North Carolina Newspapers

t.fC.Ti A: WEATHER. North and South Car olina: Partly cloudy ton'ght and Sunday; probably Ical rains. TODAY'S' HEWS TODAY FULL LEAaD.WIRE SERVICE. VOL. XXIV. No. 81 WILMINGTON. NORTH CAROLINA; SATURDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 30, 1918 PRICE FIVE CENJ S ALLEB FORCES ARE BEING MADE REAM FOR UMER BLQW . ' General Foch's Appointment as Commander Indicates Allied Offensive HEAVY FIGHTING IS NOT SO GENERAL Enemy Attacks Weaken at Many Points Along the Bat tle Front German Wings Are Their Weakest Points The Germans last night renewed their powerful - attacks in the Mont didier region, where their wedge had been pushed furthest toward Paris, and a great battle is raging along a 25 mile front on both sides of the sal ient which has Montdidler at its point. The French backed up by powerful reserves ,are offering a desperate re sistance to the German blow. Apparently the French line has been forced back slightly on the northern edge of this front, as the Paris offi cial report of the battle mentions the town of Moreuil as forming a part of the line here. This place is on the Avre river, about 11 miles southeast of Amiens, and Its occupation by the ' Germans would advance them slightly nearer that allied base. On the southerly side of the sail ent the battle is raging to a point be yond Lassigny, which fies some 14 miles east of Montdidier. There is no indication of any change along this part pf the front. The German assault in this region seems a logical outcome of the strate gic position in which the Teutons find themselves, as their lines virtually in the open all the way back to the Olse, offered an Inviting objective foran al lied counter-blow. It apparently was a case of -attack or be attacker, and they have taken the initiative. To the north, along the British front, the situation is virtually un changed. In general the British line stands" steady in almost the exactly the same position as yesterday. At only one point, just about tyhere the French and British lines join did the Germans make any advance; pushing a short distance up tH? Roye-Amiens road in the direction of the latter place and occupying the village of Mezieres and the hamlet of Maison-Blanche, just to the north. The front was indicated by yester day's official reports as running near these places and the recession, being but a short one, still leaves the enemy advance here approximately 12 miles short of Amiens. Heavy attacks on Demuin, a little further north, were beaten off. To the north of the Som me there was only local fighting. The report that the Germans are digging themselves in between Thiep val and La Boiselle, in the region of Albert, may be significant in view of the general lull in the intensity of the fighting along the northern part of the front. The possibiliy suggests itself that, foiled in their attempt to drive a. wedge between the Frnceh and Brit ish armies or effect a break in the Al lied line, the Germans may be mak ing an attempt to re-establish' their lines on the basis of their present ad vance, either for defensive purposes or as the jumping point for another plunge into Entente territory. The line of reported re-trenchment, however, is only a little more than three, miles in length, and at present the move Is most likely to be judged as a local measure for protection of the town of Albert. The indicated line brings the Ger man front at this point to "just about its position when the first battle of the Somme started in 1916. ' Fighting on the battle front between fhe Scarpe and the Oise having di re inished greatly except between Al bert and Montdidier, Allied forces are being made ready for a counter blow against the Germans whose strength has given numerous indications of waning. General Foch, who played a memorable roll In stopping the first German rush toward Paris and the fhannel ports, has been given com mand of the British, French and American armiesn the present opef ation. Repulsed in an attempt "to widen their salient by pressing back the Northern and Southern wings, the Germans have driven forward in the iipex of their wedge toward Amiens and are now astride the Somme about 12 miles east of that important point. Between the Somme and the Avre the British have retired to a line through Hamel. Marcelcave and Neuve. Just south of Albert, however, the Brit ish hold to the line of the Ancre, which makes a salient Into the Ger man line that may prove dangerous to a further enemy advance. The French have completely chegk- Continued" on Page "Serren), mmm RE WARNED OF GERMANY'S AIMS Viscount Bryce and Lbrd Northcliffe Send Messages to South America THIS GREAT WAR IS ONE OF PRINCIPLE! Germany's Plan is to Make Slaves of Mankind Strug gle Between Liberty and Tryanny London, March 30. Latin-American's vital interest in Germany's plan of aggrandizement and attempt to crush all world democracies is point ed out in-message to the people of all the South American republic by Viscount Bryce, former ambassador tp the United States, and Viscount Northcliffe. "This war," says-Lord Bryce, "is un like any other the world has seen, not only in the vastness of its scale; but n the tremendous Issues involved. It Is ar war of prinfcple; a war waged for liberty against military tyranny; a war to save mankind from being en slaved by one ambitious and aggres sive poweri whose military chiefs have proclaimed that they mean to .dominate Europe, firsthand .