fOL. XXXIX MOUJfl AIRY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY. JUNE 14, 1917. MO. 4*
BATTLE Or MESSINE3
RIDCE COME TO AN END.
Alliaa f mm I TWt Amrici Cm
Craatly Acc.l.r.t. Cruah
in| of Tan tonic Military
Powar in tha World Straggle
British Haadquartara in Franca,
J una 10, via London—(By tha Aaao
c la tad Praaa)—While atlll furthar
(ttrmin countar-attarka may ha •*
par tad from lima to tuna, tha battla
of Xaaainaa ridga may ba aaid to ha
andad. It atood out aa a daflmta op
aration daaigned for ccrtain purpoaaa,
and it ramaina to ba aaan whether
othar offenaiva battle* have baan
plannad in thia particular aactor of tha
we»tarn front.
The taking of Messine* nc!g« has
robbed the Germans of the last com
manding natural position they occu
pied far no long opposite the British
lines. Bapaume and Vimy and Men
nine* ridges, as well as Monchy
plateau, Ave miles east of Arras, have
all been captured by the British dur
ing the last three months, and this
has materially changed the military
situation on this front.
When the Germans chose what they
were pleased to term permanent lines
of defense in 1914, they occupied these
vantage points with a fore-knowledge
of their strategic, tactical and obser
vation values as that possessed by any
French military student. The Ger
mans had a thorough familiarity with
and detailed maps of, every square rod
of French territory over which they
proposed to fight, and when flung
back from the Marine had already se
lected the lines upon which' their
trench** fortifications were to be built.
^ . it la. satorai that tha GeoMMi «■
'-**** •■HJnhjBW and wireless press reports
should attempt to belittle the loss of
these positions, but u>e British who
feavehad to endure the handicap of
lying under their direct observation
and fire for so long a time mak»'*o at
tempt to disguise the satisfaction
with which they look to the future and
what it holds in store for the Germans
who at last are virtually the under!
dog.
Of course there remains the much
talked of Siegfried and Wotan lines,
with their various support systems of
trench defenses. Th» Siegffried lines
represents that portion of the Hinden
burg line between Queant and St.
Quentin. The Hindenburg line, be
tween Queant and Airas, has virtually
been ail taken by the British, so the
Germans now call their present line
of defense north of Queant, the Wotan
line, formerly known as the Dor
«ourt thin line runs to Montigny,
thence west to Annay, and connects
with the trench systems there. All
these lines, however, lack the natural
advantage which the Germans pos
sessed when in command of the ridges.
The enemy has endeavored to offset
this with artificial strength in the
elaborate use of steel and concrete
dugouts, machine gun emplacements
and supports for the covered commun
ication trenches. The victory of Mes
sines ridge, however, wiows that con
crete and steel strong points must
yield to the concentration of artillery
fire which the allies now arc able to
bring to bear upon any given point, j
The allies feel that they have shown
that the German military power can
be crushed, the only question remain
ing being the speed with which this
can be approached. This is where
they say America can help with her
tremendous weight of men and mater
ial and they are looking forward to
this help during the late autumn and
in the spring of 1818, and thus go con
fidently on.
It would seem that a victory must
be gained by a series of powerful
bSu-os such as that delivered at Arras
on Easter Monday and at Mensines
last Thursday. There U little Hope
that modern warefare can ever get
wholly into the open and no one is
deluded by such thought*, for the sitn
pla ruann that a ratraatlng army cm
die faatar than ita opponanta ran ad
vance. Thia U trua cartainly of ana
iaa of nearly equal numerical atrangth
and whara vaat bud iaa of man and
tuna hava to ba movad forward aa
in tJla battla of praaant day maftii
tuda.
Garmany mad* bar (Treat awaap into
Franca whan har opponanta had litlla
with which to atop har. Thoaa rondi
tiona ara changed now and aarh bat
tla ia fought to (ain «ertain definite
poaitiona. Whan thaaa ara takan it
remaina • mat tar for military rnjnael
aa to whether tha fighting ihall pro
raad on that front or whathar naw
blow* ahall ba atruclc elaawhere.
