THE UNION COUNTY PAPER EVERYBODY NEEDS IT
THEMON
THE UNION COUNTY PApER EVERYBODY READS IT
E JOUrtN
PUBLISHED TWICE EACH WEEK TUESDAY AND FRIDAY
VOL. 24 NO. 41.
MONROE, N. C, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1918.
$1.50 PER YEAR CASH.
AIL
W. S. S. EDITION WAS FIXE
Mr. Beasley Write About Campaign,
And War In General.
By R. F. BEASLEY.
Raleigh. July 24. The Journal's
War Savings issue of last Friday
was great. I am proud . it,
r.nd I can say these couipli
meniary things with a good con
science for I had nothing to do with
it. In point of conception, local
flavor. Information and enthusHiW,
it was fine. I have seen a great many
newspapers of all classes in their ef
forts to help along the campaign,
but none of them came up to this is
sue of The Journal. And the pretty
patt about it, and ibe one I wis'.) to
emphatue is the rellection of the pa
triotism and enthusiasm which "evi
dently exists in the county. Old Union
is nalthy and strong. Our people
are literaly loving and democratic U
don't mean in a party sense) to the
bone, and it was to be expected tr-rt
in the great world struggle for right,
for humanity and Christianity, the
would do their duty nobly.
Like others, as set forth iu The
Journal, 1 was astonished and dis
mayed when it was announced that
Vnion county had been asked to raise
three Quarters of a million for War
Pavings Stamps alone. But, Lord, I
didn't know what Union county could
do when she set her head, and I am
ure it Is set no. I am sure that
this one issue alone of The Journal
will be r great force in making the
campaign successful. The firms and
individuals who took space and there
by made the extra edition possible are
1o be commended in the highest way.
Kemember they pay for this space
and help the campaign in addition to
taking their part of the Stamps and
Certificates. The colored people are
to be commended, too. It was reully
-futifvinp tn a friend and well-wish
er of' the colored race anywhere to
Fee that report of Hon. J. N. Price
that the colored people of Sandy
itidge had promised to take $13,000.
There could be no better invest
ment in the world than in Saving
Stamps, especially when they repre
sent savings and current earnings.
But the call Is not upon the selfish
ground of Investment. It is upon pa
triotic and humanitarian, and Tmay
even say. religious grounds. But
look r.t the business side again. Union
county, now when prices are high and
money plentiful saves $700,000 and
lays it bv out of current funds that
in manv instances wouia o yrui iv.
c&solene', soft drinks, unnecessary
dress, and all manner of things that
can well be done without, in
all this money comes back to the
county, much of It being accrued in
terest. If times are good then it wi
t uor,!- if times are bad. it Will
feem like a flood of money $20 per
capita for every man, woman uu
child in the county, black and white.
Why, it will be like picking it off the
trees. ,
The whole issue was fine if the pic
ture of Chairman Morrow did make
him look like Martha Washington
with her wig properly adjusted.
Martha and George Washington are
rather good fellows to look like in
these times, eh, what?
It is beautiful to see how our peo
ple are being brought together by
the war. Not only will all the na
tions of the earth hereafter dwell to
gether in closer relationship, but the
people of America will be unified and
Solidified as never before. Trouble
and common effort and common sov
,ow weld people together as nothing
dbe can. It seems odd that a war
in which so much blood is spent, so
much slaughter and suffering ram
pant, could bring about good, but It
will. God is going to see that it turns
out for the final good of humanity.
God has never teen ftf to chain the
Devil and 1 don't think he 'ever will
except by way of making good peo
ple strong enough to overcome him.
Why did God send such a war? you
often hear asked. He didn't send it.
but be permitted it for his own good
purpose and we can be sure that that
purpose was sufficient to bring final
pood to the world. "How do I know
how God works?" asked David Gray
son. How Indeed?
"The strong man never prays that
his burden may be less, but his
strength more," it has been said. Look
at France and England. They are not
praying God to send fire and brim
stone and thunder and lightning up
on their enemies as the German
preachers are. They are praying for
strength and courage to hold out till
America can get to the rescue. And
they will hold. Germany will be de
feated because st has violated all
decency, all humanity, all religion,
and all principles of righteousness.