$hen th Western wemrspnere mat is-fwnat brought the United States to fight be side the Allies in Europe. "Her war alms are ours, to vindi cate the publicright which German outraged when she invaded Belgium, to re-establish the faith of treaties which Germany has shown she will violate, whenever her advantage re quires it; to secure immunity for non combatants whom the German gov ernment has massacred by thousands on sea and land, and to deliver free dom from the greatest peril that ever has threatened it. "A German victory would vanish republicanism from the world, for the German government rules by force, fear and cruelty. "The men of South America, where -freedom took a new birth a century ago, fellow countrymen of San Mar tin, Bolivar, O'Higgins arid of many another Argentine, Chilean and Uru guayan patriot whose memory is hon ordered today, will surely give their sympathy to those who, in Europe are fighting the battles of democracy and humanity." Lord Norrthcliffe, in his message, said: "Latin-America is as vitally inter ested as North America in Germany's attempt to enslave the world. Latin- America seems out of the danger zone today, but the defeat of France and the British empire would be fol lowed by an attack upon South Amer ica as surely as night follows day. "The German monster already has cast greedy eyes upon your fair young republics of the south. The monster has his agents already among you prepared for action if sucess should attend his efforts to crush Europe and the east. The old tyrannies which America threw off were as nothing to those that are being imposed upon Belgium, Serbia, Poland, Rumania and Russia. "I have np fear that Prussia will succeed in its attempt to dominate the world, but each and every one of us must be watchful and make prep aration which costs little while war costs so much. We Europeans are touched and gratified by the sympa thy that we receive from the free na tions of South America and we know see your sons standing in the trench see your sons standing in th etrench es beside our children and those of the great republic Of the United States." . GERMANS PREPARE FOR ANOTHER BLOW London, March 30. The Germans are still, rushing artillery and reor ganizing their forces, Reuters cor- Lrespondent at British headquarters telegraphs. The slowing down in the battle he says probably is on a lull before another storm of still greater intensity. , The situation on the British sector of the new battle front-this. morning was more satisfactorily from tne ai lied standpoint. The night was com parativfly' quiet, . - - - ATTEMPT ON, ARRAS COST A HEAVY PRICE Desperate Fighting is Report ed on Both Sidep of the Scarpe British Army Headquarters in France, Friday, March 29. The Ger man attempt to force the British back along the Scarpe and capture Arras cost them an enormous price in casu alties, although they used 10 divisions North of the river, the British held I tn their nnsitinna nnrl wavftrpH hut slightly before the enemy onslaught. South of the river, however, the Brit ish retired slightly between Fampoux and Boisleux.. There was hard fighting on both sides of the Scarpe. To the north the most desperate conflict was staged ! about Roeux. The Germans succeeded in forcing the British to withdraw from this place. Nolth of Gavrelle, the enemy tried to push the British back on Bailleul, but were repuised by withering machine gun fire. South of the river the most bitter fighting was about Telegraph Hill, which changed hands several times. Below the Somme British artillery have been doing marvelous work in getting the heavy guns back during the withdrawal. One battery of heav ies was cut off and lost for three days. Although often surrounded, the men worked their way out to the British lines with all the guns. On high ground near Albert there are five machine gunners who are cut off 600 yards in front of their own infantry but who still are doing great execution among the enemy. Tanks also have been doing a small but im- portant Jworkr They "have ben "travel ing in pairs, stemming the advance and taking prisoners. That sector of the long battlefront lying south of the river Somme con tinued today to be the crucial zone of conflict. The Germans, following up their small gains of yesterday in their northwestward drive toward Amiens, were