North Carolina Newspapers

LLE THE WEATHER LOCAL SHOWERS CITIZEN WANT ADS BRING RESULTS ' VOK XXXIII, NO. 228. ASHEVILLE, N. Oh FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 8, 1917. PRICE FIVE CENTS; CITIZEN MEAGRE RETURNS REGISTRATION REACH WASHINGTON figures, However, Cause of Much Enthusiasm Among Officials. EXEMPTIONS WILL BE HANDLED LATER Each Case Will Be Decided on Its Merits, Sec. Baker Announces. WASHINGTON, June 7. Registra tion returns came In slowly today and tonight from Tuesday's great military census, preventing . anything ap proaching a conclusive estimate as to the number of men actually enrolled. An official statement today, however, aid such complete returns as were t hand Indicated that tlje 10,200.000 (estimate of the census- bureau for the total number of men within the. pre scribed ages would not. be equaled. Many Exemption Claims. A feature of the few. complete re turns In It the high percentage of In dicated j exemptions, averaging ap proximately fifty per cent of thertotal 'reclstrajtlon. , Officials pointed . out that this did i.ot mean actual ex emptions' as the Indicated figures In cluded all married men and thoie In Executive, Judicial or legislative office. Until exemption regulations have been promulgated. It will be Impossible to ay how many of these will be In cluded in those to be' marked aft the military rolls. In regard to the mar lied men Secretary Baker said today that in all the letters he had received on the subject of exemption, not one even suggested that marriage should establish a class exemption. He add ed that it was not the purpose-of the department to make sucfe a ruling, but that Individual cases would be dealt with on their merits, no matter what the reason for exemption might be. . - Baker Enthusiastic The secretary, who was out of the city on the night of June. 5 and yes. terday. returning this morning, was enthusiastic over' the results of rex tstratiob. He expressed his apprecia- Won of the--work done by Frovdst Marshal General Crowder andr by state and municipal officials, declaring the day hadieen "a spectacular dem onstration", pf the solidarity of the 'JWk-au.V&R Wd,- fit 'thW' high patriotism of which the ..enrollment was the Vest evidence. - For- himself, he said. -Ae- had never doubted for a moment that the response" would.be what it waw Mr. Baker thinks it will be some time before the. regulations govern ing exemption are issued. They are In progress of formation by a com mittee headed by General Crowder. ... , Will Be "Worked Out. The complete working out of these regulations ad the appointment of exemption boards the -secretary said, will precede ,the issuance of reguUv tionsHo govern the selection' of men for examination.. jEjcernptlon. boards probably will be localized as, much, as possible to niake It easy, for selected men to get to the place of examina tion without interfering any more than is absolutely necessary with their regular occupations. Care will be taken also to hasten a decision In each case eo as not to keep selected men in suspense. Officials generally said to night that the fact that tire few states which had sent in their complete fig ures at late -hour showed with two exceptions a falling off from census estimates for total segistratlon, should, not be taken as indicating any great number of evasions. AH reports from department of Justice agents and ethers, tended, on the contrary, to show that there was a surprisingly mall number of skulkers. ,, Total figures for the seven states and the District of Columbia report ed, when the provost marshal's office Continued on Page Two) PROPORTION OF U-BOATS "Efficient Method" Being Employed, French Depu ties Are Told. 4 PARIS. - June 7. Rear-Admiral Lacase declared In the chamber of deputies today mat tne proportion of submarines sunk has increased markedly, adding: "We are employ ing a very efficient method and we are able to see the possibility of de veloping' this method-eo as to render It more efficacious. The minister, reviewing the sub marine situation, said that Germany had announced a blockade had fixed a certain date. , The result had been that the allies were not blockaded: their ships had gone wherever It was necessary to go. At no moment could any one say France had been block ed, either near at hand or at any. dis tant point. k ... Admiral . Lacase took ocoasion in the chamber today to reply to certain criticisms of te navy and concern Ing the loss of various ships. Eighteen- hundred voyages, he said, hd been made by cruisers between Al geria and France and only the Med Jerda had been sunk. The commander of the vessel was responsible for hav ing chosen his own