Minor and aubaidiary oparationa, of
courae, may ba in program at aavaral
point* at tha aama tima.
Laat Thursday's battle may he tak
en an typical of the new theory of
warfare. It wan complete in itaelf—
complete in action, complete in iuc
ceaa. General Plummet ■ army which
planned and conducted it, ha* been
congratulated by Field Marshal Haig,
and take* a particular pride in a tri
bute from a very highly placed French
officer, who after studying the plana
and witnessing the «*tlon, said:
"This is a model ofc wnat modern
attacks should be."
The correspondent saw all the bat
tle maps and heard a detailed expoai
tion by the army staff the day before
the battle of Just wha* would be at
tempted and what it was hoped to
accomplish. Several new ideas were
embodied both as to fighting and as to
inner control of operations. Not a
single hitch occurred and it ran be
stated that the ultimate British plans
were attained at minimum coet. Not
Um least of dMM fiMl I# inflict
great lone upon the en em jr. If the
usual computations as to casualties
held good in this battle, the taking uf
more than 7,000 prisoners meant a
total of killed or wounded of four or
five times greater—thirty thousand or
more. One of the most gratifying
features of this latest victory was the
secret of the vast mining operations,
which had been in progress for nearly
two years, some vast stores of explo
sives having been in a firing position
for fully 12 months.
Any further counter-attacks the
Germans may attempt will prove cost
ly for them for the British in wiping
out the Wytshche salient have short
ened their line by at least one-third
in this sector and have therefore a
still greater concentration of artillery
upon the near straight line than upon
the wide, sweeping curve of the old
position.
Many interesting letters have been
captured in the recetn sghting. The
following ia taken from an unposted
letter written by a man of the 4th
German grenadier regiment from the
trenches attacked on Thursday:
"Since April 29 I am tn the trenches
near Ypres, where an offensive is now
taking place. The drumfire has shot
everything to little bits; there is al
most nothing more of the trenches to
see. Up to now 1 have escaped with
my life, but we have had terrible loss
es. Half of my company arc dead or
wounded. It is a terrible life; it will
soon be unbearable. He is best off
whi> gets bullet and need ito longer
knock about.
"The Kriglishman blows everything
to hits he can see. He bombards
everything, lie bombards every dis
trict up to 15 kilometers behind the
front. He has blso blown our kitchen
to pieces, so we don't get any warm
food; only dry stuff."
THE TIME HAS COME.
The time has come—
"When reason primes the rifle,
When honor draws the sword,
And Justice breathes a blessing
On the cause that we uphold."
"We have conscripted our young
men. Shall we lie more tender with
our dollars?"—Secretary McAdoo.
WE ARE ONLY AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE WAX
SacnUry Baker Daclaraa that
"Wh« tha War ia Over tha
Taak at Healing will Bagia,
But Ilia World Won't Ba tha
i'h»p»l Hill, June A.—"We are still
clearing new ground where man may
build a new civilization and tha Unitad
States ia rallad. Ilka Sir Galahad, to
contribute to tha raakina of thaaa
things." Thus Secretary of War Bak
ar visualized the idea that ha wished
to bring to tha students and alumni at
tha University of North Carolina,
gathered for the 122nd annual com
mencement. He had discussed the
xudden approach of America to tha
grand canyon when everything the
nation hid tied to and relied upon
had been daxhed down to destruction,
and asked, In it possible for any civi
lization to exist, and if so, under what
circumstances 7 We hail supposed,
continue*! the secretary, that war had
become civilized, that it was surround
ed by certain conventions and that
nations would observe certain rule*.
The flrst principle waa that treatiea
between neutrals and nation* at war
would be respected; second that non
combatant* would not be destroyed
and that war would be conducted in
accordance with certain rule* agreed
upon among nations.