God has put something in the heart
of men which will make them stand
for right ou the whole when they see
it. Ignorance.,-, fake teaching, and
misunderstanding cause men to fo
astray. The moral law will triumph
sometime. Man is 6lven his leason
to guide him in his pathway. More
and more men are conilug under the
sway of Intelligence aud reason and
hence the world is becoming more and
more subject to the moial law. More
men are ready to live and" die for
right today than ever before. There
are more men on the Lord's side than
on the other side, and unless human
reason is a Joke, intelligence a mock
ery, religion a faice. and our Ideas
of God a huge mistake, we are cer
lainly on the Lord's side In this fight.
Abraham Lincoln was once asked If
he thought the Lord was on his side.
He said he bad not thought about
that but was tiying to get on the
Lord'i side. Lots of difference in the
two propositions. The Kaiser says
"Me and Gott" the god old German
heathen god are running this thing
The moral world opposed to him says
rur God is Justice, and love, and
brotherhood to all mankind, we pray
for strength to uphold these princi
ples for all the world and that men
everywhere may come under their
sway.
M:rlnHle Xews.
Correspondence of The Jonrnal
Vtai-Khlilln lunfi 91 Mr F!
ay
Hasty of Chester, Fa., spent last week
visiting nis parents, Mr. anu .Mrs
W tiaatv here
Mrs. J. M. Davis, Jr., of Statesville
is the guest or his sister, Mrs, a.
firiffln
Miss Zelda Fitzgerald returned last
Tuesday from a two weeks visit tc
relatives in Stokesland and Danville
Virrinla Iis FitzpprnM tt As arrnm.
panied on her return by her grand
father, Mr. H. w. wrenn or stone
lurid hn la a rurst at the Hotel
also Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Wrenn who
were one day guests en route to theii
home in Hoffman. While away Miss
Pii7Pfralrl wan rallr-d tn Ruffin. N. C
to attend the funeral sevices of her
grand-father Fitzgerald.
Miss Hnth Tavlor of Greenville. N
C. was the guest of her cousin Miss
Pauline Taylor a couple- of days last
week en route to Weddington to visit
relatives.
Misses Anuie Elmore and Kate
Morgan spent Thursday of last week
with Miss Pauline Phikston in Wades
boro. Mr. B. C. Griffin spent Thursday
ind Vii.iiv nf Inst wpek attending
the Pharmaceutical Convention In ses
sion In Raleieh.
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Austin and
baby of Hamlet were the guest ol
Mrs. Austins parents Mr. and Mrs
T. A. Ross the past reek.
Vre Fred C. Staten of Olive
! Branch has received a message an-
nouncing the safe arrival 01 ner nus
i.nnri Mr Fred C. Staten. in France.
Miss Annie Elmore, the popular
milliner who has neon wun me j. i.
Garland Company, the past season
left Friday to speuu ner vacation in
her home town, Waco.
Mrs. W. G. Hearou was at home
informally at 4 o'clock p. w. Fri
day, June 21st at a porch party in
kf.rnr nf Mis W. B. Marsh. Despite
the inclement weather most of the
invited guests were present, and re
port a very pleasant time.
Mr. Dowd Jerome of Charlotte was
a week-end guest of hia brother Mr.
rh.i Tftrnm -
Mr. T. B. Young and children, re
turned to their home In Monroe, Sat
urday, after spending the past week
with Mrs. Young's parents, Dr. and
Mrs. R. Arm field.
Mrs. L. E. Huggins and little Miss
Lil Kirk went to Unlonville Sunday
to spend a couple of weeks with Mrs.
Huggius' father, Prof. O. C. Hamlton.
Mr and Mrs. Grove McBride spent
the week end with relatives in Win
gate. Mr. Joo Hasty left to-day for
Greenville, N. C where he will be
associated with the General Fire Ex
tinguishing Company.
The following ladie3 worked at the
licit Prima v; no m this week:
Mrs. L. E. Huggins, Mrs Boyce
Ha'.lman, Mrs, Sallie Griffin, Mrs.
Charlie Barrino, Misses Floy Myers
Lizzie Boyd, Mary Marsh. Kate Mor
gan, Allie Smith, Mrs. Smith Medlin,
Mrs. Henry Ashcrart, Mrs. B. C. Grif
fin, Mrs. Joe Bakor, Mrs. E. C. Grif
fin. There are 13 suits cut and ready
to make at the work room, so a good
number of workers will be needed
this week. .