route. Instances of spying now were the subject of in ouiry as were the sinking of various hips.' fc' . " -' ' - ' THE WEATHER. V WASHINGTON. June 1. Forecast or North Carolina: Probably local thundershowers Friday and Saturday row. uotn tne income ana excess grart - ana suggested mat tne matter in giving personal attention to me rionaa, 14S not much change In temperature. ' profits taxes remained to be fixed. fee left to the naval affaire committee business. sWVodviUa, MIGHTY BLOW IS DEALT TO GERMANS BY GENERAL HAIG ALONG LINES IN BELGIUM Daringly Executed Maneuver Rewarded by Capture of Considerable Territory, Many Guns and 5,000 Prisoners Im- . portant Positions Captured. In one of the most elaborately planned and daringly executed ma neuvers . of the war, Sir Douglas Hatg's forces have dealt a mighty blow against the German line In Bel glum and been rewarded with notable gains In terrain and the capture of more than 8,000 prisoners and numer ous guns of various calibre. In ad dition, they Inflicted heavy casualties on the Germans. Nluo-Mile Front. Over a front of more than nine miles, extending from the region of Ypres southward nearly to Armen tleres, the British started their drive In the early hours of Thursday morn ing, and at nightfall had everywhere advanced their line, capturing villages and numerous points of vantage, among the latter the Messlnes Wytschaete ridge, which commands the surrounding plains for miles and which for. two and a half years has been a troublesome salient The, villages .of Messlnes and Wyt schaete fell into the hands of the British during the attack and the British even pressed on ' eastward from Wytschaete and occupied the village of Costtaverne and trenches east of the. village on a front of more than five miles. Great Preparation. Probably never in history was an attack launched with greater prepara tion. 'For days the Wytschaete salient had'been the objective of the British guns, which had hurled tons of steel upon it Whep the time for the at tack came, the British loosed mines containing 1,000,000 pounds of high explosives In front of the German po sitions, detonations being heard 110 mites away in' England. With consternation reigning among the Germans and under a curtain of Are, English, Irish, New Zealand and Australian infantrymen, with "tanks" to aid them,' started across the open. The Germans offered only slight re sistance and everywhere were Beaten off, even late In the afternoon, when they had somewhat regained their composure and attempted a counter attack' near' the' southern end of the line, which was broken up '"by the British artilfeFv Are. " X . ante Klaewhere. ' I ' Quiet Klsewhcre. t M JExcept for German-Attack galnrt7 of " the French northwest of 8t Quentin which, th - French troops repulsed, quiet prevailed everywhere on the French front Thursday, except along the. Chemln Des Dames, where the ar tillery activity was violent. , - Considerable fighting continues, be tween the Austrians and Italians in the Carso region. Along the Vlpacco valley, the Italians delivered several thrusts which were repulsed,; while near -Jamiano the Austrians have made further gains, according to Vienna. Rome, however, asserts that the Italian attacks failed In the latter region, as likewise did an offensive In force on the-Trentlno front. Great preparations are being made in France for the arrival of American troops.. Already an American trans port containing foodfor them has ar rived In a French Port and American warships are anchored off the French STAMP TAXES ON CHECKS INTO WAR REVENUE BILL Call for Two-Cent Stamp on Checks and Drafts Over $5. TO RAISE MILLIONS. WASHINGTON. T. C June "7. New stamp, taxes of two cents on bank checks and drafts of more than IS to raise from $8,000,000 to $10; 000,000 were written Into the war tax bill today by the senate finance com mittee. . The provision would require persons drawing checks and ' drafts for mere than IB -to affix the stamps so familiar during the Spanish-iAmerl can war. All other documentary stamp taxes of the house bill, estimated to raise Its, 000,000 were adopted, except those on surety and indemnity bonds, whloh were exempted. The commit tee decided, however, to reduce the house .tax of eight cents a pack on playing cards to three cents for decks costing under fifteen' cents. Consumption taxes On sugar, coffee, tea and cocoa were fixed finally as previously announced after long re consideration, except that the rate on raw cocoa was reduced to three cents a pound, and that on prepared cocoa and products Increased to five eents. The sugar tax of half a cent a pound, two cents on coffee add five cents on tea will stand. . j