pressing the attack vig orously. They were meeting with the most obstinate resistance on the part of the British defenders, however, and latest reports state there had been little- change in the situation since last night, despite the hard fighting. On the extreme north the enemy had desisted for the moment from their assault against Arras, but there are indications that they are only waiting for fresh troops before renewing their drive. SIBERIA TO HAVE A NEW GOVERNMENT "Shanghai, Tuesday, March 26. Ac cording to the Harbin correspondent of the North China Daily News it has been decided to form a provisional Siberian government ,for the purpose or assuring continuance of the origi nal program of the Russian revolution and of suppressing the Bolshevik troops. It is expected the new gov ernment will ask the assistance of friendly powers in beginning military operations without delay. The city of Ham has again fallen into German hands,' being recaptured in against the British forces. This photo shows the town when the Germans shown reviewing his .troops 'in the Grand Palace-a few days before the . . " ATTACKING;. FRENCH TROOPS. Paris, ; March 30. French troops supported byf reserves are offering desperate resistance to powerful assaults of the enemy, "the War Office annourices. The battle which was resumed! with renewed violence during the night is progressing on a front of 40 kilometres! (about 25 miles) from Moreuilto beyond Lassigny. On the I British Front. London, N&rch 30. -The Ger mans, attacking yesterday at De muin and Mestieresj pressed back the British frftm Mezieres, the War Office announces. The enemyfs attempts to cap ture Demuin- broke down after sharp fighting which lasted throughout the afternoon. Mor4 Satisfactory. British Amy Headquarters in France, Ma0 30. The situation today from Ch Entente viewpoint is reported - more satisfactory. Along the British section of the battlefront last night was compar atively quiet. THE APPOINTMENT Believed Anglo-French-American Counter Offensive is Not Far Off CO-ORDINATION OF ALL ALLIED FORCES Secretary Baker's Visit to Europe May Have Had -Something to Do With the Appointment Washington, March 30. The ap pointment of General Foch, French chief of staff i to supreme command of the, Allied and American forces in France, is regarded here today as the important development . in the situa tion on TIw e1eafeS ofttferat-fohf means the coordination of all the armies opposing the German on slaught. This is a step long urged by American and French army men. Although it was learned President Wilson had been officially . advised of the appointment when he sent a message to General Foch yesterday congratulating him "on his new au thority," there was no explanation at the White House of what the Presi-, dent meant. The United States, how ever, always has advocated the con centration of the military power in France in the hands of one general, and the suggestion was heard that Secretary Baker's recent visit to France and his later trip to England, might be connected with the devel opment. The naming of General Foch went a great way to strengthen the belief that Anglo-French-American offensive is not far off and that the Allied blow is to fall on the French section of the recent fighting front. FAIR NEXT WEEK EXCEPT MONDAY Washington, March 30. With the exception, of cloudy weather Monday, generally fair weather with nearly normal temperatures is forecast for the South Atlantic and East Gulf States during the week beginning to morrow. . OF GENERAL FOCH SUITS WASHINGTON HAM CAPTURED BY GERMANS IN GREAT DRIVE LONDON I WARMLY PRAISES Editorial Comment on Reas suring Factors of the Big Battle ALL ARMIES ARE FULLY CO-OPERATING French Troops and Americans Aiding With All Their Power Fortunate That Baker is There .London, March 30. Alluding to what it considers reassuring factors in the fighting in France, The Times says, editorially: "The whole front of the German at? tack has fallen so heavily upon the British army that we naturally are preoccupied here with the indomi natable resistance disployed by our own regiments. But the British army fortunately does not stand alone More and more as the great battle develops the burden is being shared with us by the French forces which are closing in upon the right of our line. "More and more also does the pros pect of turning a retreat into victory depend upon the speed and spirit with which the fresh divisions of British are able to deliver such coun ter strokes as they began so success fully on Thursday. "Every account testifies to the amazing rapidity with which French troops are pouring into the struggle. This is exactly ' the sort of an emer gency in which their national charac teristics are always most conspicu ous. "And let us add, with full knowl edge of the facts and in view of many misleading rumors, that there never was a moment before in the