Miss Myrtle Sinclair le-rt sunuay
morning for Columbia where she will
.i.ni a mimic nf rl.ivs with her
brother,, Mr. Walter Sinclair, who is
at Camp Jackson.
u,f onri Mr. A. It. Newsonie of
Wilmington will arrive Tuesday night
to snend some time wun mis. .w
gome's mother.
VI. Tnm t.tttl One Of OUT boys
employed in Raleigh during vacation,
came home Sunday nigm io Vru
,,.ia f Hnva with his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. O. M. Little, before repott
ing for army service Tuesuay.
Mr. Homer Leonard of Charlotte
.nan snndnv with his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. J. T. Leonard.
Messrs. A., Bascom ana mam -.
i tn,,. ninnnio phifer motored
1 1 1 UU (UW w " .
to Charlotte Sunday where they spent
the day with relatives.
Misses Nina McWhorter and Tearl
Brown and Messrs. Hallman and Hen
derson motored from Charlotte Sat
urday and spent the week-end guests
of Mr. and Mrs. Wade Blvens. Mrs.
J. E. Bailey.
Recent Hapteningt.
Eighty-thousand North Carolinians,
it is estimated, are in the army.
Gon. March, chief of staff, an
nounces that more than 900.000
American troops are now In France.
J. W. Laidlow. manager of the
China branch of the Standard Oil Co..
has beoa murdered by brigands.
Beginning June 25, draft board3
will begin mailing questlonaries to
to the new registrants.
An attempt will be made to secure
20,000,000 peopie to sign an agree
ment not to buy Gorman made goods.
Oenetal Ludendorff, German Quar
termaster General, has infoiined Aus
tria that he cannot send food to the
starving people InVienna.
After the July men are sent to
camp, it is believed that thM-e will
not be more than 1.000 men remain
ing In class one. This of course does
not Include new registrants.
The navv department is preparing
to relebrate the fourth of July by
launching eighty-nine ships. The
splash will be heard all over the
world, and no better celebration could
ne staged at this time.
UONDS GROVE HAS ALREADY
BOUGHT ITS QUOTA STAMPS
That Ya the Cheering Announce
ment Mode By Hon. J. X. Prk-e at
Sat m day Rally Dr. Gurney, Hon.
K. B. Redwlne, and Mr. J. J. Park
er Were the Speakers.
By HENRY BELK.
Bonds Grove school district, in
Sandy Ridge township, of which Mr.
T- M. Haywood is chairman had gone
over the top with her allotment of
War Savings Stamps before noon Sat
urday one day before the formal
opening of the drive. This fact was
brought out by Hon. J. N. Price at
the rally in the interest of the drive
at Union school house Saturday after
noon. The crowd, which filled the school
house, attested the fact that the peo
ple of Sandy Ridge are aware of the
war and are going to take their al
lotment of Stamps. Dr. H. E. Gurney.
Mr. J. J. Parker and Hon. R. B. Red
wine had been secured to address the
meeting. They delivered speeches
that would have graced the platform
of the Redpath Chautauqua. Hon. J.
N. Price, chairman of Sandy Ridge
township, presided at the meeting,
which was opened by the audience
sinking the Star Spangled Banner.
Following this Rev. Mr. McCain led
in prayer.
Ia a few well chosen words Mr.
Price prett-nted the first r-peaker of
the evening, Hon. R. B. Redwine. He
told his audience that when he left
that community years ago little did
he think that he would return to ad
dress the people on such a subject.
"When great occasions arise great
results follow", he said, and that from
this shall come a universal peace that
shall last as long as the world en
ures. When this day comes, he stat
ed, there will be no navies or great
armies. All questions that arise be
tween the nations will be settled by
international tribunals. He Inform
ed his audience that we could have
peace today if we desired but it would
last probably twenty-five years and
then we Ehould have a more terrible
war. Wo will have no peace until
Germany has been defeated nnd the
foundation thus laid lor a universal
brotherhood of nations. Let every
rruu do his part for the salvation of
his country and the world," he said.
"This is a great war," began Mr.
J. J. Parker, who followed Mr. Red
wine, "but no holler war was ever
engaged in by any reople since the
beginning of history." tfe torn ni--
audience of how since the loumnng
of the German Empire Its rulers had
lived and plotted with the ambition
of becoming the ruler of the world.