The new doctrine subscribed to by
the (/enaans that treaties were
mere scraps of paper was a great
shock to nations. Without good faith,
how ran there be peace and justice
and accord? But America only re
covered from Um shock of this to dia
eerver tha**his waa only tho be ginning |
of other encroachments. Belgium was
occupied, her people, prosperous and
happy, made prisoners of war and re
duced to starvation and they would
have starved but for the people of the
United States.
But this nation hod further eviden
ces of the consequences of war. The
crowning infamy of modern times was
the sinking of the Lasitania with the
drowning of women and children.
But more than women and children
sank with the Lusitania. It was car-'
ring the war to non-combatants with
not a chance for their escape and there
will be no peace until the policies I
which are responsible for this are
stamped out. Civilization lies buried
in the hulk of he l.usitania, said Mr.
Baker.
Following this came the slaughter \
of innocent people by missiles from
the skies. Children going about thoir i
usual occupations are killed by bombs j
from the air raiders.
Referring to the extent of the devai:
tation of the country invaded as pos
sible a normal consequence of war, he
declared, however shocking it may be,
there is not a child living today under
five years of age in the great kingdom
of Poland.
secretary Baker attributed the
present war and condition of things to
the mural quality of civilization.
While not specifically placing the
blumex, he thought certain things
should be pointed out.
The foundation of * future civiliza
tion must rest on these: First, that
when nations make treaties, they must
keep them. A man who gives his
word must hold it inviolate. These
treaties must he enforced by an inter
national tribunal; second, a new prin
ciple must lie established in regard to
the foundation of the states themsel
ves. That view or docirine which
holds for the aggrandizement of the
state, the welfare of the state, the
wealth and trade of the state above
that of individuals composing the
state; that thing whkh places the
state *bove the citizen; that holds life
and property must I* sacrificed to!
make the state more powerful, must
l>e stamped out.
The new principle must be accepted
that states exist only tor the benefit of
, I —
the paopla who erect them and who
auatain tha itato. Any form of gov
ernment which mparatas itaalf from
tha paopla ia unaafa; it la on a baaia
or principle which ia intolerato to
mankind.
Returning upariflcally to tha con
flirt, Mr. Barkar gsva uma idaa of
tha numhar of tha paopla uaad and tha
vaat coat and tha magnitude of tha
took. Tha 110,000,000 paopla had to
be divartad fr >m paa»aabln way* and
organiaed for war and thia nation
muat fight aa thay are fighting.
"God forbid that an American aol
diar, avan by accident, should aver
taka the life of a woman or child," ha
declared amid great applauae.
"America." he continued, "muat find
new agencie* for meeting the aitua
tion. Wa muat learn to fly, wa
muat get control of the air for protec
tion of our armiea and we muat con
tinue to hold it.
"But the submarine," he dec-land,
"muit be exterminated, but not intimi
dated," he continued in referring to
fact that America, having; invented it,
muit now undo what file Had done and
■he ia going to solve the problem.
Paying more compliment* to the sub
marina, he said it wan not a weapon of
defense, it wan a cowardly assassin of
the itea, ikunking out of the darkness
to perform its nefarious work.
Without attempting to re-stat* the
reasons for Amcrica entering the war,
Mr. Baker said he especially desired
to emphasize that one of the aim* ia
to suppress the intolerable philosophy
of diplomacy which has existed and to
substitute as a basis for future nego
tiations faith between nations.
In referring to Tuesday's registra
tion «Im» 1MM,#«• j uuiir M Offer
ed their services, |ie ixmsrasted the re
markable ca.<e of the registration and
the response in so hearty a manner by
the young men of America, the loosest
government in the world, to the diffi
culty that Englat I hu<! in i-stablisKing
this principle. He construed this re
sponse of the men to registration
with so little difficulty and in so
-hort a time as a complete answer to
-he charge that a government, to be
effective, must be imperial.
