicrgl 'Crowder to-dny an nounced orders to local draft boards which will permit the voluntary in duction of draft registrants into the Navy and Marine Corps and pro vide for drafts of men to be assigned to those services if voluntary induc tions do not suffice to till the de mands. Calls for men for the Navy will go out before the end of this month and Marine Corps contingents will | be called within a few weeks. JAP STATESMAN DIES By Associated Press Washington, Sept. 18.—Viscount Ichiro Motono, who resigned as Min ister of Foreign Affairs of Japan four months ago. died at Tokio yesterday from chronic stomach trouble. News of his death reacher the Japanese embassy here to-day. NO SECTOR IS QUIET AFTER YANKS ARRIVE Lieut. Brian Matter Home From Front Says Boys Are Active "There are no quiet sectors along the west front after they are taken over by the Yanks," this was a dec laration made to-day by Firct Lieu tenant Brian Miitter, of Camp Hill, who has been returned from France for instruction duty. Lieutenant Mat ter, is connected with the 14th Mu ch' Gun Battalion of the Fifth di vision. He received his commission after training at Fort Oglethorpe last year. He will go to Camp Dix, Wrightsville, N. J., where he will train a company for service in France. "We were supposed to be assigned to a quiet sector but there are no quiet sectors on the American front." the lieutenant said, "We relived a detachment of Frenchmen and at l once begun to make things warm for Frits," he continued. "Although dur ing my stay we were in no big oper ations, we experienced some heavy lighting in form of raids, both on the part of the Americans, and also the Germans, who never succeeded in getting any prisoners." When asked how the sentiment of the soldiers on the front is toward the German peace feelers, the lieu tenant replied that "several times they dropped propaganda telling of Hun victories, allied defeats and other matters, but after the first ones were opened the Yanks never bothered about the rest." The spirit of the American soldier is fine but what he needs most of all is plenty of mail and pictures from home. So anxious are the boys to receive mail from home that it is the lirst question they ask. During his stay on the front. Lieutenant Matter, said that he was accustomed to making two rounds of his machine guns dally, either daylight or night. The soldiers always asked him if he had any mail for them when he came on these inspection trips. THE WEATHER I - - i For HurrUhurK and vlclnltyi I Cloudy to-uiglit and Thursday, probably ralni not much cbunae ' In temperature. ANTI-SLACKER LEAGUE SECRETLY ORGANIZED TO ROUND-UP IDLERS Mayor Roister Endorses Mysterious Body Which Will Re port Names of Men Who Try to Evade Army and Industrial Service Th organization of "The Anti- Slacker League" to report evaders of military service and Industrial idlers to the proper authorities was an nounced to-day. No hint as to the names of the men back of the organ ization nor the number of members was riven, but It was hinted that the organization already has a suf ficient number of workers to get a good start in its patriotic couise. First intimation of the league's existence came this morning when Mayor Daniel L. Keister was asked for support. The first public statement of the league addressed to the Mayor fol lows: ' Many Loafers "We see men who loaf day and night, also men who only work a week or so a month: They must be on your list, and if not, will you set all such slackers to work for the United States if our recently formed anti slacker league scuds in their names? DYING, HE TELLS WIFE OF SECOND WIFE AND CHILD Private Gupp Kills Self After Making Dramatic Con fession Allen Lee Cupp, the soldier who shot himself to death in the home of his mother at 2124 Greenwood street late yesterday afternoon, con fessed to his wife shortly before the shooting that he was married to an other woman in York by whom he had a child. I Mrs. Cupp, in a signed statement to the chief of police, declared lie I made the confession shortly before] he drew a revolver from under the! pillow of the bed on which tl-ey | were sitting. Cupp received notice yesterday I that he had overstayed his leave. He 1 was in training at Fort Benjamin] Harrison, Indiana. He was absent! from camp on a rive days' leave and j yesterday was his eleventh day a,way from camp. The second wife had' the child dating his leave, according | to the confession to his wife which ; she recounts in her statement to thei police. The child died. . Estranged From Wife The bullet pierced Cupp's •nghtl temple. He was rushed to the Hwr-' risburg Hospital in the hospital am bulance. Death occurred at 2.30 o'clock this morning. j In her statement, Mrs. Cupp skid) to the police: "He came to my home at 327 Ann [Continued on Page 12.] 1,800 MINERSIN LYKENS DISTRICT CONTINUE STRIKE ' Say They Will Remain Idle Until Word Comes From Garfield I.ykcns, Sept. 18.