BRITISH SMASH GERMAN LINE.
Haig's Victorious Troops Sweep Back
Enemy Five Miles At One Point in
Wednesday's Offensive. Italians
Holding Their Own on the Piave
River. British Making Progress in
Palestine.
The Associated Press summary of
the war news for Wednesday as pub
lished in yesterday's daily papers, is
more encouraging than for several
days past. It follows:
The great Hindenburg defense line,
upon which the German commander
in-chief had builded his hopes of hold
ing the British from inroads into the
open territory beyond, has been
smashed. And the task apparently
was an easy one.
Attacking over a front of 32 miles,
extending from the Scarpe river east
of Arras, to St. Quentin, Field Mar
shal Haig, with his English, Scotch,
Irish and Welsh troops, has made one
of the most rapid and sepctacular
drives of the present war, catching the
Germans completely by surprise in
the onslaught capturing numerous po
sitions which were regarded as im
pregnable and taking in addition
thousands of prisoners and numerous
guns.
The apex of the offensive apparent
ly is centered on the important rail
way junction ofCambrai, lying to the
east of the old line midway between
Arras and St. Quentin. Here, having
taken the towns of Marcoing, Anneux,
Graincourt and Novelles, the victori
ous troops at last accounts were well
within gun range of Cambrai, with its
railroad lines and roadways branch
ing out toward all the main points of
the compass.
The latest advices indicate that the
British have not yet ceased their at
tack, but aided by monster tanks
which are leading the way, folliwed
by infantry and machine gun detach
ments, are pressing forward for fur
ther conquest.
French Begin Sychronous Attack.
Sychronously, to the south around
St. Quentin and east of that point in
the Aisne region, the French have be
gun an offensive. While no details
of this movement have been received,
it doubtless has the object of pushing
back the Germans eastward in the for
mer sector and northward in the latter
region toward Laon, strategic moves
which, if successful, doubtless would
compel that part of the German line
north of St. Quentin which is still in
tact to fall back precipitately east
ward.
The British drive was begun without
the usual artillery prelude, and as the
tanks and infantrymen made their way
through the wire entanglements and
pressed into the German first posi
tions, the surprised enemy began send
ing up myrids of signal rockets calling
for assistance. Whether aid was rush
ed up is not definitely known, but
seemingly the surprised Germans fled
in disorder, leaving all kinds of equip
ment behind and in most cases did not
even take time, as is usual, to apply
the torch to villages they evacuated.
The British casualties are described
as extremely light while German dead
covered the ground as the British
pressed onward. Reports to date in
dicate that the depth of the penetra
tion in the region of Cambrai has ex
ceeded five miles, and that at one
point at least the troops swept on five
miles beyond tha German lines, cap
turing additional villages. The offen
sive was under direct command of
General Sir Julian Hedworth, George
Byng, and General John J. Pershing,
commander-in-chief of the American
forces in Francc, was an interested
observer of it.
Meanwhile, the Italians everywhere
are holding the Teutonic allied in
vaders along the Piave river and in
the hilly region from the upper
reaches of that stream to Lake Garda.
Nowhere has the enemy been able to
gain additional ground. On the con
trary, violent attacks in the hill coun
try have been repulsed with heavy
casualties. Probably owing to previous
ineffectual attempts to dislodge the
defenders, the enemy has not renewed
his attacks against Monte Tombr. and
Mount Monfenera, the vital points
barring the way to an invasion of the
Venetian plain from the north.
On the coastal front, Italian and
British warships are bombarding ene
my positions.
Still further progress has been made
by the British in Palestine, the line of
General Allcnby now having been
driven to points five miles northwest
and six miles west of Jerusalem. The
former position was taken at the point
of the bayonet.
British shipping losses last week
aggregated 17 vessels. Only 10 of
these, however, were craft in excess
of 1,600 tons.
An indication that the Germans'
fortified line has been passed by the
British at some points is the entry of
the calvary into the fray. Not since the
famous retreat of the Germans along
the Ancre and the Somme in the
spring of the present year have the
horsemen been engaged. At that time
they performed valiant servicc in
harassing the retreating columns and
in rounding up prisoners.
MANY SUM'S BEING BUILT.
Twenty thousand Tons Shipping Fin
ished Last Week.