whole Wt4IBel-rii.,t,ten jq& i -th higher commands and of the general staff was so nearly complete. "The crisis of the past ten days has served only to hasten and to crystallize arrangements for the mu tual support under which Field Mar shal Haig and Sir Henry Wilson are working with General Foch and Gen eral Petain. Also although this fac tor is necessarily of less importance, let us pay tribute to the promptitude and hearty good will with which the American military authorities have met every claim made upon them "It was fortunate ,not merely for the Allies, but for the entire future of American intervention, that the able Secretary of the American War Department, Mr. Baker, should have been in Europe at this moment. : "The United States Army cannot yet, in the nature of things, play that great part in the present emer gency which its officers and men so ardently desire. But we know that everything is being accomplished which can be done at once, whether by expediting reinforcements or by adapting these forces to the present disposition or by suppliyng technical experts. "We know, too, that across the At lantic there is a redoubled determina tion to throw the entire strength of the great republic into the scales. It is well to rememoer at sucn a time that the Allies have these gigan tic resources steadily mobilizing be hind them." the great drive the Teutons launched , held it before. '- Gen. von Flack is French recaptured Ham. Copyright, Underwood & Underwood IMS ALLIED SOLDERS ALL CLOCK TO BE MOVED UP AN HOUR mm THAN IN PAST WEEK Reuter's Correspondent Sends Encouraging Message From the Front Ottawa, March 30. The situation now is clearer than at any time since the beginning of the offensive," says the Reuter correspondent at French headquarters in a message received here last night. "The enemy arrested in mid-course has abandoned marching straight upon objectives and breaking down resistance by overwhelming numbers. He now ia striking at estimated weak spots in order to drive us back as far as possible before he himself is brought to a standstill. Thus, the en emy drive down the Oise Valley is finally arrested.' Attempts to cross the Oise farther north failed and the bridges now are destroyed. 'The village of Pont Leveque be ow Noyon has been re-captured and the enemy driven from the heights above Susey, northwest of Noyon. ' The enemy's capture of Montdidier wasjust too late for him to profit by t, as French forces were able to en gage the Germans to the west and bring the advance to a standstill, thus nullifying their efforts to pierce the junction of the Anglo-French armies. The hinge between the English and French armies will never be broken as the junction now is covered by French forces strong enough to meet all eventualities. "Eighty-seven enemy division have been identified on 50 miles of battle Front, comprising the pick of the Ger man troopps. The French steadily en gaged three guard divisions, the fa mous Brandenburgers and some of the best Bavarian division. Before the offensive, the Germans had 109 di visions in Ilne oh the TJritish front and 76 division in reserve. The enemy therefore, has already engaged more than the whole of the rserves in France in the present battle and has also denuded certain sectors of his troops. To replace the wastage the enemy possesses about 20 divisions and conceivably 40 of interior of material as useful for filling gaps, but not for winning battles." PERSHING'S OFFER OF Tl Newspapers of All Shades of Opinions Reflect Grateful . Appreciation Paris, March 30. General Per shing's sincere and manly words in placing at the disposal of General Foch the entire resources of the American army have gone straight to the heart of the French people who dearly love what the French call fine gesture." The newspapers of all shades of opinion reflect this grateful appreciation, both by the prominence they give the incident and their com ments. Echo De Paris says that France as a whole does grateful hom age to the United States, adding, "to use the language of surgeons, we may say there has been and there is more than ever today a transfusion of blood between the two countries." The Petit Journal says: "General Pershin's act asking so nobly to share in the honors and sac rifices of that battle of nations now in preparation is a solemn warning to the Central empires of the grim resolve of free nations to conquer." "General Pershing's words to Gen eral Foch have in their simplicity a deep warning," says the Figaro. "They bring out the magnitude of the stake at issue. On the events on the Somme hangs not only the fate of England and France, but of civiliza tion and progress for which Germany, victorious, would substitute her coarse methods of human exploita tion." L'Oejivre say: "Certainly the Boches did not fore see such rapid intervention. They will soon have opportunity to judge its growing importance. They shall see these new soldiers, pressing on In serried ranks, impatient to try their virgin weapons. Turning to the east ward, thj3y will see behind them the Japanese trembling with eagerness, ready to spring." End of Cuban Racing Season. Havana, March 3d. Following a suc cessful season of 105 days, the winter meeting of the Cuban-American Joc key Club will come to an end tomor row. The season has been success ful from every viewpoint and has im-M bued the club officials with the- be lief that Havana is .destined tb be come one of the greatest winter rac ing centers in the worldV 00S APPRECATEO HANDS ' 1 Turn the Hands Forward Qnol Hour Before Retiring for ? the Night IFYOUDONTYOU WILL BE BEHIND ' Add, an Hour of Daylight toil the Nation's Effort to W' the War Law Applies tcK Everybody ?M Washington, March 30. Turn hands of your clocks and watcher for ward one hour before retiring tMUghtN uu. aua one nour or aayngnt w ia j.-: nation's effort to win the war! . X Everybody's doing it, and if yon. nXVj j -you will be an hour late to chnreKf!. tomorrow, an hour late to work Mon- j day morning and just one hour behind1 everybdy and everything for the next seven months. I The official timepieces, such as them ciocks of tne Naval Observatory and ! other official agencies by which tlmV is fixed in this country, will not ac tually be advanced to the new "clocfci time" until 2 o'clock tomorrow morn.i ing, but as the average man thtn,; will be losing a precious hour of sleeps without knowing it, the best and Ssur est way is for every one to tura' clocks and watches ahead one - hour i before retiring tonight and,preeed to sleep with the satisfying know!-, edge that by one hour's sacrifice mlK lions of hours of daylight have beeai added to the nation's resources for fighting Germany. Many persons Imagine they will bl. put to confusing inconvenience byj the change. Nothing could be .furrj ther than the truth. After sett'lngri the timepieces ahead one hour, forget i it until next fall yhen on a certain date, everybody will turn, them bick: again and regain the lost hour. i - Ther will be absolutely no chaajii in working hours, railroad ; schedule or in anything else. The clock iM merely going to lie to everybody dnE hour, but everybody has agreed to the deception "and will forget that accord, ing to the sun it really is one houxj earlier than the clock says it is. ;.ri If you expect to take a train don'l fail to set your watch ahead or joxf will miss it. All trains which aral caught between terminals at 2 o'clock' tomorrow morning, when time offlo ially is changed, merely will arrives again they will be on the new time. ' The task of re-setting clocks all over the country will be one of great. magnitude. The telegraph companies. wmch have electrical clocks will And it a mechanical task. Large corpora tions having hundred and thousand of timepieces scattered throuefi thftif plants will find the labor cost of re-! setting clocks fast running into1 money. The government itself has thousands of clocks in nuhH hn'Ttli ings which will keep men working un til dawn tpmorrow re-setting them Despite the fact that davliirht saW ing has been a topic of world discus sion for a long time, has been debat ed on the floors of Congress, andj talked about everywhere, especially? since the war began, there Is still ths( probability that some persons ;will fail to comprehend it. ?y It is too simple to go wrong about Simply turn the clocks and watchej ahead one hour before retiring '.to-i night. Then forget that, you erei changed them and go about "business" as usual." . ' . Caution to the public to mbref clocks ahead an hour to comply with' the law will be left to the newspaJ pers. President Wilson, it was disKfl closed today, had considered Issuing a proclamation putting Into effect th,' time changing measure, but decided not to do so on the suggestion that newspapers would accomplish -thit same tmng more tnorougniy. - . FIFTY-FOUR WOMEN KILLED IN PARIS Paris, March 30. Rescue parties at work in the church which was struck! long range gun nave iouna more doh ies. It is now known that 54 women were killed. , j 1 1 A . An official statement issued In' Fans last mgnt said 75 persons had been killed and 90 Wounded, most ot them women or children, by a shell which fell on a church in the region; of Paris while Good Friday servicer? The shell struck the north side the church, bringing down part of the$ roof. Nearly all the debris fell inwart? upon the heads of the worshippers! 60 feet below. . ..i! In addition to H. StroehUn, couhV sellor of the Swiss legaUon in Parisc wno was miiea, it is reared tnat. nlsi wife also is a victim, although search ers have not yet found her body: ir the debris. Among the injured ar Crnvniaaa frnnrH Vlatramf -Mt1ltia and former Senator Louis Gautteron: J T0MGM- 1 .!. . . 'N . . . : : J- ' -- ..... . 4 c "; v- 1