—About 1,800 miners and workers of the Susque- j hanna Coal Company, operating here j and at WilliamstoWn. have been idle i since Monday, ponding a readjust- i ment of wages, demanded by tile men. ' Miners assert they will remain idle ] until they receive word from Federal Fuel Administrator Gartield. According to an announcement made this morning by D. V. Randall, an official of the company, the fuel j administrator is investigating the ] wage and living conditions IVi this district and will report within a time. At the present rate of pay many miners average more than S2OO 1 a month while envelopes containing , S3OO and SIOO ate not uncommon among the men, Mr. Randall said. "Ninety per cent, of the men em ployed by the coal company In tile j Short Mountain colliery and the Sum- | mit branch at Willianistown are na- j th e born Americans, Mr. Randall i added. Since the United States en- ' tered the war more than 500 young I men from this vicinity have entered the army, many of them are now In j France. FRENCH ON WAY 1 TO ST. MIHIEL By Associated Press With the American Army in I.orraine,. Sept. 18.—Plans: al- . ready are under way for the re occupation by the French popu- | lation of the territory of the St. I Mihiel salient from which they | were driven out four years ago j and which was regained last week j in the American offensive. Scores of persons are requesting Ameri- I can officers for permission to re- j turn to their homes. One delegation applied to-day for permission to return to St. j Mihiel or to Hend a committee to recover money buried th*>re. The officers were told that when the Germans appeared many persons fled hastily and, not knowing when the invasion would end, had buried In gardens and other places little stores of gold, silver and jewejs. "What constitutes a slacker as regulated by United States laws?" Mayor Keister took only an in stant to give the Anti-Slacker League his hearty endbrsement. Mayor Will Help "Let them round up the names of the slackers and loafers," he said. "We'll attend to them. All we need Is definite information, and we'll put loafers to work." That the mandates of the league will be enforced from the outer darkness and without any show or display, is shown by the fact that no one knows the identity of the per son that sent the card to tho mayor. But it is whispered around the town that that tall fellow crossing the street, that little fellow with he gold watch charm, that banker going into the restaurant, that grocer taking orders from the householder ova- there, that well-known secre tary getting onto the street car, this woman standing at the market stall, all are members. These, and many others, have heeded the call to arms, rumor has it, and will squelch the slacker. TO ATTACK NEW STEAM RATES AT PUBLIC HEARING Public Service Commission to Hear Testimony of Both Sides Tomorrow The hearing on the complaint of the committee of businessmen that the new rates of the Harrisburg Light and Power Company for steam heat service are not justified will bo [Continued on Page 12.] f GERMANS PLANNING NEW PEACE '■ London—lt is reported in Berlin that when the Reich -5 met vemher 15 there will be another peace ■demonstration slmila? to that of uly, 1917, eeeording to fpany. Tt is said that the terms of a peace solution now are Abemg drafted by the majority leaders in consultation with • !Lon r : - ■ Au.-7.bcTr .if the crew of the American steam ■ Hip Dora, which was torpedoed and sunk on September I, were landed at an Irish port on Tuesday by an Araef yOUTHS RUSH TO MARRY Chicagd—More than 25 per cent of the marriage icensee issuer in the vo days, according to af'atate- ' nent by the m iage license bureau to-day, have -been aken out by boys between the ages of'l7 and 21, of th emainiap mumbet the great majority were issued to men >ast thirty-eat years old. j ~ MARRIAGE LICENSES Karl H. Shellenltcrgrr, lllKhi>irr, iiihl Mlnii'v I*. Wumclilnkl, HnrrlMhurKt Kmnnuel F. Kbluci.i, MI.I<llco„n, unil Lillian >l. VViil ) *rr, Lebanon. HARRISBURG BOY SERIOUSLY HURT WHILE FLYING | Brother, One of Three in U. S, Service, Was Killed in France THIRD SON IS IN FRANCE Injured "Youth Expected to Sail For Front is Short Time Clarence B. Hawk, aged 21, < member of (he 879 th Aero Squadrol has.been seriously injured while fly ing at Montgomery, Alabama, uc cording to an announcement receiv ed to-day by his wife. His left aril is crushed and his body injured. H> is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hai\ k 405 Woodbine street. Young Hawk is the second mem ber of his family to suffer casualties His young brother, Frank, aged 17 was killed in action late In Juts The oldest son, Charles N. Hawk aged 27, is also in the service, serv ing as a corporal with the 23rd Engi neers, Truck Company No. 2, not in France. All three of the boys en listed at the outbreak of hostilities Frank with Company I of the oh Eighth Pennsylvania, Clarence as > mechanic in the Aviation Corps S'v Charles as a truck driver. Dr. Robert Bagnell, pastor of th Grace Methodist Church, who recert ly returned from a three montl s trip to the training camps and lit trenches of France, spoke to th youngest son the day before he wa killed in action. The lad was In th best of spirits and* inquired of hi parents. When the war first start:: he was so worked up that he enlls'n before he was seventeen years o!< ! He was encamped on Island Park be fore going to Camp Hancock, wh • he was transferred to Company if 110 th Regiment. Clarence, the Injured one. enlisii shortly after the younger broth : and has been stationed at a numb? of aviation fields throughout th south. He expected to sail for Franc within a short time. He also ha a small son, besides his wife an parents. The oldest member of ih family has been "over there" sine December.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers