River.
Teor Ooww
t-
THE MEYERSDALE COMMERCIAL
BIG VICTORY
WON BY ALLIES
Move Carefully Planned by Hin-
denburg Met and Com-
pletely Nullified.
HIS LAST CHANCE PASSING.
Efforts to Weaken Defense to Break-
Ing Point Foiled by American Re-
inforcements — The German
Morale Shaken.
With the French Armies.—The fifth
day of the battle marked the definite
check of the German operations after
gains of little importance and prodi-
gious losses. The credit goes in no
small degree to the general command-
ing the army that held the sector, who
more than justified his already bril-
liant reputation.
It is now known that the big French
counterattack on the left which he
launched on Tuesday was a veritable
stroke of genius, as an essential factor
of the enemy plan was an immediate
advance in that very region with the
object of reaching the Aronde valley
80 as to turn the French center and
undertake a converging movement
upon Compiegne.
The complete dislocation of the pro-
- Jected attack and the substantial prog-
ress of the French, despite the very
heavy forces opposite to them that had
been moved up in preparation for it,
threw the whole German tactical
scheme out of gear. Hindenburg at-
tempted to counter—eight hours after
the French advance began—by a pow-
erful diversion between the Aisne and
Villers-Cotterets forest. Here, too, the
Germans were checked by the troops
in line.
In desperation strong forces, estimat-
ed at 30,000 to 40,000 men, were flung
against the rewon line from Courcelles
to Mery. The result was literally dis-
astrous. The French soldiers, keyed
to the highest pitch by the successes
of the last 48 hours, surpassed their
former performances and refused to
allow the Germans to gain a yard of
ground. After eight hours’ vain and
costly efforts the attack was abandon-
ed through sheer exhaustion.
As the situation stands today the al-
lies have won a great victory in one of
the hardest fought battles of the war,
and a carefully planned move in Kin-
denburg’s desperate struggle against
time has been met and nullified. The
Germans have also learned to their
cost that the American troops are al-
ready to be counted with. The enemy,
whose morale is daily weakening un-
der the strain of nonsuccesses and
never ending calls upon his strength,
has received a bitter reminder of the
American menace, which more than
any other factor is responsible for his
convulsive striving after a speedy {leci-
sion.
Large forces are still held in reserve
by the German command, and where
they will be thrown into the next grect
effort to end the war is now a subject
for speculation.
With the obviously stiffened allied
power exhibited in the last offensive,
confidence in Foch’s ability to stem the
new tide when it sweeps forward has
markedly increased.
CONTINUALLY ATTACK U-BOATS.
Geddes Says Destruction of Subma-
rines Outruns Builders.
London.—In an interview with the
London correspondent of the Petit Pa-
risien Sir Eric Geddes, first lord of
the admiralty, had the following to
say with regard to submarines:
“The allied navies continue to sink
more German submarines than the
enemy can build. It is certainly a fact
that since January we have sunk more
submarines than they have built. We
attack their submarines seventy times
a week on the average.
“We base our returns of submarines
destroyed only on those we are sure of
having seen wrecks or captured the
crews, but most of the other subma-
rines hit are in urgent need of repairs,
and it is evident that the results of
many of our attacks are unknown.”
WORLD’S NEWS IN
CONDENSED FORM
LONDON. — Sir Arthur Fell an-
nounces in London that a tunnel under
the English channel will be built after
tie war.
WASHINGTON.—A total of 744,865
men reaching twenty-one since the
draft registration a year ago register-
ed in the June 5 registration.
NEW YORK.—Prisoners on board U
boat reach port with story that captain
of the U 151 formerly was a gunner’s
mate in the United States navy. The
Keemun, British steamship reported
sunk, is safe in port.
PARIS. — Fifty miles of front are
held by U. S. troops in France.
NEW YORK.—Complete surrender
has been made by the Postal Tele-
graph Company to the appeal of Pres-
{dent Wilson that it prevent a strike
9n its system during the war.
‘WASHINGTON.—To enlarge the na-
val proving grounds at Indian Head,
Md., and the auxiliary grounds across
the Potomac. in Virginia, President
Wilson commandeered some 2,200
acres of land and placed it under the
control of the secretary of navy.
BERLIN. — German newspaper de-
clares crushing of Germanism in Amer-
ica is great disaster and counterbal-
ances all German military successes.
HH
Auto Maker Will Accept Demo-
cratic Nomination for Senate.
HENRY FORD |
oes a
1
Washington.—Henry Ford, at the re-
quest of President Wilson, will accept
the nomination of the Democrats of
Michigan for United/States senator, to
succeed Senator William Alden Smith,
who retires at the end of his present
term.
LABOR QUOTAS JULY 15
Nonessentials May Close to Re-
lieve “Perilous Shortage.”
Manufacturers Must Help Government,
War Labor Board Announces
at Conference.
Washington.—War industries of the
United States are ‘perilously short of
men.”
The shortage must be relieved “at
any cost.”
Nonessential plants may have to
close.
Sacrifice and loss may have to be
endured “by man after man.”
All manufacturers will be forced to
man finding task.
“Pitiless publicity” will be the por-
tion of every employer who fails to do
his part.
These were the striking features of
the government's war labor program
driven home to the heads of the United
States employment service system of
the department of labor in attendance
at the first national war labor confer-
ence here. Representatives from all
states were present.
The speakers were officials of the
department of labor. The policies out-
lined were declared to be those of the
administration.
The federal employment service will
begin the exclusive handling of com-
mon labor recruiting on July 15. Later,
it will take over skilled labor recruit-
ing. Eventually it is planned to pre-
vent any employer from hiring a man
unless he has a card issued to him
by the employment service,
Between now and July 15, the va-
rious war industries are to send to the
employment service estimates of their
common labor requirements. State
quotas then will be determined.
Assistant Secretary of Labor Louis
F. Post asserted that “by the time the
between employers and employees as
distinct classes will have passed
away.”
U. S. WILL RUSH TROOPS.
Peace Only by Victory, President Wil-
son Says.
Washingtecun.—Flag Day was marked
by a déclaration by President Wilson
that United States troops are to be
poured into France in ever increasing
numbers “until the forces of freedom
are made overwhelming.” This was
his pledge given in a cablegram to
President Poincare of France. The
president declared for peace with vic-
tory.
ALLIES URGE JAPAN TO ACT.
Tokio Divided on Intervention, but
Army Is Preparing.
Tokio.—The Entente governments
are bringing increasing influence to
bear to induce Japan to intervene in
Russia. Among several French offi-
cers who have arrived in Tokio to con-
sult with the general staff is Major
Pichon, who was head of the French
military mission to Russia. Apparent:
ly, Japan is divided on the question of
intervention, but the army is under
going severe training.
WILSON FOR WORLD SUFFRAGE,
Woman's Right to Equal Franchise as
Principle in Peace.
Washington.—President Wilson took
leadership in a movement for world-
wide woman suffrage. In response to
a memorial from the French union for
woman suffrage organizations of Great
Britain, Belgium, Italy and Portugal
he went on record that equal franchise
rights for women shall be definitely
established among all nations as a
principle achievement in the winning
of permanent peace.
co-operate with the government in its
peace treaty is signed the old division’
PERSHING NEEDS
ALL U. S. STEEL
Huge Munitions Orders Will
Withdraw Metal From
Other Uses.
ALLIES TO RECEIVE A PART.
Nation May Require Entire Output for
Period of War—Situation Serious
Not Only for French Army,
But American Forces, Too. *
Washington.—Huge orders for muni-
tions and steel supplies which have
tome unexpectedly from General Per-
shing in the last few days created the
prospect that the entire iron and steel
output for the rest of the war would
be used for direct military and naval
purposes. Edwin B. Parker, chairman
of thé priorities division of the War
Industries Board, said that it had be-
ceme evident that the demand far ex-
ceeded not only the present supply,
but it was feared the supply that could
be made available during the war.
Statements current here were that
General Pershing has asked for 2,000,-
000 tons of projectiles and shells in
excess of estimates that were made
earlier in the year and also for 1,200,-
000 tons of raiiroad rails and other
steel products. Compliance with this
request, it was said, would result in
the withdrawal of steel from every
other use in this country and concen-
trate it on vital needs for winning the
war,
It was understood that under the
pooling plan discussed at the War
Council some of the supplies repre-
sented by General Pershing's new or-
ders will go to the British and French
armies. The needs of the French have
been suddenly augmepted by reason of
the fact that certain industries as well
as iron and coal mines fell into the
hands of the Germans in the recent
rive.
More than 100,000 shells and projec-
tiles weighing about 3,000,000 tons
have been used by each side since the
beginning of the German drive on
March 21, it was stated here.
The new request from General Per-
shing was for two-thirds of that vol-
ume of munitions. Neither officials of
the War Industries Board nor other de-
partments keld out any assurance that
the maximum of General Pershing's
needs in this line was to be found in
the latest requests that have come
from hih. In fact, they were regarded
as forerunners of other orders of pos-
sibly greater proportions.
THREE SLAYERS DIE IN CHAIR.
Largest Number to Be Executed at
One Time Since Gunmen.
New York.—Three murderers were
executed at Sing Sing late Thursday
night—the largest number to die at
one time since the four gunmen were
punished for the shooting of Herman
Rosenthal four years ago.
Alvah Briggs, Stephen Lischuk and
Hyman Ostrausky were the men.
Briggs killed four persons at Pots-
dam, N. Y., a year ago. Infatuated
with Harriet Ladue, seventeen, he
tried to abduct her. When the girl's
aunt interfered he shot her. A broth-
er, Joseph Ladue, entered the house
and Briggs killed him. Henry Ladue,
a second brother, ran for a physician
and both men were killed as they en-
tered the house. Briggs started off
with the girl, who finally induced him
to let her go and give himself up.
Stephen Lischuk was convicted with
John Kushnieruk of robbing and mur-
dering Bladis Comiskey at Mineville.
N. Y, in November, 1916. He saw
Kushnieruk go to his death three
weeks ago.
The crime for which Hyman Ostran-
sky gave his life was the killing of
Dorah Cohen on East Broadway last
November. He had been in the death
house only six months, which is a much
shorter period than usual.
IAIN AINSI NI NS NI NI NI NS NI NS NSPS NS SPP PSA
PITH OF THE
WAR NEWS
While the Germans first underestimat-
ed American assistance, now they
fear it and are hastening to gain a
decision before the Americans can
take the front line in full force. All
agree that the war is reaching a
crisis and that Germany's military
ring has its back to the wall.
Both allied and enemy military critics
agree that the German armies will
strike a new and more powerful
blow this year
The attacks of some of the best Ger-
man troops, thrown into the strug-
gle between Montdidier and Noyon,
have met a sanguinary check.
On the French left wing, southeast of
Montdidier, all positions have been
strengthened despite a severe Ger-
man counter attack between Mery
and Courcelles.
On the right the Huns have made very
nttle progress toward Compiegne,
which is covered by the vast forest,
and have suffered very heavy losses.
In the center the French have thrown
the Germans back across the Matz
and recaptured Melicocq, which the
Germans took the day before.
Germany soon will declare the entire
Atlantic coast from Canada to Mex-
ico in a new danger zone.
. pass the million mark.”
‘will prepare not for war, but to be
®
GARRIE CHAPMAN CATT
President Through Her Pleads
for World-wide Woman Suffrage.
Washington.—The President notified |
the Suffragists that he hopes Congress
will not end the present session until
the senate passes the amendment te
the Constitution granting women the
right to vote. This message, in the
form of a letter urging world-wide wo-
man suffrage, was transmitted to Mrs.
Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the
International Woman Suffrage Alll-
ance, who called at the White House
to present to the President a memorial
addressed to him from the French Un-
ion for Woman Suffrage. ’
TROOPS FLOW TO FRONT
Baker Tells Cadets U Boats Can-
not Alter Government’s Plan.
General March Adds That Number of
Men Will Constantly Increase
Until Victory Is Won.
West Point, N. Y.—More than a mil
lion American fighting men will be in
service in France in the near future,
declared Secretary Baker in an ad-
dress to 137 graduates of the United
States Military Academy.
Supplementing his recent announce-
ment in Washington that United States
troops “exceeding 700,000 in number”
have disembarked on French soil, the
secretary told the cadets *it is not un-
fair to speculate that we will shortly
Gen. Peyton C. March, chief of staff,
who made commencement day the oc
casion of his first official visit to the
academy, said that neither the menace
of raiding German submarines off the
Atlantic coast nor the territorial gains
of the enemy on the western front will
affect America’s policy of sending men
to France as fast as ships can carry
them.
The graduation was that of the class
of 1919, to the members of which di
plomas were awarded a year ahead of
time, the first since 1817 to g£ttain that
distinction, because of the urgent de-
mand in the army for trained officers.
Secretary Baker, who awarded the
diplomas to the graduates, told them
they were destined to have a part in
leading the armies of the nation to a
victorious peace. “After that,” he’said,
“as officers of the regular army you
ready for another war if anybody
wants to make it.”
Mr. Baker declared that the United
States became a belligerent because
“Germany tried to crush individual hu
man happiness and liberty, which we
call the theory of democracy.
“We have joined a combination in
which France and Britain and Italy
and the United States have assembled
in France the greatest force for right-
eousness the world has ever seen,” he
continued. “We see in that combina-
tion a submergency of international
discord and of national selfishness.”
“COAL FAMINE INEVITABLE”
Mine Workers’ Secretary So Tells St.
Paul Convention.
St. Paul.—“Nothing can save the
United States from a coal famine next
winter. It will be of incalculable se-
verity and ne way will be found to
prevent it.” This statement was made
in the American Federation of Labor
convention. William Green, secretary
of the miners, said: “Forty thousand
miners have left the anthracite fields.
Even with sufficient cars the output
will be millions of tons short.”
OFFICERS’ UNIFORMS AT COST.
May Purchase Them From Quarter-
master at Great Saving.
Washington. — An arrangement for
officers to purchase uniforms from the
quartermaster’s department at cost
was announced by the war depart-
ment.
Heretofore officers have had to pur-
chase their clothing outside, and many
complaints have been made that deal-
ers have taken advantage of the fact
to raise prices beyond a reasonable
level.
BIG FRAUDS IN
WAR CONTRACTS
Department of Justice Goes After
Profiteers in Army Supplies
in Widespread Movement
ITALIANS HOLD PIAVE FRONT
Italian Troops With French and Brit.
ish Allies Begin Counter Offensive
Against Austrians and Push Them
Back in the Mountain Region.
Washington.—A nation-wide conspi-
racy between manufacturers’ and con-
tractors’ agents in Washington to so-
licit government war orders under an
agreement to pay commissions illegal-
ly to the agents was disclosed by the
department of justice.
Simultaneously with the announce-
ment raids were made on hundreds
of manufacturers’ business offices
throughout the United States in
search of papers showing the scope
of the illegal practice, and four Bos-
ton business men were indicted in
Vashington on charges of acting as
contingent fee agents.
Officials said the manufacturers
were led to enter into the agreements
by assurances of the agents that they
had special influence with the army
officers, or others in charge of letting
contracts. Evidence was said to have
been secured that some of the agents
already have made thousands in com-
mission fees.
4,500 Prisoners Taken.
Rome. — Italian troops in conjunc-
tion with their French and British al-
. lies began a counter-offensive against
the Austro-Hungarian forces which
had launched an attack on the Ital-
ian mountain front. The Italian and
allied troops, according to an an-
-nouncement made by the war office,
were able to gain partial successes
and to rectify their lines at several
points along the front.
The statement says the Austrians,
disregarding their losses, continued
their endeavors to cross the Piave riv-
er, but that the Italians are bravely
holding their positions.
More than 4,500 Austrians have
been made prisoners by the Italians,
British and French.
Paris.— “Between the Oise and the
Aisne we repulsed enemy counter-at-
tacks north of Hautebraye and consol-
idated our gains of the morning,” says
the war office announcement. “The
prisoners taken in this region num-
bered 370. We captured, as well, 25
machine guns and eight trench mor-
tars.”
Democrat Appointed Judge.
Philadelphia.—Edward J. Fox, attor-
ney and financier, of Easton, Pa., was
appointed a justice of the Pennsylva-
nia State Supreme Court by Gov.
Brumbaugh. The new justice will fill
the vacancy caused by the death of
Justice 8. Leslie Mestrezat.
Big Ship in Short Time.
Baltimore, Md. — The launching of
of the hull of the freighter Southpole,
at the plant of the Baltimore Dry-
docks and Shipbuilding Company, was
the first time a vessel of this type and
tonnage, 6.450 tons, has been com-
pleted within 40 days from the date of
laying the keel.
Senator Favors Draft Law Change.
Washington. — Support for Provost
Marshal General Crowder’s proposal
to extend the army draft to men be-
tween 18 and 45 years was given by
Senator Chamberlain of Oregon, chair-
man of the Senate military committee
at hearings on the $12,000,000,000
army appropriation bill.
Fourth Loan Interest 41; Per Cent.
Washington.—The treasury indicat-
ed in a statement that the interest
rate of the Fourth Liberty Loan would
not be raised above 414 per cent, the
rate of the Third Loan.
$63,235,000 Asked for Guns.
Washington. — Congress was asked
by the war department for $63,235,000
additional for purchase, manufacture
and test of mountain, field and siege
cannon and ammunition for the com-
ing fiscal year.
Custodian Seizes Busch Property.
Washington. — All the property in
this country of Mrs. Adolphus Busch
of St. Louis, valued at millions of dol-
lars, was ordered seized by Alien
Property Custodian Palmer. Mrs.
Busch has recently been in Germany |
and is now in Cuba, en route to the
United States.
Wood Back to Camp Funston.
Washington.—Revocation of orders
assigning Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood to
command the Western department
and re-assignment of the general to
Camp Funston, Kan. was announced
by the war department.
Long Terms for Soldiers.
Long Island City, N. Y.—Convicted
of robbing a salqon in Hollis, N. Y.
on April 12, and wounding several
persons while resisting arrest, Pri-
vate Harry Cohen of New York City,
stationed at Camp Mills, was sen-
tenced to 19 years in Sing Sing pris-
on. His companions, Private Roy
Smithson of Mount Hope, W. Va.; Pri-
vates William S. Harrison of Center-
ville, Tenn., and Sergt. Otis 0. Walk-
er of Milburn, Okla., were each given
10 years. The court denied their
pleas that they be sent to France.
STATE T0 HELP
PAY TEACHERS
Committee Named by the State
Board of Education Will
Have an Early Meeting
a,
COMBINE RURAL SCHOOLS
Short Items of Interest Gathered av
the Various State Departments
Touching Affairs of the People
of the Commonwealth.
Harrisburg, Pa.—Plans are being
made for an early meeting of the
committee named by the State Board
of Education to prepare legislation
for the Commonwealth to appropri-
ate twenty-five per cent of the cost
of teachers’ salaries in the schoobk
aistrict of the state. The idea is te
collect information showing the ex-
perience of districts in the school
year which is just closing; the value
of the real estate taxable and what
was produced and the amounts ex-
pended for teachers’ salaries.
The subject will receive attention
at the annual meeting of the State
Educational Association which will
be held in this city and it is prob-
able that action will also be taken
by various directors organizations.
Iniormation is also being gathered
in regard to rural schools with a
view to working out a plan for com-
solidation in districts where some
schools show a falling off in attend
ance and where transportation can
be arranged for children.
Diling State Highways.
Under an arrangement with the
United States government regarding
use of bituminous materials the State
Highway department has begun the
oiling of about 1,400 miles of state
highway. The plan is to oil the main
traveled highways, especially those
for which there is heavy war truck
traffic. The preparations to be used
have been tested by the department
in the last few years and it is believed
will improve conditions consideralsly.
Police Can Claim Compensation.
The State Compensation Board has
awarded compensation in the claim
of McDonald versus Hanover town-
ship, Luzerne county. holding that a
policeman comes under the compen-
sation law because he serves a mu-
nicipality for a valuable considera-
tion, i
Four Vacancies Now in Senate.
The death of Senator J. Frank Graff
of Armstrong county was officially an-
nounced at the offices of the state sen-
ate and a committee has been named
by President Pro Tem. Buckman to
attend the funeral. There will be four
special senatorial elections this fall,
other vacancies having been caused
by deaths of Senators J. P. McNicho!
and C. J. Magee and resignation of
Auditor General Charles A. Snyder.
The lieutenant governor will pro-
claim the special elections.
Historical Commission Reappointed.
Senator William C. Sproul, Ches-
ter; George P. Donehoo, Couders-
port, and William H. Stevensen,
Pittsburgh, were reappointed by Geov-
ernor Brumbaugh as members of
the State Historical, Commission. Dr.
J. George Becht, secretary of the
State Board of Education, was Te-
appointed a trustee of the School
for Training in Speech of Deaf Chil-
dren, Philadelpuhia.
Militia Officers Get Paid.
Over $4,000 was paid to the militia
officers attending the training camp as
Mt. Gretna for their field service last
week. The camp was preparatory to
the brigade encampment next month.
War Flour Frauds.
Warning that some of the “war
flours” being sold in Pennsylvania
are being misbranded has been is-
sued by the State Department of
Agriculture, some of whose agents
have turned up some alleged potato
flours which contained high perceni-
ages of tapioca and corn starch.
The Pennsylvania Safety and De-
fense Commission appointed Colonel
Henry W. Shoemaker of Altoona to
go to Europe to make a study of
methods used by cities for defense
against attacks by aircraft.
Large Acreage in Grains.
The total wheat acreage which it
is expected will be harvested in
Pennsylvania this year will be ap
proximately 1,420,000 according to
men connected with the Department
of Agriculture. The buckwheat
acreage will be larger than ever and
as it can be sown until late this
month ‘it is impossible to estimate
tre amount. Very extensive plant-
ing of corn is reported.
Ask State to Help Schools.
Marcus Aaron of Pittsburgh has
been named as chairman of a special
committee of the State Board of Edu-
cation to urge the enactment by the
next General Assembly of Pennsylva-
nia of legislation providing for the
payment by the state, in addition to
its present school appropriation, to
every school district in the state, at
least one-fourth of the salaries now
paid by such districts to their teach-
ers. It is expected that an early
launching of the movement will be
started.