How it was conceived in the brain
of Frederlikthe Great, whom Mr.
Parker characterized as Frcdeiick
the Vile, and grew strong under Bis
marck's policy of blood and iron.
How the present kaiser two weeks
before war was declared called the
farmers, manufacturers, bankers and
other classes of Germany in a meet
ing at Potsdam where the question
was asked of inch, "Are you ready
for war?" All replied that they were
except the banker who wanted two
weeks in which to dispose or some
stocks which they held. The fact that
they did dispose of them is shown
by the unprecedented fall of the valuo
of stocks in steel on the New York
market two weeks before war was
declared. The kaiser thought t?i t
the hour was ripe for the realization
of his dreams a world dominated by
Germany and a Germany dominate;!
b, his own royal stir. "Ail imu
makes life worth living," and "All
the Ideals for which our forefather
fought are at stake", were two of the
many striking sentences crammed
with true Americanism.
Dr. H. E. Gurney had been re
served to the last and the manner in
which he acquitted himself showed
the wisdom of this act. In his ad
dress Dr. Gurney expressed the opin
ion that President Wilson was tr.e
man brought forward to guide t lu
nation in this great crisis. "The man
and the moment are always con-
temnorv". he said. He Is a native
of Canada and in his speech he point
ed out the fact that the first syallable
of Canada was can and the last sylla
ble of American was Can. These two
cans will can the Kaiser, he said. He
gave it as his opinion that after the
war Canada ana tne inuea aiaie
might form a union for the better
ment of each.
Dnwn In Alnhama they say two dar
kies were arguing who was the great
est man in the world. One argued
the merits of Joshua. "What did
tn.h.ia dn?" nakml one. "Huh. nip-
ger," responded the other one, "ain't
you ever heard o josnuai i
asham'd of you. He was de one. who
commanded de sun to stan' still, an' it
fctood." The other darkey tossed ni3
v,oi,i in mu nide with a disdainful
movement, and said: "Shuks, Josh
ua ain't done not'ing. Has ye ennei
tw.ir.l i rtnt man Wood'ow Wilson,
wh:.t am libing right now?" "Yep,"
the Joshua da? key responded, nut
u-!.v rm hi. en neat?" "Well. liPll.
nWer nnil I'll tell VOU why he iilll
suih a great man. He not only run
de sun up an hour, but give all ue
railroads to his son-in-law:
An earnest plea for intervention in
Rusla, either economic or armed.
ias been sent to President Wilson i
lirpp priinn of Russians hi London.
Tho nlfva nit-tores an exhausted Rus
sia with Germany in the role of bene-
ictor. The plea also points out tnnt
Ith the natural wealth of Russia in
s hands, Germany can wage war for
Inn Period desnile the blockade,
and that the only way to stop further
Inroads by Germany is by armed in
tervention.
Appreciate Journal Aid.
At the conclusion of the War
Savings Stamp rally at Union
school house, Sandy Ridge town-
Ship, Saturday, Hon. J. N. Price.
the chairman, said:
I wish to publicly thank The
Journal for its interest and as-
sistanee in Sandy Ridge town-
ship for the sale of its War Sav-
ings Stamps allotment; r.nd for
sending a special representative
to secure the prcitedings of this
meeting."
GERMANS ARE WAR-WEARY.
STARVIXG; TALK OF REVOLT
Americans Returnu.g IYoui Europe
Bring Stories of Unrest Army's
Sullen Spirit Bulla's Terrible
State.
Germany, war-weary and ill-fed, is
in a state of unrest so acute that talk
df revolt againct the imperial govern
ment is common both among the mili
tary and civilian populations, accord
ing to Americans who arrived at an
Atlantic port Saturday night on a
Norwegian liner alter long residence
in Germany or adjacent countries.
Officers and men, the voyagers
said, had told them of a sullenness.
which is widespread in the German
army, predicting that it would reach
the point where the troops would re
fuse to fight.
"You see that I wear the coat of
the Kaiser. 1 only wish that you
could know the feeling that lies be
neath it, for we are not going to stand
this forever," a German major told
Miss Olga Wursberg of Grand Rapids,
according to her story on coming
ashore. The conversation she de
clared, took place in a hospital at
Godesberg, Germany, where the of
ficer talked freely to her, not suspect
ing that she was an American. Un
der the same conditions, she declared
a private soldier said to her:
"Some day we are all going to v
down our arms. Why Bhould we
fight? Our officers now, instead of
leading us, go behind us with their
guns at our backs.
Miss Wursberg, daughter of Fred
erick Wursberg, a wealthy Grand
Rapids merchant who was born in
Germany and n naturalized American
citizen, declared that the morale
throughout Germany Is poor, the peo
ple near revolt. With her family,
who returned with her she has lived
' years in Germany. She asserted
.nat ooldieis in tne hospitals con
fakece veiy slowly, so poor Is the
food ffiven them.
Carl E. Ollvarius a Milwaukee
lawyer, who returned from a trip
through Norway, Sweden and Den
maik, declared that food is so scarce
in these countries that little can be
spared Germany. Reporting conver
sations with travelers from the Ger
man t itij.iii, he said:
"No mio in Germany sp-ak3 of vic
tory. They always talk of food. The
war. In Ihe minds of the civ'.liau
population, has become secondary to
efforts to get enough to eat."
l.eun Rains, who has retiJ.J the
last five years in Dresden, declared
that Savony is well equippo't with
food, but conditions in Berlin and oth
er large cities are "terrible."
Herman Bernstein, the wrier, who
sailed for Russia tix months ago be
lieving that the Bolshevik! vould es
tablish a stable government, return
ed, convinced, he said, that Leulne.
Trotky and their followers vera in
the pay or Germany. He ikvlaied that
nine-tenths of the people fesiv In
tei volition by Japan, with allied ap
pioval. to put an end to Ihe chaotic
conditions resulting from thi soviet
control.
"The red guard is nothing but a
band of thieves," said Mr. Bcrnstoin,
"It is not uncommon to see officers
mi the utreet relieving people of their
valuables. To protest means arrest
and in Russia today a person wno is
arrested usually is shot before he
reaches a court of justice."
Mr. Bernstein declared that Keren-1
skv has lost his popularity wiu the
RiisBian people, who blame him for
failure to crush the Bolshevik revolu
tion when he had the power. Keren
sky's whereabouts, he said, is un
known in Petrograd.
Baron Serglus A. Korff, another
passenger, who was removed by the
bolshevlkl as deputy governor-general
ol Finland, declared that Ger
many would bo unable to reorganize
the Russian army for use auainst the
allies.
fecoiid Lottery For Enrolled Men.
Washington, June 24. A second
n,ir.nai intterv to dftei iiiino th? or
der numbers of the, 744,863 nun en
rolled last June 5 unaer me aeiei
tivo service law. will be held here
this week. The date has not been
definitely determine, but the draw
ing probably will be on Thursday or
Friday, nepenaing upon me i""
fin.it comnlete renorts are received
from the district board. v
The procedure to re toiioweu, u
wa state! officially to-day, w'H be
siru'.liar to that of last year w'.en
...... ,.k- m find Oitn men were pL'tn
tlu'lr 'relative i laces in the drafi. The
cuiim linwl will h nr.ed with f.ir'iile
containg numbers up to the largest
number or registrants in any i.uh
i.. iha nmintiv. Last vear 10.500
capsules were provided, but number
this year will he mucn sniaiier.
Recent H;ir-oninK.
The French secretary of war has
announced that two-thirds of the Ger
man submarines launched are already
at the bottom of the sea. "And,"
continue the statement, "we are de
stroying them twice as fast as ttie
are building them.'
Buy W 8. Stamps until ,'t Lurts.
LIEUTENANT GEORGE A. BALI.
WAS KILLED IN' ACTION
A Monroe Citizen, But Bora in South
Africa, He I Lid Many Friend in
Till. Section FVII June .
Lieutenant George A. Ball, son of
Rev. W. H. Ball, well-known to many
of the citizens of Monroe, was killed
in action in France on June S, ac
cording to a telegram received about
8 o'clock last night. The first mes
sage was addressed to Rev. W. H.
Hall of Monroe and stated that Lieu
tenant George A. Hall was killed in
action. A telegram to the War De
partment in Washington confirmed
the belief that a nii.-take had been
made in the first letter of the chris
tian name and should have lead Ball
instead of Hall.
The telegram read:
Washington. D. C,
June 24. 1A18.
Rev. W. H. Ball,
Monroe, N. C.
Deeply regret to inform you that
Lieutenant George A. Ball, infantry,
is officially reported as killed in ac
tion June 6.
McCAIX. the Adjutant General.
Although not a native of Monioe,
Lieutenant Ball was well-known here
and has many friends in this section.
For two years he worked a farm
about two miles we t of town. After
he received a commission as a Lieu
tenant, he was stationed at Camp
Green aud often spent Sunday here
with his father and friends. He had
only been in Franca about six weeks.
The report of this casualty brings
the war home to the citizens of Mon
roe with striking force.
The dead man was born in Beth
lehem, South Africa, May 27, 1892.
He was killed just ten days after he
had celebrated his 26th birthday.
After leaving Monroe he accepted a
position at Kittrell in the eastern
part of the state and while there
Joined the State Guard at Hender
son. H w.i3 sent to the Mexican
border with his company during the
trouble there. His Captain had been
so Impressed with the work of Lieu
tenant Ball while on the horder that
he recommended him for the officers
training school at Fort Oglethorpe.
Ga. He finish' d the course for offi
cers and was awatdvd a First Lieu
tenant's commission. Following the
receipt of his commission, he was sta
tioned at Camp Greene, where he re
mained until the last of March. On
Easter day he sailed for Fiance.
It will be remembered by 'Journal
readVrs how it was related in this
paper some titno ago that the ship on
which he sailed sank a German sub
marine on the way over.
Rev. W. H. Ball, father of the
dead soldier, lias been connected
with the Episcopal church ns a
priest for many years and has acteci
as pastor of the church here.
Lieutenant Ft an.es Ball, a brother
to the one killed in action, joined the
famous Canadian Trincess Put regi
ment in 1915 and has been wounded
three times in action. Those wounds
have incapacitated him for further
active service. He was passed one
time, shell shocked, and struck by a
fragment of an exploding shell.
SHOOTING IN SANDY RtDGK
Adam Thought He Wns Shooting
Charlie, Itnt Peppered "Wg Boy."
Charlie Vinson, a gentlemen of
color, attended services at Hudson
church in Sandy R'dre town.-.h.p Sun
day; but one would not say that he
was benifited sp r.tually by t'-.e per
formance. U is said that the negroes
of God's country have a born antipa
thy for the nc:,roes of man's town.
Four colored r.jur.try Aiiiu.i.n.: jump
ed on Chatlie'8 spouse. The cries
of the combatants, dust and hair
were blended In harmonliis accord.
Through all negroes are born musi
cians Charlie could not appreciate
this harmony, and the dust was ruin
ing bis Sunday-suit and and his bet
ter half wa petting the worst of the
bargain. To stop this diversion he
pulled a pistol for the benefit of
those who are hiiated Into the mys
teries of fire-arms it Is sufficient to
state that it was of that species com
monly known as the "Owl-head",
and proceed to draw some of the at
tention by firing It Into the ground.
One of the main participators In
he affray had been the wife of one
.!:im Brown. W!vn Charlie fired
hi pistol there ;i;. e -'ennintion
tli.U the negro vi'h ; -.- OAl-hend'
should rot nic:p liio ;!! M-e atten
tion s'i !. sets ett i:i a 1"!".' for his
shotgun; vowing that he wns ttoing
to get practice that would enable him
to shoot t lie nose off any German
from Charlie. He soon appeared In
the offing which his old reliable shot
gun In shooting position In his hands.
While yet a great way off he beheld
a negio whom he mistook for Vin
son and hastily fired at him. A num
ber of t;e shots took effect In his
face. It happened that instead of
shooting the Vinson he had shot one
of his best friends by the nickname
of "Big Boy". No othor name hag
yet been learned. He wns not serious
ly hurt.
FAILURE AND DEFEAT ENDS
j FIRST OK AUSTRIAN" CAMPAIGN
Austrian IMurers Fail to Pinch and
Invaders TheiiLselte Suffer Rout
Hate Lost 1 80.0OO Men Second
Battle Coming.
The defeat of the Austrian armies
on the western bank of the Piave
river is complete. Admission is made
by the Austrian war office that the
troops of Emperor Charles have been
forced to evacuate the Montlle plat
eau, over which they had hoped to
press their way and gain the Vene'
tian plains, and "some- sectors" of
the positions they attained last week
on the bank of the river between
the plateau and the point where tho
stream empties into the Adriatic.
Bad weather, and the rising of the
Piave under the heay rainfalls are
assigned as the reason for the with
drawal of the Austrains. But the
li'ome war office asserts H was- the
impetuous attacks of the Italians that
brought about the failure of an ope
ration which was started with the
intention q crushing the armies of
General Diaz and forcing the Italians,
like the Russians, to accept a Teu
tonic pece.
All along the river the Italians
have pressed back the invaders of
their territory until only small units
remain on the western bank, and
across the stream King Victor Em
manuel's nvi are keeping Tvell Ji
the heels of the retreating nemy
who is fleeing In disorder. Again the
cavalry has been thrown into the
fighting and is sorely harassing the
enemy, while machine guns from the
ground and from aircraft, some of
the latter operated by American avia
tors, are working havoc among the
fleeing Austrian columns.
The probability of numerous losse3
is enhanced by the fact that the riv
er was swollen out of hounds and
most of the few bridges that had not
been carried away by the freshet had
been shot to pieces by the Italians
guns, compelling the enemy either
to surrender or take his chances of
being able to swim the turbulent
nf ream.
The first phase of the Austrian of
fensive has ended in failure in do
feat. The culmination of what was
intended to be the crushing of Italy
between the Jaws of the Austrian
pincers, is the rout of the invaders
themselves. .
With their backs to tho swollen
Piave tiver, the Austrian for several
days past had been trying to ward
oil tho vicious counter-attacks of the
Italians, and save the situation. Now
they are endeaxoiing, still, under
great pressure, to ford the stream aud
reach safc-ty on its eastern bank.
From the Moutello plateau to the
Adriatic sea the enemy is in retreat.
Already his losses are estimate 1 at
180,000 men and the chances of his
escape without additional heavy cas
ualties and men made prisoner seem
remote.
Large numbers of pontoon bridges
that the Austriuib tlnew across the
Piave have been vept away by the
now torrential si ream and on all the
sectors of the u3-mile trout where
they gained edges of the Venetian
plain they are belu sorely harassed
by the fire of the Italian guns and
rilles and by the machine gun liie and
bombs of the allied aviatois w ho have
done such notable executio.i bince the
attempted drive was started.
Monaler preparations had been
made by the Austriaus for what waa
to be the death blow to King Victor
Emmanuel's men. Thousands upon
thousands of men, many of them
brought from the Russian and Ruma
nian fronts and guns and stores in
tremendous tjuantities had been par
celed among the various commanders
for the drive over a battle att-a of
virtually one hundred miles, running
from the Asiago plateau to Die Piave
river and then following that stream
to the sea.
Undoubtedly the Austrian high
command had built largely for success
on the belief that the Italian morale
had been shattered when last year
their great pincers closed in upon the
Italian front aud forced back the line
in a great semi-dele from the Julian
Alps to the I'lave and Troiii the moun
tains in the north almost to the plains
of Venetla.
Such a belief, however, was entire
ly erroneous. From the first on
slaught the enemy met a rejuvenated
army which fought him with the
greatest gallantry, never ceding an
inch of ground unless it was dearly
paid for. Aiding the Italians in the
mountains were British and French
armies who also fought nobly and
everywhere defeated the enemy. Ter
ritory taken in the mountain was al
most as quickly regained and the
enemy held In check.
Along the Piave, especially on the
Montello plateau, the gateway to the
Venetian plains ttoin the northwest
and nt several noints farther south
where the Aui-trians succeeded in
cn': ng tli" river, the Italians very-wh.-.-e
epjeed such sticngth against
the enemy that he w.-.s unable to en
, lai j;e his nains and then, with re-
douMed rflorts. forced him to com
, meiice the retrograde movement
which has developed into disordered
flight.
I Largo numbers of the enemy have
been reported recently as coming up
behind the noithern line lit the moun
' tain region and It Is not Improbable
that Bhortly the gecond phase of the
battle will begin. Complete confi
dence is felt in the Italian and other
allied commands, however, that tho
enemy will meet foenien of superior
quality and that his effor ts will go for