Washington, Nov. 20. ? American
shipyards whose construction was com
mandeered by the government com
pleted last week 20,000 tons of mer
chant shipping. The shipping board
announced today that this brought
their total output since the comman
deering order was issued Aug. 8 up to
28 vessels of 159,00 tons capacity.
With speeding up processes underway
tonnage soon will begin to come from
the yards at a much faster rate, ship
ping board officials predict.
The first of the government's great
fleet of nearly 1,000 vessels for which
contracts have been let will be com
pleted in the Skinner & Eddy plant at
Seattle, November 24. It is of steel,
of 8,000 tons capacity and a designed
speed of 11 knots. The first of the
wooden ships will be launched about
December 1.
PRINCETON PEN CI LINGS.
Princeton, Nov. 21. ? Mr. A. E.
Arment, of Goldsboro, is visiting rela
tives in town.
Miss Bessie Mason and Miss Win
stead, of Goldsboro, are spending a
few days with Miss Rochelle Hinton.
Rev. Mr. Alderman, of Delway, filled
the regular appointment of Rev. J. M.
Duncan at the Baptist church Sunday.
Mrs. P. C. Duncan and little son,
of Clayton, are spending a few days
with Mrs. J. B. Strachan.
Rev. Mr. Duprce, of Salemburg, will
preach at the Baptist church Sunday
afternoon, December 2nd, at 3 o'clock.
A good attendance is desired.
Mr Frank Wells has gone to the
sanitarium for treatment. Mr. Walter
V. Woodard will have charge of the
garage until his return.
Mr. and Mrs. Willie Whitley, of
Raleigh, are spending a few days
with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. T.
Whitley.
Mr. Jas. B. Moore and family are
preparing to move to Dillon, S. C.
Mr. W. S. Edwards and family
have moved to Scotland Neck, N. C.,
where Mr. Edwards is in business.
Mr. W. E. Raiford has returned
home after being in the hospital
at Durham for some time. He is
greatly improved, but is still very
feeble.
Mrs. W. M. Pettway, of Goldsboro,
has been spending a few days with
Miss Leona Holt.
Mr. Clarence Williams and wife,
of Goldsboro, spent Sunday with their
parents.
Mrs. Rebecca Raiford, of Durham, is
visiting Mr. and Mrs. Hemdon this
week.
Mrs. Fannie Warren, of Goldsboro,
has been spending a week with rela
tives around town.
Miss Lissie Woodard has accepted
the position as music teacher in a
school near Dunn.
We r.re pleased to note that Prince
ton raised nearly one hundred and
sixty dollars in the Y. M. C. A. cam
paign. This, of course, is a small
amount as compared with other towns,
but it's a big item for this town.
Church Bazaar at Kenly.
Kenly, November 21. ? The Woman's
Missionary Society of the M. E. church
will hold their annual bazaar Decem
ber 7 and 8. There will be two booths.
One will have beautiful and artistic
fancy work. The other will have mis
cellaneous articles, consisting: of can
ned material, fruits, candies, etc. Two
delightful meals ? dinner and supper
? will be served each day.
Everybody invited to attend.
Alma Ghick has promised to set
aside $25,000 from her forthcoming
concert tour, which sum will be donat
ed to the American Rod Cross.
CHAIRMAN'S FINAL REPORT.
Army Y. M. C. A. Campaign Fund In
Johnston County Ooes Five Hun
dred Dollars Beyond the Assess
ment.
I am happy to be able to report
that we have exceeded our assessment
by $500.00, which is clearly evident
that our people are vitally interested
in the welfare and care of our soldiers
at the front.
Credit must go first to those who
contributed to this fund, pailicular
ly I want to make mention of the fact
that The Smithfield Herald, our John
ston County paper, contributed largely
towards the final results of this cam
paign by continuously keeping the
matter before the people with con
siderable cost to them and without
cost to us. And for this, if for no other
reason, we should show our apprecia
tion by subscribing for our County
paper, letting those men who were
so considerate know that their sac
rifice for this grand and noble cause
was appreciated. I want to extend my
personal appreciations to those who
assisted me in this hurried campaign.
My estimate is that only one
fourth of the population of Johnston
County contributed to this fund to
such I am sorry that you can not re
joice with those who did contribute,
but I will say as a warning to you
that if this war continues beyond next
July, you will again have an oppor
tunity to show what you will do.
I want to ask in this connection that
the various Chairmen and Secretaries
send their reports and contributions
to T. C. Evans, Smithfield, N. C.; and
collect as soon as possible all sub
scriptions as this money is badly
needed.
The $4,000.00 subscribed by Towns
and Country Churches is as follows:
Batten's Cross Roads, $ 5.00
Sanders Chapel 120.00
Bentonsville Township, .... 99.55
Brown's School House, .... 2.6&
Selma 1,405.42
Smithfield, 544.25
Benson, 500.00
Four Oaks, 145.00
Clayton 500.00
Wilson's Mills, 80.00
Princeton 166.66
Pine Level 118.55
Micrp 116.85
Baptist Center S. S., 1.60
Thanksgiving S. S. 4.00
Kenly, 200.00
Elevation Township 10.00
Total $4,019.48
N. E. EDGERTON,
Chairman.
Selma, Nov. 22, 1917.
Y. M. C. A. WAR FUND GOES OVER
Almost Fifty Million Dollars liaised
for Great Work.
The national war work council of
the Young Men's Christian Associa
tion announced at New York Tuesday
night that the grand total of the
nation-wide war fund campaign is
$49,209,411. This exceeds by nearly
$15,000,000 the $35,000,000 goal set at
the beginning of the campaign on No
vember 12.
President Wilson, on being informed
that the fund was greatly oversub
scribed, telegraphed congratulations
to John R. Mott, general secretary of
the fund.
"My heartfelt congratulations on
the remarkable and gratifying re
sults," the President's telegram read.
"I think it is a national blessing."
Over $150 Per Acre.
One of the best records in making
tobacco we have yet heard of was the
record made by Mr. J. L. Strickland,
of Pine Level, Route 1. Mr. Strick
land sold the crop off of four acres
for $1,895.27, clear check. He sold
at the Banner warehouse and is very
proud of the record he made. He real
ized nearly $475 per acre clear of
wearhouse charges.
To Build Flour Mill at Lowell.
We learn that the people of Beulah
Township are planning to build n flour
mill on the site of the old Lowell
factory on Little River. Mr. J. W.
Darden, of Kenly, owns the property
and is organizing a stock company to
build the mill. We understand they
intend raising about $25,000 to $30,000
for this purpose. On account of the
increased interest in wheat growing,
many farmers are taking stock in
the company.
LIVE ITEMS FROM SELMA.
'Community Library Organized. Sol in a
Has Established a Municipal Wood
yard. Entertainment to Be Given
at Municipal Building Tonight.
Selma, Nov. 22. ? Sclma's Dollar
Day will be held Thursday, December
13th. Watch for the merchants' ads.
Mrs. Geo. H. Morgan returned yes
terday from a visit to her daughter,
Mrs. C. D. Wood, at Wilson.
Miss Marion Hood, of Dunn, is
spending this week with her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. H. I). Hood.
We are pleased to announce that
Mrs. W. B. Driver, who has been very
ill at her home on Railroad street, is
improving.
Mrs. J. D. Massey and Miss Ruby
Griffin are spending today in Raleigh
shopping.
We regret to announce that Mr. D.
H. Hill is confined to his room with
pneumonia.
Rev. C. K. Proctor made an address
at Kenly last Thursday night in the
interest of the Y. M. C. A. war fund.
Rev. and Mrs. C. E. Stevens re
turned last night from a visit to Mag
nolia, Clinton and Newton Grove.
Mr. and Mrs. Jno. Wiggs and Mrs.
E. V. Woodard spent last Sunday with
Mrs. Wiggs' father, Mr. B. H. Wood
ard, at Princeton.
Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Woodard will
spend tomorrow in Raleigh, and will
see the "Birth of the Nation" at the
Academy of Music.
Prof. E. H. Moser made an address
Thursday night at Princeton on the
Y. M. C. A. War Fund.
Mr. Henry Terrell, Jr., spent last
Sunday with friends in Fayetteville.
The Knitting Club will meet this
afternoon at the residence of Mrs. W.
H. Ethcredge on Anderson Street at
3:30 o'clock. The Club is engaged in
knitting articles for the soldiers.
November 27th is the date for the
next Lyceum Attraction. Judging
from the other number played here it
will be good, and will have a good
attendance.
Mr. J. N. Wiggs spent Monday at
his farm near Micro looking after
his various interests there.
Mr. D. H. Terrell has made con
siderable improvements in his market,
for which he is to he commended. The
painting and general cleaning up gives
it a very sanitary appearance.