Reconsideration of the proposed re peal of the law giving sugar refiners "drawbacks" allowances on exports was - discussed today, but a decision was postponed. , . . Many - other problems previously decided also were reconsidered and debated at length, including the tax on newspapers, magaslnes and other publications. Final settlement of the publishers' tax ana possibly otner im- 1 portant questions is looked for tomor coast Camps have been prepared for all branches of the American forces who are expected.. SECOND DRIVE. LONDON, June 7. The British troops made a second drive and car ried the village of Costtaverne and the German positions east of the vll lage over an extent of five miles, it Is officially announced tonight The German casualties were very heavy and the British took more than 1,000 prisoners, many guns, trench mortars and machine guns. The text of the statement reads: "Our operations south of Tpres have been oontlnued methodically throughout the day and have been at tended by complete success. "The Messines-Wytschaete ridge, which for over two and a half years has dominated our positions in the Ypres salient was stormed by our troops this morning. In this attack we captured the villages of Messlnes and Wytschaete and the enemy s de fense system, Including many strong ly organised woods and defended lo calities on a front of over nine miles, from south of LaDouve Brook to north of Mont Sorrel. Again Move Forward. "Later in the day our troops again moved forward in accordance with the planned operation and carried the village of Costtaverne and the ene my's rearward defense system east of the village on a front of over five miles. "In the course of this advance an iWm.tUe alnBhllhe . "ther" 11!Vf uUr "'T P0"1110"" was completely broken up by our ar tillery fire. 'The enemy's casualties In today's fighting were heavy. In addition to his other losses, up to 4:30 o'clock In the afternoon, over 6,000 German prisoners passed through the collect ing stations. Others are still to be brought in. We also captured a num ber of guns, many trench mortars and machine guns, which have not yet been counted. . "There was again great activity In the air yesterday,, with-' many fights. Five hostile formations, one of which consisted of over thirty machines, were attacked and, dispensed with heavy, casualties. in.i the .course .of the fighting,- .nine. German air planes were ; brpught down.; h .At iJeast. nine v wuLjjMatva mw iuibb , mg." , , ; . V j , i .J.J-5J r; i; ,.. . - CAPTtTRE FRFJrcH POSITTONS. : I BERLIN. June 7 (Via London.), German troops yesterday captured French positions for an extent of nearly one and one-quarter miles along the Chemln Dee Dames front south of Pargny-Fllaln, In the Aisne region, says the official statement Issued today by the German army headquarters staff. The statement follows: '''Army group of Crown Prince Rupprecht: Between Yprej and Ar mentieres the artillery battle ' has raged with undiminished force since yesterday. Early this morning the battle id Flanders flared up fully with Infantry attacks by the British after extensive expioMnns and the (Continued on Page Two) THE WAR BUDGET BILL REJECTED BY THE HOUSE Disagrees on Proposal tp Buy Jamestown Exposi tion Site. BILL IS RETURNED. WASHINGTON, June T. The house today rejected the conference report on the 13,281,294.(41 war budget bill because of a $8,000,000 appropriation inserted by the senate far the nut. chase of the old Jamestown exposi tion site and buildings, and the con struction of a naval base and training wuuil mre., i - Immediately after rejecting the re port by a vote of 184 to 114, the house ordered it returned to conference with instructions to disagree on the Jamestown proposal. General belief is that, the- conferees will strike out the provision, leaving it to the con gressional naval affairs committee to uispose or, and report the amended oiii soon ror nnal passage. -ah opposition to the renort wa oenierea on tne Jamestown proposal. It would have appropriated $1,400,000 for the exposition site, buildinra and some additional land and ,i the re mainder for buildings to be erected. Six hundred thousand of the $1,400, M0 was to be paid for buildings now on the grounds, i This feature subjected to a vla-orous at-turu th charge being made that the build ings would be of little value to the government. . i; -,- -Representative Kelly, of Mlchta-a leading the . fight on the proposal, said the 'site and buildings of the ex position were sold to the present holder for 1260,000 and that an ef fort has been made for ten years tn ell them to the government but the naval affair committee - has never looked on it with favor. Represents-' live Lenroot of Wisconsin, declared that adoption of the proposal would mark the beginning of an era of ex travagance which every one was try ing to avoid. Republican Leader Mann warned against possible hidden CHARGE GOETHALS WITH OBSTRUCTING BUILDING OF SHIPS Differences Between Board and General Goethals uomo to xieaa. ENGINEERS ISSUE STRONG STATEMENT Say Firms-Promised Con tracts Hare Had Offers Turned Down. WASHINGTON; June T. Differ ences over the government's wooden shipbuilding program came to a head tonight when f 4 A. Eustls. assistant general " manager of the emergency fleet corporation, and his assistant, F. Huntington Clafk, Issued statements virtually charging Major-Geheral George W. Goethals, general mana ger f the corporation, wltn halting building of the vessels by prescribing an impossible, form of contract Offers Turned Down. The statement reveal that the fleet corporation ha ! Just received offers from ten firms to build m wooden ship within twelve months or 78$ within eighteen months. General Uoetnals has Mrned the contracts down because the builders wished to construct the ships on a cost plus ten per cent profit basis instead of con tracting for a flat erica for the ships. Mr. Eustls and Mr. Clark are the mln ing engineers . Wha originated the wooden shipbuilding plan adopted by the shipping board and regarded by General Goethals ' as impracticable. When the" board formed the fleet cor poration and put, General Goethals at Its head with full powers to build hips the two engineers were aasta-ned to the corporation as the general'a aides. . Turned to 8teel. After taking charge of the build Ing program, General Goethals turned to steel construction and limited the wooden program to not more than 250 chips, , in eighteen months. . Mr. Eustls and Mr. Clark contend the cor poration can build 2. 000 wooden shins within- thab time without Interfering wim sneei fi-unatng, . General Geethala. jPOuld not ba nan tonight for-'comment on the state ment Chairman Den man - of -the shlpplnf neard, who has, been repre sented as opposing General GOethal's plana to restrict wodden bulldlns-. said: . ;.. . .. . "None of the members of the ehlD. ping board has any knowledge of the statements attributed to the engi neers, Mr. Eustis and Mr. Clark, in timating a refusal by General Goe tbale to build as many wooden ships as he might nor had they the slight est intimation that' tney were to be issued. - General Goethals' as head of the emergency fleet corporation in the service or wnicn tney nave been act ing, has sntlre responsibility for the shipbuilding program, . wood and steel. . No Preference Indicated. "The board has not indicated that elther wooa or "teel b" flven prefer- ence. All that we desire is the max! mum of quickly constructed tonnage, for immediate war necessitates. Gen eral Goethals . has not requested any assistance from the shipping board and any request for, assistance that he might have made or will make would have been and will . be given immediate attention." . . 4 Mr. Eustls and Mr.' Clark are serv ing the fleet corporation without pay. Both, indicated tonight they expected their resignations would be asked, but declared they felt It to be thetr duty to put the situation before the Ameri can people and show them that ships can be built to overcome the German submarine campaign. Mr. Clark explained tonight . the tangle over1 commitments for wooden ships. When first errfployed he and Mr. Eustls. he said, directed several shipbuilding companies to go ahead with wooden shipbuilding leaving the form of contract to re determined on later. The builders, he said, were given to understand they would get at least ten per cent on their work. General Goethals, he said, on taking charge, stopped all work and the prospective builders had been unable to obtain any satisfaction as to whether they would be given con tracts. ., J. BAYLIS RECTOR SETS HOTEL AT CHATTANOOGA Heads Syndicate Which Takes Over Read. House in Tennessee City. '. CHATTANOOGA. Tenn.. June 7. J. Baylte Rector, former manager of the Hotel Langren, of Ashevllle. the St.". Cloud at Concord, Cr the Im perial, of Knoxville, and other hos telrles, heads a $250,000 syndicate, which today took over the manage ment ef the Read House, one of Chat tanooga's largest and oldest hotels. The pew company takes 'the lease of J. B. uarroii, wno nu iimuagea me Reed for about seven years, and the lease runs three and one-half years longer. No price was mentioned, but a report, says Mr. Carroll received $48,00$ for his lease. It la announced that $60,000 will be spent at one in Improvements. A. A. Armstrong, - of Charlotte, is secretary of