"THE UNION COUNTY PAPER EVERYBODY NEEDS IT "THE UNION COUNTY PAPER-IJVERYBODT READS IT" r The Monroe JourMi PUBLISHED TWICE EACH WEEK TUESDAY AND FRIDAY VOL.24. No. 64. MONROE, N. C.t FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1918. 1 550 PER YEAR CASH. AMKRICAXS IX BIG DRIVE; gex. persuing co.MiAxnixi Gain in Exce of Four Miles are Made and Several Village are rap tured St. Mibiel Keporu.: Captur ed by the French. (By the Associated Press.) The American first army under command of General Pershing is in action against the Germans on a 20- ruile front on the famous St. Mihiei salient in Lorraine, which had stood a harp wedge in the French line south east of Verdun since the commence ment of the war. In the preliminary thrust ground was gained on both sides of the tri angle and also at its apex at St. Mi hiel, and at last accounts the Ameri cans, with whom some French troops are brigaded, were fast sweeping across the salient in an effort to close the mouth of the big pocket before the Germans can extricate themselves from the perilous position they are in as a result of the suddenness of the blow and the element of surprise it carried with it. Although the advance of the Anier leans was swift and sure and gains in excess of four miles on the southern side of the battle area w ere made, the caalry far outstripped the tanks and footmen and was last reported opera ting along the railroad near Vigne ulles, almost in the center of the sa lient and some ten miles northeast of St. Mihiei and also northwest of Font- A-Mousson, through the forests and along the railway line running north ward to Metz, the great German fort ress, the southern outer fortifications of which are less than 10 miles dis tant. Thiacourt, Boullionvllle, Pannes and several other towns in the south were captured in the initial dash while on the west at tho northern edge of the pocket, the village of Combres was captured and the envi rons of Demmartin in Montagno were reached. To the south everywhere the Americans penetrated Into the heights of the Meuse and the French fought their way into the outskirts of St. Mihiei. Unofficial reports are to the effect that the town has been capt ured by the French. The fighting front at the com mencement of the battle aggregated 20 miles eight miles on the western side and 12 in Ilea on the southern side. The fighting was preceded by an extremely heavy artillery bom bardment and the troops and tanks advanced under barrage which was carried out with mathematical preci sion. From the war maps It would seem almost Impossible for the Germans to evacuate the salient, as they apparent ly are trying to do, without huge losses in men and material. The first reports show that the Americans took 700 prisoners in the first stages of the battle and had suffered remarkably smnll casualties. The strategy of Marshal Foch In the present maneuver cannot be forseen, except that It has as the first objective the levelling or the St. Mlhlel sector and the straightening of the allied line fioni the region of eVrdun east ward. The obliteration of the salient would be .necessary before a direct thrust toward German territory from this region would be possible. Wheth er Marshal Foch has in view a cam naicn un the Meuse valley or Met nml the Moselle valley in mind re mains to be seen. In the north, Field Marshal Haig is still hard alter the Germans In th region of Cambral. Here, he aga has advanced his front toward the mucn desired German baae; penetra ted Into the old British defense line crossed the Canal Du Nord north of Havrlncourt; taken Havrincourt and another section of the Hindenburg line an dsent a thousand Germans in to the British prisoners' cages In the rear. The Germans fought hard at Havrincourt to stay the British, but all their counter attacks were beaten off. Further advances for the British also are reported in the region of La Bassee canal and northwest of Armen tleres. FIRST SEPARATE DRIVE BE GUN BY PEItSHlXd'S MEN Sixteen Months of (imU War Effort In the U. 8. Has Rem tied Itn Goal in This All-Auierlcan Attack It Means Third Great Organized Army In In Action at the Front. Paris. Sept. 12. The first big Am erican offensive which began today be tween the Muese and Moselle rivers. was conducted under General Persh Ing'i personal