The Selma Supply Company are
arranging for concrete side walks in
front of their property on Raiford
Street. Keep the good work going.
The ladies of the town met yester
day afternoon at the Graded School
building and arranged for a Public
Community Library. The Library
will be installed at the school building,
and will be open every Sunday after
noon from two until five o'clock for
the benefit of those who like to spend
their leisure hours pleasantly and
profitably. Magazines and books by
standard authors will be accepted
gladly and placed in the library. A
capable manager will be in charge.
This move will be especially bene
ficial during the winter months when
the weather is too cold to be out.
The City Fathers have arranged for
a Municipal Woodyard to be located
on Webb Street and are going into the
wood business. We understand that
Mr. H. D. Hood has been appointed
Manager, and they will begin immedi
ately, to have the wood brought in.
We think this is a very commendable
step on the part of the city adminis
tration since the fuel situation pro
mises to become acute with the coming
of the real cold weather which we
expect later on, and doubtless much
actual suffering would have occurred
had they not taken this step, as the
local dealers seem to be unable to
control the situation.
"Our Allies in Signs and Song" is
the title of a play by local talent from
Clayton that will be given here Friday
night in the new opera house for the
benefit of the Red Cross. More than
one hundred characters will take part
in this pageant which will under the
direction of Mrs. Charles G. Gulley.
The program will be interspersed
with Mutt and Jeff performances.
Mrs. Gulley has a great deal of ex
perience, and the fact that this play
is under her direction is sufficient
evidence that it will be well worth
while to attend. The play will be
gin promptly at 8:00 o'clock, and since
the proceeds go to Red Cross Chapters
of Selma and Clayton, we think it
the duty of our people to fill the house,
and thus help our boys who are and
will he on the firing lines.
The Civic League which in the past
has done so much for our town in the
way of making it a clearer and pret
tier place in which to live, are con
sidering the placing of galvanized
garbage cans at all the stores and in
the public places as receptacles of
paper and trash that is now being
blown broad cast upon our streets.
The cans will be furnished at whole
sale cost and the merchants and busi
ness men will be asked to provide
these for their places of business.
The cans are needed and we hope that
there will be no trouble in getting our
merchants to provide this necessity.
Under the auspices of the Merchants
Association, "Pay-Up- Week" will be
observed in Selma, December the 10th
to the 15th, inclusive. Although
prices to the consumer this year have
been high, they have never received
higher prices for their products, and
as the year is coming to a close it is
only fitting and right that every man
who is in a position to do so should
pay up his bills and be ready to start
the new year with a clear sheet. Our
merchants will offer special induce
ments to their customers to pay up
their accounts during this week, and
on Thursday of this week, the mer
chants will display special Dollar
Sales where the public will be able
to buy staple and seasonable merchan
dise at prices less than it cost the
merchants today. During the next
two weeks these events will be
thoroughly advertised, and great re
sults are anticipated for both the
merchants and the customers.
The Southern Railway has had a
construction force at work on new
yards between Selma and Pine Level
for several months, but on account of
the scarcity of labor, the work is
progressing very slowly. This week
they are moving the freight depot,
and putting in new tracks to accom
modate the unloading of freight. This
work when completed will be an ad
vantage to Selma in that it will re
move all the side tracks out of town
except those that are necessary around
the freight depot.
NOW 18,975 AT CAMP GEENE.
And No Crowding at That for 10,000
Can Be Accommodated.
The total population of Camp
Greene at 5 o'clock Monday afternoon
was approximately 18,975 officers and
men, including regular army and
national guard units. These figures
represent a compilation of reports by
commanding officers made to a repre
sentative of The Observer upon arri
val of the respective regiments. The
attaches of the base Ihospital and
troops at the remount station, both
at the camp but considered as sepa
rate, were included in this total.
Occupied by regiments at full war
strength, the camp has accommoda
tions for approximately 40,000 sol
diers. It * is not considered likely
that this figure will be reached within
the next six weeks, if at all. Each of
the regiments at the camp is far below
war strength, however, and expecting
hundreds of enlisted men to arrive for
expansion of the units. This has not
begun yet, though, and official infor
mation is lacking as to when such
forces will begin to arrive and as to
whether or not they will be drafted
soldiers or regular army recruits.
? Charlotte Observer, 20th.
Automobiles which Left the Koad.