the Rector directorate, and J. J. Heeland, former head clerk, will be assistant manager. Mr. -and Mi: Rector, have, been In Chattanooga for some time, and the new proprietor s wue win ssewi mm GENERAL HARRISON AGAIN COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS Then Grey Line Marches Up Pennsylvania Avenue Amid Plaudits of Thousands of Spectators Escoited by Union Veterans and Regulars. WASHINGTON, June 7. The Con federate veterans re-elected General George P. Harrison, of Opellka. Ala., commander-in-chief, and selected Tulsa, Okla., as the place for the IBIS reunion late today, after murchlng up rennsyivania avenue to tne martial strains of "Dixie" and passing In re jvtew before President Wilson and ' Vice-President Marshall. Escorted by union soldiers, and followed by United Mates regulars, national guardsmen, cadets from the Virginia Military In stitute and the Washington High school, the hosts of the south paraded In triumph through the streets of the capital to the accompanying cheers of the thousands of spectators who occupied all places of vantage along the line of march. Only One Accident. Despite the tremendous crowd which viewed the parade and the large number of voterans in line, the only accident reported was that re ceived by General James Dlnkins. of Louisiana, In falling from his horse. He suffered a wrenched foot but was reported late today as resting com fortably. . Elaborate police arragements had been made to handle the crowd and boy scouts and Red Cross nurses were on duty. The attendance ran Into many thousands, the Southern rail way alone having brought 26,000 per sons from the south, necessitating the operation of forty-five extra trains and 608 extra oars on regular trains. No accident of any kind was reported In handling the big crowd. General Harrison was placed in nomination ' for another term by Judge John T. Goolrlck, of Freder icksburg and re-elected by acclama tion. In expressing his appreciation he was almost overcome with emo tion. He pledged his best efforts to the organisation. Lieutenant General J. M. Van Zandt of Texas, was re-elected commander of the Trans-Mississippi department by a rising vote. first Contest The first contest was over the commander of the army of Tennessee, which resulted in the election of Lieutenant-General Calvin B. Vance, of Mississippi, over General John P. Hickman, of Tennessee. General Julian 8. Carr. of North Carolina, was chosen lieutenant-gen eral commanding the department of the army of northern Virginia ' ever General J Thompson JBrown.ivOf Vir ginia, In moving to make General Carr's ' election - unanimous 1 General Brown declared that his cup of Joy wa - full; "For on three occasions have I ridden ' up Pennsylvania ave nue, twice as a prisoner and today at the head of the army ot northern Virginia." . General W. B. Haideman, or txjuis- ville, Ky., gave notice that at the next convention he would move to amend the constitution so as to pro vide that hereaiter department com manders be chosen by the states com posing the command, instead Of by the entire convention. A resolution by M. M. Burora, or South Carolina, endorsing the bill of Representative Tillman, of Arkansas, to refund the southern states the cot ton tax collected at the close of the war, was unanimously adopted as was one protesting against statements that the south went to war for the same cause for which the Teutonic powers are defying the world. The conven tlon went on record with an emphatic BE SENT TO OFFICERS' TRAI1CCAMPS III FALL Object is to Secure Men Over Thirty-One Years of Age. QUOTA FOR SOUTH. WASHINGTON. June 7.OnH about fifteen thousand men . will be trained in the second series of eight officers training camps to be held from August 37 to September 26, Ad jutant General McCain announced' to day. Forty thousand entered the first series of camps, but the war de partment has reduced the number for the fall encampments In the hope of obtaining older and more experienced men. The department today also an nounced the quota allowed each state tn the camps. Application blanks may be obtained after June 15 from commanding generals of the six mili tary departments or from examining officers to be appointed in various states, and applications must be sent to these examining officers , before July 16. Applicants are cautioned not to write for blank berore June m. Emphasizing the department's wish to obtain men above thirty-one years of age or, men of special ability, Gen eral McCain said: "Since the special object of these camps is' to train a body of men fitted to fill the more responsible positions of command In the new armies, every effort will be made to select wen of exceptional character and proven ability In their various occupation. The auota alio wan soutnern siares and the places 'at which examining officers to whom application should be sent will be stationed are as fol lows: - ' ' Virginia, 847: Fort Monroe. North Carolina, 87; R&leigh. v South Carolina,' 26$: Charleston.. Tennessee, 861: $28 H Broadway; Nashville.