America has now prepared for her
part in clearing the new ground, he
continued, and the war so far has
shown, and he wished to emphasize
these outstanding features: First,
'here had been a singular absence of
frivolity of our people about this war.
Men were not enU-ring from the pure
joy of fighting, but with a determina
tion to fight to the end when the cause
is just. Second, however the war
started, de declared,America had en
tered the war without hope of terri
tory, without claiming indemnities,
withodt selfishness and greed but with
a purpose single to fight for human
rights and for the establishment of a
new civilization. The young men who
have left Chapel Hill and all the Chap
el IIills of our empire are not soldiers
of fortune, _feut are fighting behind a
great idea and the future will have
gioatei benefits for their suriftce*.
As to the war, Mr. Baker thought
we wefe"only at the beginning of this
great effort. "No man can tell how
long it will last. Anyone could be
blindfolded and turned loose in the
vast audience in this house and touch
men who will be on the battle fields
within a year. Some will go, other*
will will stay here. But there is work
for all to do now and after the war
is over." However strenous the cir
cumstances, he urged, "Don't let the
lamps of learning go out." He urged
that students do not bother about con
clusions and arguments about classical
education, but to count every moment
now as a moment oi« guard."Although
you may rtot lie parading with • rifle,
you are on guard.1'
About the present struggle the
speaker stated that before the end of
the war ir>,000,000 to 20,000,000 men
would be killed and the resources of
the nations are being devasted at the
rata of 160,000,000 to»70,000,000 par
day and 10,000 mar) ara killad everyl
day between ranriaa and lonaat. /
"Whan tha war ia over, Lka haallntf
taak will ba|in. But tha world won't
be tha lama."
Government* ara going to ba chang
ad and modifled. Evan our own gov
arnmant ia going to ba changed in
jraya wa don't now know about.
"Thara will ba call' for educated man
and woman whan tha war ia ovar.
Thara ara (till laurel* enough for
•vary hero of war or peace and planty
of ffifta if wa hava ipent our time in
tha preparation of our »oula," he con
cluded.
MEN CRUCIFIED ON BARN
DOORS BY THE GERMANS.
Looks for German Resistance
to B« Overcome in June and
Collapse to Follow.
Melborne, Australia, May 20.—Maj
or General James Gorden Legit*.
chief of the Austrian general staff, who
left Australia in May, 1916, to com
mand the first Australian division at
the Dardenanellea and subsequently
served with distinction oi: the Galli
poll peninsula and in northern France,
said on his recent return here from
the western front:
"I am convinced that the German
resistance will be broken by June
and I hardly think that the war will
last another year. The duration of
the German resistance after the main
line is broken can only be guessed.
Once Germany is beaten on the west
ern front Turkey and Austria will
soon cry enough and collapse like a
house of cards.
Ceiia i at Lsggi sato mat the wea
ther and the mud had all along been
a greater obstacle than the Germans
on the western front and had pro
longed trench fighting.
Speaking of German warfare he
said that while on the western front
"on undoubted evidence" he way
shown barn doors which bore marks
indicating that men had been cruci-,
tied upon the doors with bayonets; j
that he «aw evidences at certain
places that children's brains were j
wantonly dashed out. "Personally",.
he added, "I feel as if I could never j
again have social intercourse with a
German."
General Legge was the organizer
of the Australian universal military
training system. He went on active
service in this war when General
Bridges was killed at Anzac Cove. He
had served in the South African war.
175 MINERS PERISHED IN
BUTTE, MONT., DISASTER
Butte, Mont., June 9 .—All hope
that any of the unaccounted for min
ers, believed to number more than 175,
had escaped from the North Butte
mines in which fire broke out late last
night, was abandoned tonight when
the helmet men penetrated to the "200
foot level of the Peculator mine from
adjoining mines, waded through water
up to their arm pits, encountered
strong gas, and saw many budie*
which they were unable to recover.