supervision and was ex ecuted under orders of American of ficers with American soldiers. This was the first distinctly American op eration of a major character launch ed on the western front. Washington, Sept. 12. Sixteen months of vast war effort by the Uni ted States reached Its first goal today when General Pershing's forces struck their first Independent blow In France against the German army. Reports tonight show that success was meeting the American command er's effort to fling the enemy out of this sharp salient thrust in behind the fortress of Verdun in the first year of the war. But of even greater signifi cance to government officials was the fact that the all-American attack meant that the months of ceaseless toil and effort have now brought forth a third great organized army, which has taken its place beside the French and British armies and li striking for decisive victory for democratic Ideals. LP to a late hour no official report from General Pershing had come, officers were gathered about the great war maps, however, tracing out the lines of the conflict from press ac counts as they were received. Presi' dent Wilson himself visited Acting Secretary Crowell during the after noon and there is no doubt that he was then told what General Persh ing had accomplished and what might be expected to develop from this blow First reports were vague. They told merely that the American army had launched an attack around the St. Mihiei salient, the only sharp thrust toward the heart of France that remained to the German leaders to show for their offensive efforts since the war began. It seemed possl ble that the objective of the attack vi.. tj .v, n OI.KV iiic xai uccaui a l orruicu uuijoi border on the Moselle river. Later accounts made it clear, how ever, that for his first blow, General Pershing had determined to employ the pincer tactics Marshal Foch has now used with repeated success in hurling the foe back from the Maine and out of the Picardy and Flanders salients. The chance lay ready to the American leader's hands. Almost due south of the war-raked fortress of Verdun whk'h has defied every German effort, the town of St Mihiei stood at the apex of a great enemy wedge into the French lines and which all but cut Verdun off in the first German rush toward Paris, Along the eastern curve of this sa- lient American troops have stood for months, holding the lines. Americans . . . ... Surging forward on a 12-mile front to the east of St. Mihiei, Pershing's men have rolled over the complicated defenses of the enemy all along the line and thrust a steel-shod Jaw out into the territory behind the nemy forces that hold the town. From the others ide, another American thrust has carried the lines forward to meet the bulge from the east and a grim trap is being drawn about the enemy forces that remain in the salient. It was only 20 miles across the mouth of the pockets and the reports to night showed that this had been cloS' ed In to less than 15 miles, Thi-miuh that nnrrmulni? irnn the German forces In the depth of tho salient must esrane: and to wihdraw withnnt confusion that mlcht turn 4h int intn . thou mint liiv 1 v 11 T c.v uiiu m awut, mv; ...uu.. shake off the French forces which are battering them all alonit the St. viihiui fmnt IIIIIMVI llV.lh. On the face of tonleht'a renorts. also were on the line between Verdun pronounced admirable by Capt. Davldlu" ,uea 10 ,ocaie lne "anl near nere- and St. Mihiei, but St. Mihiei Itself Todd director of naval communi-i '., T,he thTee men f,om ,he burt-au r was held by the French for the fate cations, and unless unforseen dif ftcttl- d.ocks and ards whlle here plained nf Verdun restpd unon that line. tiu, on.n.nri tho .ntomriu I that the plant whirh the government officers here believed there was good days ago a party of three men con promise that General Pershing might nected with the bureau of docks and succeed in Closing the neck Of the baz and trannine a considerable force. The fact that the enemy was still of fering stubborn resistance in St. Mihiei showed there was a consider able German force still In the depths of the trap, The advance of the eastern Jaw rests on a wide base. Reports Indf cato that It had broken through at the first rush until General Pershing could fling out cavalry screens on both sides to prevent counter-attacks on his flanks. The very width of his battle line, however, tends to protect him an dalso give his Initial thrust the power that will carry it across the road that Is the only line of re treat for the Germans in St. Mihiei. To many officers, the action started today is but the forerunner of greater blow to come. They anticipate that General Pershing will follow up with out delay the rlearing out of the St. Mihiei salient with actions of greater scope, probably directed toward the Ann.t.MA nP YtA ll'ltfe Bllnh Off. (111. ,t issa Frchst frm vtMumi nu uniuii mr- 1 1 uih uci w c-cu i T I . . J U .AMt WntttrAAn I Verdun and Rhelms, would go natur ally and the great movement to force the enemy out of all northern France and much of Belgium would be well under way. OVER 3000 MEX REGISTERED IX UXIOX COUXTY YESTERDAY Three Aliens Registered in Xorth Monroe, One of Whom Had Taken Out Fli-st Naturalization Paper, . . , , .. ,. I The registrars serving at the North I Monroe precinct tn the courthouse were chief registrar W. J. Pratt, I. H. Blair. T. L. Crowpll. W. fl. Trowell. I John Thomas Helms, Gus. O. Benton, 7:z 'm.L- . r . H. woire, w. A. Hnederson and U. D. Davidson. Those serving at the Mr. Perry Rltch of Alabama left South Monroe precinct were T. J. W. for Camp Jackson the 6th after spend Broom, Fred Maness, J. W. Lathan, Ing several days with home folks. T. L. Riddle and W. C. Sanders. One man aged 29 years was registered at South Monroe. He explained that on the previous registrations he was an Inmate of an asylum. There were sufficient registrars to I serve all those who came to register without any one having to wait for a long time. A report has reached Mon- roe that at one of the rural precincts man advised a man aged 45 who had come to register not to do so but to make a test case of himself in order to see If those 45 years old had to reg- Ister. The case will be Investigated. About 3.238 men between the ages of 18 and 45 Inclusive, who had not registered ror mintrry service In pre- lous registrations registered In the on county yesterday. Of this number 280 were registered at South Monroe 1 vv his .UUMI ur, AWUV AVV li or those registered at North Monroe were absentee registrants, those away from their county or usual voting place. One alien who had taken out first naturalization papers and two who had not taken out first papers. registered with the North Monroe registrar. Inir If AlfAl A D1U M lLf tUXUlSJ f LAIl I LIKELY TO BE NEAR CITY LARGEST RADIO STATION' THE WOKIJ) IS I'lXX.Jlilua OI P'ani it would be. Several Site Between Monroe and Baker lYonouiued Admirable liy Captain ! f" c- Carpenter left for Washington to see what could be done toward se Todd Meters. J. I. Siket., h. C.I curing the plant for Union county. Ciu-penter and G. B. Caldwell arejThey ,"ust nv received a favorable reception for Weinecdny night thev in Conference W ith WuMri'n Of- wired Mr. Ci. H. Caldwell tn mm tn litiuls. , Spt'ciul correspondence to the Ral- ... . en Ae ,k uf rve.r ln's worn ng states that the largest radio station u me nunu .in ymuwi; iuv.isi ucar .uuuiw, mis luntapuuucucc gives an account of a conference be- tweea Mr. J. C. Sikes, Air. E. C. Car- penter and Congressman Lee Robltt- son and Capt. David Scott, director of naval communications. At this meeting the site proposed near Mon roe was declared to be admirable. The correspondence says that unless un foreseen difficulties arise the plant will no doubt be located in. North Carolina. The text of the special leased wife I i .- 1 1 . corresponuence ionows: s"1 upnuua uu uut m-ir nuuiu w The large-it and mon important na- rf.uired and thev wished to confer val radio station in the world will''1 'r- Caldwell, who is manager of probably be established near Monroe, I J,ne Monroe Insurance and Investment unlpn county. North Carolina. The j LoiPany. concerning the possibility 8jte chosen for the station has been f securing more land in case it was iterprl: will be located in North Carolina. . Representative Lee Robinson, J. C. Sikes and E. C. Carpenter, citizens or Monroe, held a conference with Cap tain Todd yesterday and tho results of the interview were declared alto gether favorable to the Union county site. The essential qualifications for the operation of a radio station are an abundance of power and situated outside the boundaries of the frost belt. The Monroe site offers these ad vantages. Representative Robinson indicated today that in the event of the estab- I... a . . ....1 1111 .