- Georgia, 448: r on Mci-nerson. -1 Alabama, $6$; Clark building. Sir- mlnghara, e w. ay sweet, declaration that any such statements are slanderous and calls on the men of the north who were their antagon lets to help them refute such charges. Thanks of the veterans to the peo pie of Wshlngtu for their hospital' ity. and to the men who wore the blue for their warm greetings and to the railroads, were passed by a rising vote. Tulsa, Okla.. extended the lnvita tlon for the 111$ meeting. Senator Robert L. Owen, speaking for the governor and the people of the state, Tate Brady, commander ot the Okla homa Bona of Veterans, for that or ganisation and M. J. Glass, for the Trans-Mississippi department- St. Louis also extended an invitation through telegrams from ths mayor and commercial organisations, but Tulea was selected by unanimous vote. The veterans pledged thetr support to President Wilson and the country In a resolution Introduced by Samuel W. Williams, former attorney general of Virginia, on the "unsullied honor snd word of true Confederate sol diers." Secretary of the Navy Daniels en tertalned General Harrison and the corps and division commander at din nor tonight aboard the presidential yacht Mayflower. One of the Union veterans who took part In the parade and welcome today to the Dixie soldiers was Lieu tenant General George Carr Round, who 'was appointed signal officer by President Lincoln and near the close of the war received a commission in the heavy artillery. He was in charge of the signal station on the dome of the capitoi at Kaieign, N. c, wnen news came of Johnson's surrender and he immediately flashed the mes sage "peace on earth, good will to men." He Is now living at Manassas, Va., and a leading spirit in the re unions of the blue and gray. Receptions and balls tonight brought the twenty-seventh annual reunion to an end. The largor part of the vet erans will go to the Gettysburg battle, field tomorrow where a statue to the Virginia soldiers will be unveiled. shows rxrrv or natiohv : WASHINGTON, June 7 The Mar. quls Borsarelll, of- the Italian com mission, -.who with other members viewed the Confederate veterans parade here today, declared that it furnished' final proof of the whole hearted unity o the United States n the war... . u t .:Kk;V..-- '" - "The parade wa. a most Inspiring pectaqle," said the marquis speaking for the mission.. "To us visitors to your shores . It could not help but furnish the final proof of the whole hearted unity of your people in the war-' It made us alt realise far better than the histories that the bitterness growing out of the civil war has dis appeared and in Its place there has grown a love of country and a pa triotism. i "But not only did the parade show these things; the fact that with the aged veterans of the Confederacy and the Union marched their wives and children showed - the fine basis of quality on which the woman of your country are maintained. : It was Just, It was mete that the women ot these' old soldiers should accompany but in no other country of the world would such a cheering sight be seen. . It typified the dawn of the new day for women. . the movement 'which has achieved such remarkable success in the United states." , - ? DECREE ORDERING SALE OF DANBURY HATTERS E Last Chapter Written in Remarkable and Hard Fought Case. WILL BE SOLD SOON. NEW HAVEN, Conn., June T. A decree ordering the sale of the homes of , 140p workmen ,.ln Danbury,, Bethel and Norwalk, to satisfy the judgment in the Danbury ; hatters case, " was signed by Judge E. & Thomas, of the United States district court today Sidney E. Hawley is made special master to conduct the eales, which will begin July 18 and will continue qntil August 9. The plaintiffs are p. E Loewe and company who orought suit against a union boycott of the product of their hat factory. The judgment was for $262,180 damages. Nearly $80,000 has already, been paid on account but the accumulation of Interest accounts Is such that about $2(0,000 is still due. There are 180 pieces of property , In Panbury and Bethel and ten In Norwalk. Their sale Is expected to - yield something like $200,000, leaving a deficiency judgment This decree marks the closing chapter, in a remarkable case which had its inception In September 1(03, when the hatters', union