Last Saturday Afternoon two
young men were coming from Ral
eigh on their way to their home near
Ayden, N. C., and had an accident at
the Smithfield bridge over Neuse
river. A tire was off one of the
front wheels, but they were running
on the rim of that wheel. Just be
fore reaching the Smithfield end of
the bridge it seems the steering gear
broke and the car ran against the
railing of the bridge which it broke
down, the car then turning com
pletely over and going to the ground
fifteen feet or more below. Fortu
nately the men landed in a ditch be
low the car. One man crawled from
under the car and pulled his friend
out. One of them had a collar bone
broken, but otherwise they do not
seem to have been much hurt. They
returned to Raleigh Saturday night
on an automobile.
Sunday afternoon a large car left
the road just west of the home of
Mr. J. D. Hamilton on the Smithfield
and Goldsboro road, and turning half
over went into a ditch.
Remember Dollar Day in Smithfield
next Wednesday.
ROCHESTER SURVIVORS LAND.
The Missing Boat Originally Con
tained Twelve Men. Two Men Died
of Exposure. Before Landing Four
Others Died.
London, Nov. 20. ? The missing boat
from the American steamship Roches
ter, which was sent to the bottom by
a German submarine November 2, has
just landed at a port in Ireland, the
British admiralty announced today.
The boat contained five men, the only
survivors flrom the original boat's
crew of twelve.
The admiralty announcement says
the Rochester was torpedoed without
warning by a German submarine, be
ing struck abreast the No. 3 hatch and
that the explosion destroyed a boat,
demolished the wireless room and dis
abled the main engine.
The second assistant engineer was
killed and the ship went down in five
minutes.
The boat which had just reached
Ireland originally contained 12 men.
It was commanded by the first officer.
Two men died of exposure and one be
came insane and jumped overboard.
Just before they reached the coast
four others died. Of the remaining
five only the first officer was able to
walk. The hands and feet of the four
others were badly swollen and imme
diate medical treatment was necess
ary.
BENTON VI LLE NOTES.
Bentonville, Nov. 20. ? Mill Creek
school opened Monday with Mr. Car
son Johnson principal and Miss Mary
Dunn primary teacher.
Whooping cough has a pretty good
swing with some of the people in this
section. Our school committee and
County Health Officer should get
busy.
Mrs. D. Stephenson and childron, of
McCullers, spent the week-end with
Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Beasley.
Mrs. W. A. Flowers left Friday to
spend several days with her brothers
in Richmond, Va.
The Junior O. U. A. M. will hold
their first meeting in their new hall
next Saturday. A good timo is in
store for the Juniors on that day.
We understand that the County
Commisisoners have granted Benton
ville township a bond election for
roads in January. We hope to see
the time when we shall have beter
roads. If it takes bonds, let them
come.
Messrs. W. W. Cole and G. E.
Thornton, of Smithfield, visited Mill
Creek and Ebenezer Sunday in the
interest of the Y. M. C. A. work.
They raised eighty dollars at Mill
Creek and twenty-two at Ebenezer,
making a total of $102 for this part
of Johnston County. We see noth
ing wrong in this work and if every
body understood the work and the
good of the Y. M. C. A. we would not
have to be asked to help. We would
be too glad to chip in.
NO MORE SUPPLIES TO RUSSIA.
United States Will Permit No Goods
To Leave Until Situation Clears Up.
No shipments of supplies will be
permitted to go from the United
States to Russia until the situation in
that country clears, says a Washing
ton dispatch. The American govern
ment before allowing the export of
goods already on the docks wants to
know into whose hands they will fall
on their arrival.
The cessation of shipments is tem
porary only if a stable government is
formed which the United States can
recognize. If the Bolsheviki gain con
trol and pursue their program for a
peace with Germany the embargo will
be permanent. A protracted civil war
also would work to keep the embargo
tight, r.s the United States then would
fear that supplies might go to the
Bolsheviki faction.
The provisional Russian govern
ment was given credits amounting in
all to $225,000,000, of which $191,000,
000 already has been advanced. Much
of this money has been spent for sup
plies now awaiting shipment, and tho
Russians have been given vessels for
its transport. Shipments will be held
up by denial of bunker coal to the
ships.
The fuel Administration is urging
the people to burn wood and save coal.
The saving of the coal is easy in these
parts. But getting the wood is the
problem.