Forty dead had been taken out up to
tonight. It is believed that the mine
damage will exceed $1,000,000.
The Granite mouniarn shaft, 3,600
fact deep, was a roaring chimney to
night.
The fire broke out in the lower levels
of the mine, starting from a broken
power cable that carried electricity to
the underground pumps. Lower lev
els of the mine guickly filled with
smoke and gas.
There were 412 on the night shift.
Of these 213 escaped through levels
connecting with other mines. The
gas spread to the Diamond mine and
it is feared it took a further toll of
life in that property.
"We Ho not intend to be drawn at
the chariot wheels at any military au
tocracy."—Secretary McAdoo.
TRAWLERS CHASE THE
GERMAN SUBMARINES.
Storiu of Lively Encounter* is
Tho North Sm An Told by
British Soamon and Othari.
Ijuniion, May 20. Mtoriea not hith
erto publiahed of lively encounter*
Iwtvwn Rntiah trawler* and (••rman
■ulnunnm in the North aea were told
by Robert Lowery ami other* at tha
rerent meeting of the miaaion to na
tional «eamen. One trawler, 2iir Rob
ert naiil, bjcaute aurh a terror to U
boata that four of them lay in wait
and eventually destroyed it- On one
ocraaion, thia trawler armed with two
light guna waa attacked by a subma
rine. One ahot went through* the
derkhouae, another amaahed the wheel
"but the akipper went on ateering
with broken apokea." Another ahot
carried away the cook'a galley but the
trawleri gunner hit the auhmarina
which then hud enough of it and went
under. ' ■ ' ' ' ' ^ ;
Another unarmed trawler saw a
submarine on the North sea and made
a 'lash for it with the result that the
U-boat quickly submerged. "It went
underneath," said Sir Robert, "because
it could not imagine it possible that a
trawler woulc! .lave the courage to at
tack if it were not armed."
Sir Robert related how they learned
of the sinking of two -ubmarines by
ths bodies of the crew floating to the
servace, although five or six days la
ter a report was circulated from Ger
many that the boat ha<l returned to
port.
Admiral Sir Edmund Fremantle
said that much criticism of the navy
was beside the mark. Some things
had r.«t yet b«en discovered and one
was how to catch the big submarine.
But, he said, he did not hear the
scientists abused because he had not
discovered the secrct o. perpetual mo
tion. Ije added:
"We will hope that the submarine
is in a different category and that
with the help of our great ally, Ameri
ca, we may perhaps discover an appro
priate antidote. We :>hall succeed if
not in finding an antitode, in finding
a palliative."
Austrian Emperor Say* He
Favors an Early Peace.
Amsterdam, June 10, via London.—
A Budapest d is pa ton says Emperor
Charles has taken occasion to again
assure the Hungarian people he is in
favor of an early peace as well as
wide reform of the suffrage. On Fri
day an enormous crowd, estimated
at 100,000 persons, marched to the
burgomasters office at Budapest where
Deputy Vasonyi gave the burgomas
ter an address to be delivered to
Premier Esterhazy urging the Men
tion of the secret »<«e and an en
larged fanchise.
The burgomaster presented the ad
dress yesterday. The emperor re
plied that true to his promise he
would see that the suffrage reform
was carried out and would utilize the
first occasion to conclude an honorable
peace.
Britons Seeking Sugar
Supply in own Realm.
London, May 16.—A Committee of
expert* in the industries connected
with sugar throughout the British em
pire has been formed by the Society of
Chemical Industrie*, an influential
body, to inquire into the question of
providing a supply which should ren
der the empire independent of sugar
from foreign sources.
Three Men Shot During Argument
OTer War Draft
Detroit, Mich., June n.—Three men
were shot this afternoon in a saloon
flght resulting from an argument over
the aelective draft. Over 100 men
participated in the struggle which
took place after two men had com*
to blows over the subject. TS» sa
loon was wrecked. All the men In
volved war* XMwigner*.