( J.l I HSnmeni OI tne Siaiion millions Oi uw- ! would be spent in its erection ana maintenance. Thus another big time enterprise would find its setting Jo me iar Heel male, wnere camcil- .... i -. t nients and shipbuilding industries are contributing to me nusniess 01 win I nine the war. I ..... 1 will De rememoerea mat several yarns visueu aionroe ior me yuipuar f viewing favoraDie sites ror some kind of government plant, but they AGE OF REGISTRAXT TO GOVKKX ORDER OF CALL Those Aged lU'tvte-en 19 and 21 and iVZ and iiO Will be Called out First Of (lii 11 Is Hare Xo Desire to' Break Into the Economic Life of. The Country. Washington, Sept. 10. Youths of 19 and 20 years and men between the ages of 32 and 36, inclusive, who res istor Thursday, will first be called to the colors, Provost Marshal General Crowder announced today, and until the supply of available fighting mate rial in their ranks has been exhausted, older men will not be inducted into service. Questionnaires will go out first to registrants of those ages anJ local boards have been ordered to pro- with thr speedy creation HiUI. OWUIC VI lilt. II VRl.lU . rK Pointing out that In classifying men above the ages of 31 the army draft would be "attacking the coun try s economic life and entering an unexplored field," General Crowder, In a nnhllf ntatpmpnt tn nil anmtnvprit Industrial renreaentatlve he-miirht their aid In applying the plans of In dustrial deferments so that the maintenance of the military establish ment of the national Interest during the emergency" may not be Interfered mh. Personals From Stouts. Correspondence of The Journal Stouts. SeDt. 10. Mr. Charles ninnnhard rotnrnari hum. Cun.v of.l... . . . """ -" Iter spending several days with rela .. - v.wUU.., . fives in Charlotte. Mr. Murphy Conder of Charlotte came home Tuesday night. He will remain here until Uncle Sam calls him. Misses Grey Delllnger and Edna Boyd of Indian Trail visited their cousins. Misses Mattle Lee and Eliz- abeth Boyd. Monday. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Blanchard were visitors In he home of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Current Sunday. Mr. R. M. Conder went to Charlotte Tuesday night where he attended tho Woodmen meeting in that place. Our protracted 111 peine u in full progress this week Great Interest is being manifested in both the day aud night services. The meeting will go until Sunday. There was a burglar In this vicln ity one nleht last week He flr?t I M IIIC tlUIIIC VI M I . V. W . I1U1J1I1 son, but did not take anything as Mr. Robinson heard the noise nd scared him away. It Is reported that h went Into the home of Mr. H. S. Presstey the same night, Miss Kate Conder was a visitor In the home of Mr. J. P. Rltch Sundiv. Violet IM wxw m. j were not allowed to give out what sites were shown them and they set i I ed favorably IniDreiutwl at tho tim ij Monday night Messrs. J. C. Sikes and Washington to attend a conference. .'it inrlliu IttTITru lv .111. I.H1U- well did not state what vas wanted of i . - . him. It is the opinion of men here. however, that he was wanted tn ev- i piKiq jne sue to ejapt. toqu, Mr. caia- wen Deing the one who showed the representatives of the bureau of docks and yards the several sites while they we-re here. It is thought that a site near Bakers is the Doint un- I der consideration. .Mr T I. T'idiii secretary of the Chamber of Com merce, gave it as his cpinion this morning after leading the correspond ence in the Raleigh paper, that as it j would probably be the largest radio ! plant in the world more land than the ! representatives of the government en . 1. II. V. . . 1 1 V expected to locate Foniewhere must be situated on a plot of ground one mile square. That it must have a rock foundation and retain moisture well and that it must be level. They were very favorably impressed with the sites shown them. Before leaving they left instruc tions with Mr. Riddle to forward data concerning the climate, the available power and the rate for it. The site at Bakers is not more than two miles at the most, from the Southern Power Company's lines and this at once an swers the power question. If located here, and all indication now point In that direction, the plant will probably be permanent. The gov ernment representatives here a few days ago did not ask what the lan could be leased for for a certain tim but they wanted to know what It could be bought for. Charlotte has her camp, Fayette- ville has her camp, Raleigh has been allotted "the tanks," and the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and the busi ness men of Monroe will push the ef fort to land the radio plant for Union county. KM. MY USES ALL HIS RE SOURCES TO CHECK ADVAXCK His Heavy Artillery Brought Into Ac lion After a Month's Silence in De Iterate Effort Aloin; Hindeuhiii Line Ruin in Wake ol Geriiiiins Spurs AH Frame to Cry "Let Get Inlo Their Country an-.l Follow Their Example!" (Win. Cook, in New York Woild.) Pails, Sept. 10. --The latest reports from the battlefield froia the Sum me to the Wsle indicate the enemy': determination to offer desperate re sistance to the allied advance on th Hindonburg line. Nevertl e.efc-i th Franco-British troops continue to press forward, daily captui.ug prison crs and material. LINE BADLY CRACKED Alreai v the Hindenbun. line ha been badly tracked, for not only have tne British overrun the northern switch line, but the French armie are hammering away south to La rere. It Is here that thj enemy's re sistance has become stronger, for any approach to the City 01' Laon would be a serious defeat for the Germans Laon is the centre of a stragetlc railroad system, with branches -un ning right and left toward the Ger man front. The greater part of the enemy's supplies for his troop in St uobain Forest and those on the Che mln-des-Dames pass throuch Laon lllB caplure wouiu also enable Gen Mangln's men to take the Chemin- des-Dames in the rear, and even now that Is threatened The roar of German large guns is once more heard on Me battlefield which during the greater part of the month was the scene of one of the hottest, fiercest battles, but which was strangely free rrom artillery duels except for the use of a few small field guns. The German troops, oeaten, exhausted, after such fight Ing, are now eagerly seeking the nro tectlon of their heavy artillery, which was drawn away from the battle dur ing the allied offensive, EXPECTS RETREAT TO CONTINUE Not only have the Germans sought the protection of their guns, but also that or the rivers and canals which abound In Picardy. Discussing a prob able German stand on the Hindenburg line, a highly-placed French military official told me he expected Luden- en divisions on that line, but that the allies are now too strong for him and would make short work of the elab orate defensive positions organized by von Hindenburg. This official's opinion is that. In a very short time, the Oerraans would be fighting for their very lives on a line running near the Neuse and that possibly they would not be able to hold such a line very long, "These are great days for Franc and the allies," said the official. "Al though we must not be too optimistic we can safely say Germany is beaten VENTS RAGE ON TERRAIN GIVEN UP In the meantime the enemv is again giving proof of rape that consumes him at being forced to retreat. In all the fighting of the last fortnight many villages have been liberated, but few remain except as names. Everywhere is desolation; that which was not de stroyed in battle was blown up. some times a week after the fighting, the Germans having placed timed infernal machines in those parts of buildings wnich still stood. a i.vpicai example or this wa shown in Nesle, where the church blew up and crumbled to pieces six days after the allies occupied the ttown. Ludendorff cannot say the al lies guns destroyed buildings under such circumstances, Let us get into their country and follow their example," Is the cry of an trance. AMERICANS SHOW FOE HOW TO FIGHT IVDIAX FASIHOX Belt ill Xo Mini's Land Over Mile Wide Offei Every Opportunity For The Stort and Prisoners Dough hoy Fell into a Trap, But Cutclies His Captor Genimn Misses His Furlough. On the American Front. In a cer tain sector the American troops who hold the line have every opportunity to practice their favorite form of war fare. There is a belt or no man's land over a mile wide covered with brushwood and seamed with ravines In the middle are two knolis facing one another at a distance of 100 yards or so. On one of them the Germans and on the other the Americans have established ad vanced posts. These posts are centres of much scouting and desultory fighting. An American platoon will crawl out at night and make their way with all the caution of red Indians behind the German knoll. There will be some brisk shooting and the Americans will fall back on the trenches betoie daylight with casual prisoners. On one occasion, as they crept back with the light of dawn Ju3i breaking, they were astonished to hear the rustling and crackling of stloks, which seemed to show that a body of men were coming toward them from the direction of the American trenches. The advance scout listened and whispered to his comrades: "Boys, those are never Americans; they are too clumsy and make too much noise." SHARP CLOSE FIGHTING It was not clear how the Germans could have made their way between the American putrol and the Yankee lines, but the Americans were taking no chances and they dropped at once to the ground, with ready rifles waiting for the enemy to blunder into thc-m. Guttural exclamations from the Germans, who were stum bling in the undergrowth, gave the Americans their signal. There was a sharp hand to hand struggle with the surprised enemy, in which the Germans were soon mastered. The prisoners mi id they had come for ward from their trenches on the north of the knoll while the Ameri can patrol had been working Its way along the south side. The Germans set out to return by the south way and were amazed when they found the Americans between them and their trenches. One night an American on patrol got separated from his companions. In the undergrowth he came upon a barbed wire that had evidently Just been put up by Fritz. Suspecting a trap but curious to investigate it, he followed the barbed wire. He wps crawling on all fours, when sud denly there was a breaking of sticks. which gave way beneath him. He was precipitated into a deep pit. TRIED TO CLIMB OUT On recovery from the shock of the fall, he tried to clamber out, but the sides were sheer and the top too high for him to reach. The tran had been dug under the direction of an Ingeni ous German, whose voice called out to the American in excellent English: Pass your weapons up here, or we shall throw grenades down on you." There was nothing for him but to obey. He passed up his weapons. In the dawning light he saw a head peer ing over the edge of the nit. A rone was dropped over to him, and as he was hauled up, one German covered him with a rifle while a second save 11 1 111 a hand Once outside the pit the American sank to the ground and began to rub his ankle, muttering something about strain. Then he rose to his feet. seeming to be In great nain. Two Germans stepped up to secure htm A sudden Jab from the American's elbow sent one of them tumbling HCKward into the pit. while the sec ond German found himself clasped in grip he could not break. MARCHES IN PRISONER Two minutes later the American as marching his prisoner in the di rection of the American line. He met some or the Yankee boys on their wax back to the trenches. After handing the prisoner over to some of them o returned with two others to the Pit In which he had left the German, no, or course, gave himself up. He said the pit had been contrived by himself in the hope of eeltlnr th reward of a furlough, which had been promised to any German old!?r who one Jell over no It was taken d. would capture rn American P.Isoner.l-HarperTMagaiine REV. W. II. BALL COLLECTED !30 FOR STARVING JEWS Ijist Ust or Contributors Given B k,w Check for l(t.VI Has Been Se nt to Mr. Lionel Weil, President of X. C. Society for Jewish Relief, as Monroe's Bit. Rev. W. H. Ball, who has been un tiringly devoting much of his time to collecting funds for Jewish Relief, has made his final report. All the collect ions amounted to $150, and it has already ben sent to Mr. Lionel Weil, President of the Society for Jewish Relief in North Carolina. Only one woman and four storekeepers refused to help in this cause. Mr. Ball's report Is as follows: Jesus said "I was hungry and you red me, thirsty and your eave m drink; naked and you clothed me." They said, "Lord, when saw we ye hungry, or thirsty or naked?" He said. "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least or these, ye did it unto me." .Mrs. U. B. McCIellan. IS. Mai w C. Heath, $2.50; J. V. Griffith. $2; a. uoraon, z; h. a. Shule, $2; F. H. hurley. $2; Ike Blair. $2: Mrs. r. C. Sikes. $2; J. Willianiss. $1: Flow Mr Phifor, $1; Dr. J. E. Ashcraft. ti- V. C. Winchester, $1; Miss Muriel Hinde, 1; nenoerson-snyder. $1: J. vr. Fairley. $1; G. S. Lee. $1: J. R. Stark. $1; W. L. Howie, $1; Mrs. J. Blair. $1; G. N. Clontz. $1; M. C. Long, $1; Ab Joseph Co., $1; H. M. Neal. 65c; Hillard Wolfe. $1; R. F. Beasley 50c; Neal Redfern. 50c: P. P. W. Plyler, 50c; Ray Shute, 50c; A Lady Friend, 50c; T. W. Maness. 50c; h. biearns, 50c: Lee Griffin. 50c- Miss Antionette Beasley, 50c; T. P. Redwine, 50c; C. B. Benton. C0c: A. M. Secrest. 50c: Miss Sallle frt.nrtv 50c; Capt. Ed Neal. 50c: J. D. Fntrh. 50c;; H. A. Shepherd. 50c; Miss M. Redwine, 50c; J. E. Eflrd. 50c; Cider. 50c; R. V. Lockhart, 50c; A Mite 50c; W. T. Wolfe, 50c; T. L. Riddle. 50c; E. A. Helms, 30c; L. A. Robin son, 25c; T. C. Collins. 25c; Luther Williams. 25c; J. B. Williams. 25c; Roland Horton, 25c; Rupert Funder burk. 25c; W. C. Sanders, 25c; B. C. Hinson, 25c: C. A. McRorio. 25c- A loe letter, 25c; W. J. Helms, 15c; Francis Bundy, 15c. Total, $150. l.SOO AMERICAN SOLDIERS RESCUED BY DESTROYERS British Liner, with American Troops on Board, is Attacked by Submn rlne am Beached All Men Saved The Enemy U-boat is believed to Have Been Destroyed. Washington. Sent. 11. News of the torpedoing of the Brltsh liner Per sic, with 2,800 American troops on ooaro in the war ?,one, September 6, was given to the American neoulo to day, first through the British admiral ty and theu later ihrough the navy department. All the soldiers were rescued by accompanying destroyers, the steamer itself was beached' and the enemy submarine is believed to have been accounted for. Officials here viewed the rasult of he ait.uk more as an allied success hail as a disaster. The fart that the steamer was toipedoed wlieu she was endeavoring to overtake the convoyed Meet vi transports alter overcoming engine trouble which had forced her 0 lag, convinced officers that subma- "ine commanders still are fearful of attacking troop bh'ps in oouvoy. And the immediate and completely successful assistance rendered bv the destroyeis was taken as an additional videnee that the convoying system now in vogue Is practically perfect. First word of the attack 00. the Persic, it was learned officially, reach- ed the navy department on the night of September 6. in a brief disnatch from Vice Admiral Suns, although navy orficiala have emphatically de nied, in tne interim, that any import ant news of submarine activities etas- being withheld. It was understood! that the British admiralty exnressed the request that they be permitted to announce the news of the attack. Rumors that a troon shin had heen sunk, probably with heavy loss of lire. nave been current in Washington since the publication of what evident ly wag an Inspired London dispatch stating that allied naval circles had reason to believe that German subma rines toon would concentrate their ef forts in an attempt to Impede the steady flow of American soldiers over seas. No explanation of the purpose or this article could be obtained, how ever, rrom naval orfklals here. Attacks on troop ships by subma rines constantly are expected by offi cials and It may be that a new and more determined campaign has been determined upon by the German h- cause of the reverses suffered bv their armies. The greatest possible protec tion Is afforded troop ships and this increase as the American naval forces in the war tnnp nro . by new construction In American yards. The records achieved hv tim .,,..- Iccn and allied navies In the trans porting of more than l.fion.nnn Am erican soldiers over-seas with the loss or oily 291 of them, still Is considered miraculous. And it Is accepted by naval officers as testifying to the suc- ess or ine convoy rystem. "This seems to be a verv dancer. ous precipice," remarked the tourist "I wonder that they have not nut un a warning-board?" "Yes," answered he guide. "It ts dangerous. Thev kent ini... Hnnrrt tin aw a . .