entered Into a written agreement with each of the defendants whereby it agreed that' "it ' would pay all of the ex. penses of such defendants and save each: individual from all liability." Later the American, Federation of Labor took over the 'defense . and pledged "such financial support as may be necessary in the pending con tention." From that time on the fed eration was in charge until a Judg ment against the- defendants was af firmed In the. United States court in 1914 when It disclaimed further re sponsibility. , - . . Later' the federation took up a voluntary contribution which la said B have yielded about $160,000 YPRES AVENGED BRITISH DM AGAINST GERMANS Messines Ridge, Which t Dominated City, is Taken ; by Assailants, . ALL THE ARTS AND DEVILTRIES OP WAR Bombardment of Vimy Was Child's Flay Compared to Artillery Action; FROM A STAFF CORRESPOND DENT OF THE ASSOCIATED PRE83 WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN FRANCE. June 7, (Via London. June N 8. 12:10 a, m.) The British ermle , struck today on a new front and won a victory which supplement the sue. cesses at Arras during the last' tw months. The Germans,, though ap-' parently aware that the blow was' coming and seemingly prepared to meet it. were driven from their near, ly three years hold on Messlnes Ridge, opposite poor old Tprss,? the last remanent of an Important Belgian town, which, with the help of the , French and British In turn, ha held out against all the massed ajtacks the Germane could fling against-it, including the first great surprise: of poison gas a means Of supposed emu Ised warfare. Vpresj Avenged, Tpres In a sense was avenged to dair, for Messlnes Ridge has been the t vantage point from which the Oer-' mans have poured torrents of shells' Into the-stricken city.' The British, also wiped off an old score against1 the Germane, for they held the ridge' In October, 1114, and with very thin" forcee and virtually artillery, fought bloodily, but vainly, to hold It when the Prussian troops massed 1 their modern and overpowering wee- i pons of war against it. v . elements of surprise . which accom. . panled the- battle of Arras and the Successful stormlnr at Vim rM , There has been no doubt for three "" pun as 10 ma intentions ot tne British- v The German knew that 4 big push was to be mad against Messlnes,. and they had plenty of time" to prepare for the defense of that ' place, v Prisoners tsken today, how, ',, ever, declared that the bombardment Ot Vim y was chtld's play; compared wltn, .the gunfire turned a oca iIIm. ines, -'-; . tr-Mvj ; ;?vr . t - . , Reeche CMm. .:, , t This lire reached ita eUmiw tiirt a i dawn was, graying -tee eastern- akiee and while the full moon was still us- i pended high in . the heavens,! Today s successes, won along about a ten mile front from Observatory ridge, south- , east of Tpres to Ploegsteert ;, Wood , lust north of .Armentleres.. nrovad , another triumph for British artillery , supremacy. .As . the , fighting .was wholly on Belgian soil, however, the.. Belgian artillery stationed some dls-J tance north of the actual line of at- , tack, lent aid with a violent bombard, ment of the Germans within range of ' it varied call bred weapons. Messlnes Rldg - Is a low-lying promontory, extending atong the greater part of today's fighting front. It is. an insignificant bit of ground to look at from below. At its greatest height It rise barely seventy metre ' above sea level. The surrounding" ' country la so low and ' flat, however, , that Messlnes had an observation value virtually incalculable. It was a 1 position .which dominated the north, i era half of the British line in the' west and no operations of a large . (Continued on- Page Two) I0NTI ARE NEEDED FOR ALLIES Needs of Meat, Fats 1 and Sugar Will ' 'Also :- Be Enormous WASHINGTON, June T.-r-Hert'ert C. Hoover's report to the government on what the United States must do to sustain its : allies with, food,' made public ' today, ' shows that the 'alliej and a few neutrals which must be considered require during the next year a million tons of cereals alone and their needs of meat, fats and su gar also will be enormous. production in tne allien countries and the import from other countries can meet only a portion or these needs; America must supply the re mainder. America's surplus on the present scale of consumption will not meet the deficiency. Mr. Hoover says. so he points out that the enormity of : the task required reduction of home , consumption In many ways. THE ASHEVILLE C11IZEN Circulation Yesterday City . . . . V,4,oM Suburban ..... 4,693 ; Country ,. , . . ' 1,738 Net paid . . .10,367 Service ; . . . . ?03 Unpaid VV 7 V 127: