If!tf
.'V
r
1.00 Yew In Advance , -FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH." Single Ooplee, B Cents
VOL. XXI X t PLYMOUTH, N. C.f FEIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1918 NO. 3.
GERMANS GIVEN NO
REST BY ALLIES
GEN. TASKER H. BLISS
NEW LINE OE FOE
IS MADE INSECURE
MAJ. PAUL T. DESSEZ
RAILROAD HELPING
IN SHEEP MEETIHG
ENEK EVACUATES
FORWARD POSITIONS
if-: .1: fc?.,-'3yW?VlzSV
FAMOUS LYS SALIENT IS GRADU
ALLY GIVING WAY UNDER
PRESSURE
HOLDING ALONG THE VESLE
Foe Given No Rest Along the Somme;
Harassed by Franco-Americans
on Vesle and Lorraine.'
Gradually the famous Lys salient In
the region west of Armentieres is giv
ing way under the pressure of the
Brittsh. Again Field Marshal Halg's
forces have compelled the enemy to
seek ground to the eastward where
he will be more secure from the
shells of the big guns that for several
weeks have been firing criss-cross over
the entire salient, working havoo
among the defenders of the insecure
line.
Likewise the Germans are being
given no rest by the Franco-British
forces north and south of the Somme,
and the French and Americana along
the Vesle and Americans in Lorraine,
also are harassing them by artillery
Are and local attacks. Nowhere has
the enemy had the beter of any en
counter. Over a front of four miles between
Baillelu and Vieux Rerquin on the
Lys sector, the British have forced
back the Germans to a depth ranging"
from 1,000 to 2,000 yards, taking in
the maneuver the village of Outter
steen and 400 prisoners.
While, as a whole, the German line
between the Somme and the Oise riv
ers are still holding, notwithstanding
the terrific pounding it is receiving
from the allied guns, the British have
drawn nearer the road leading from
Chaulnes to Roye between Chilly and
Farnsart, placing Roye in greater
jeopardy by attack from the north.
At the same time to the south of Roye,
over the four-mile front between
Beuvraignes and Canny-Surmatz, a
violent artilery duel is raging between
the French and Germans. It is in
this region that the French are en
deavoring and in their initial efforts
they have met with considerable suc
cess to carry forward their two-fold
purpose of outflanking both Roye and
Lassigny by a drive eastward.
Along the Vesle river front, where
the Americans and French are hold
ing the line against the Germans,
there has been considerable recipro
cal artillery shelling.
AMERICAN TROOPS REACH
VLADIVOSTOK FROM MANILA
Valdivostok. The transport carry
ing the first contingent of American
troops arrived here after an unevent
ful voyage of seven and a half days
from Manila. The men were in ex
cellent spirits and crowded the rails
and rigging, cheering and being cheer
ed by the men of the allied warships
In the harbor.
SPIRIT OF AMERICAN FORCES
RAISES MORALE OF ALLIES
New York. The spirit of American
forces overseas has raised the morale
of the allied troops to the highest
pitch, according to Dr. E. W. Buckley,
of St. Paul, Minn., who has just re
turned' from a tour of the western
front.
"The keenest impression of anyone
who has the opportunity to visit the
American front is that our boys have
brought the spirit of victory over
seas with them," Dr. Buckley declar
ed. "They are out to win, the French
know It, the British know it, and what
is more important, the Germans know
It."
COFERENCE ON WAR
PRISONERS PUT OFF
Paris. At the request of the Ger
man government, the Ferman-Ameri-can
conference regarding war prison
era has been postponed, acordig to a
Geeva dispatch, published in the
Echo de Paris.
AMERICANS GAIN MORE
GROUND AT FRAPELLE
With the American Army in Lor
raine. The Americans gained more
ground at Frapelle, despite a total of
2,500 shells dropped by the enemy on
the viKtge, and a raid of the Germans,
which vas repulsed by the American
artillery and automatic rifle fire. In
the Woevre an American patrol had a
lively engagement. One American,,
wounded in nine places, heroically
carried a wounded comrade t
safety. v
Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, American rep.
resentatlv at the supreme war coun
cil, has been given the Grand Cross of
the Order of St. Michael and St
George by the British government.
CAPTURE LASSIGNY RUMORED
HUN FRONT LINE TRENCHES
ARE MADE UNTENABLE
BY THE ALLIES.
Germans Apparently Successful in
Holding Back British and French
From Somme to Oise.
. North and south of the Somme the
Germans have lost further important
ground. In the former region they
have evacuated their positions over
a five-mile front to the British north
of Albert, while in the latter they
have been beaten back in the hill and
wooded district just north of the Oise
river by the French.
German front line trenches at Beaii
mont Hamel, Serre, Puisiexau-Mont
and Bucquoy have been found unten
able by the enemy in the face of the
recent activity by the British all along
the line from Albert to Arra3, while
the French have persevered in their
violent attacks against the Germans
on the sector, which dominates the
lower portion of the Picardy plain
and the Oise valley, f.nd have en
croached further upon the Lassigny
massif and the Thiescourt plateau
and further south have captured the
important town of Ribecourt.
Unofficial reports have announced
the capture of Lassigny by the French
and of all the German positions be
tween the western outskirts of Bray-Sur-Somme
and, Etinehem by the
Australians. There is, however, no
official confirmation of them.
From the Somme to the Oise, except
in the latter region, where the French
have made further gains, the Ger
mans seemingly have had further suc
cess in holding back the allied troops
and still are in possession of Chaul
nes and Roye, upon the capture of
which the efforts of the British and
French have been centered. ,
FREEING REGION BETWEEN
THE OISE AND SOMME
The capture of Ribecourt by the
French marks an important epoch in
the offensive, which has for its imme
diate purpose the freeing of the region
between the Somme and the Oise of
the enemy. As a gain from the strate
gic standpoint it ranks with the tak
ing by the French of the forest and
hill positions between the Matz and the
vOise, which has brought the French
almost to the gates of Lassigny.
Through Ribecourt lies an open route
up the Oise valley to Noyon a route
by rail, and the big national thor
oughfare, not to mention the canal
which parallels the roadways for the
greater part of the way. Noyon is
only a little more than six miles north
east of Ribecourt.
Although they are still encounterin.-j
violent resistance, the French are con
tinuing to make progress through the
wooded and hilly country betweer- the
Matz and the Oise, where the Ger
mans, from recesses in the forests, on
spurs and in the canyons, are using
machine guns innumerable. Gas also
is being loosed in great quantities by
the enemy. Almost entire control ot
the Thiescourt plateau and the other
high ground on this sector is now in
the hands of the French.
31 GERMAN AIRPLANES
ARE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS
London. Twenty-one. German air
planes were brought down and 10
also were driven down out of control
according to an official statement is
sued on aviation operations. Six Brit
ish machines are missing as a result
of the aerial encounters. British and
American air squadrons co-operated in
in attack on an pnemv airdnme and
i&utroyed six machines parked near
JN-ixangars, inflicting as well several
pities.
GERMAS ARE COMPELLED TO
GIVE GROUD DESPITE STRONG
DEFENSE.
ARE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR
French and Canadians Gain Three
Miles Front and Knock at
Door of Roye.
Evidently it is not in the plans of
the entente allies to leave the Ger
mans secure in their possession of the
new line they are now holding in the
region between the Somme and the
Oise. Although the front from the
south of the Somme past Chaulnes
and running through Roye to Noyon
has been studded with, fresh rein
forcements and innumerable guns In
order to keep back the allied troops,
the Germans nevertheless again have
been forced to give ground and at
points where seemingly their defense
soon must crumble and the retreat
eastward be resumed.
French and Canadian troops be
tween Goyencourt and Laucourt, on a
front of about three miles, had
fought their way west of Roye until
they were virtually knocking at the
door of the town which is one of the
keystone positions of the German de
fense in Picardy.
The retirement of the Germans on
parts of the northern front continues
but these manuevers as yet lack defi
nite explanation. Following closely
upon the evacuation of front line po
sitions north of Albert, which were
taken over by the British, has come
another voluntary relinquishment of
trenches in th Lys sector. The vil
lage of Vieux Berquin has been given
up and ground over a front of about
nine milse to a depth of from one to
two miles has been ceded without
fighting.
Along the Vesle river front the
Germans are deluging the posi
tions held by the French and
Americans with shells, ga3 projectiles
and bombs from airplanes, but their
effohts have gone for naught so far
as causing a relinquishment of terri
tory is concerned. The American
aviators are busily engaged in bomb
ing operations behind the German
lines, especilly against the bridges
leading northward across the Aisne
river.
TOTAL GERMAN LOSSES
ESTIMATED AT 6,000,000
Paris. The total German losses
from the beginning of the war to the
end of July, 1918, are understood to be
six million, according to the news
papers. RAILROAD HEAD
WARNS SHIPPERS
Washington. B. L. Winch ell, re
gional director, has issued a drastic
warning to shippers and industries to
beware of waiting upon transportation
until the months of congestions. He
says :
'Every effort should be made to in
duce all classes of shippers, and more
particularly, the industries, to follow
the policy of stocking up during the
remaining months of good weather,
when the flow of transportation is the
easiest and the demands relatively
lighest."
"There is no doubt but that indus
tries in general for economic reasons,
have avoided carrying stocks, relying
upon the railroads to meet their cur
rent needs from day to day, or week
to week, but it is clear that if there
is an explanation made of the great
demands which the carriers will have
to meet during the winter and the
difficulties of transportation that are
likely to occur (not merely because of
the total volume of traffic, but the
preference that must be given to war
requirements), the probable shortage
of equipment, etc., thy .will be willing
to stock up for their own protection."
MPORTANT WOODS ARE
TAKEN BY FRENCH TROOPS
With the British Army in France.
By a brilliant maneuver, the French
have finally captured "Z" wood and
Damery wood. In these two wooded
tracts the Germans have been hold
ing out desperately for several days,
realizing the value of those positions.
The little patches of forest which
are now In the hands of the allies are
virtually on the exertme right of the
British line.
The splendid work of MaJ. Paul T.
Dessez of Washington, a regimental
surgeon with the American army at
the French front, has occasioned a
special story about him from one of
the correspondents In the war rone.
Wounded American and French sol
diers covered the floor of a barn in
which ho was working, and during the
height or his labors he was buried by
shellfire. Digging himself out, he went
right on operating.
ROYE AND NOYON IN PERIL
CONSIDERABLE ACTIVITY PLAY
ED ON PART OF FRENCH AND
AMERICAN FORCES.
Retreat of Foe 'Along Oise Valley
May Cause Entire Enemy Line
to Break in Unison.
Fresh reinforcements and large
numbers of guns have been brought
up by the enemy to aid him in his
endeavors to hold the line, which is
essential to the safety of the German
armies now in the pocket described by
the Somme on the north and east,
and on the Oise on the south.
Notwithstanding the enemy's efforts
however, Chaulnes is receiving a
mighty visitation of shells from the
allied guns, and Roye has ben so en
croached upon that it is now under a
heavy crossfire from both the north
and south, and seemingly both towns
ultimately must be evacuated. An
added danger to Roye is the fact that
the French in their operations are
knocking at the door of Lassigny,
about seven miles to the south, and
also are pressing forward eastward to
ward Noyon in a wedge-drivjig ma
neuver, which not only is outflank
ing Roye, but bringing Noyon daily
nearer the range of the big guns.
Unofficial reports are to the effect
that the Germans, fearing capture in
the pocket between Roye and Oise, al
ready are rereating along the Oise
valley toward Noyon, and jf the state-i,
ments should prove true it is not un
likely that the entire German battle
line to the north will give way in uni
son, and that even there may be a re
adjustment of the enemy front from
Soissons to Rheims.
Far to the north from Ypres to AI
ber tthere has ben considerable ac
tivity on the part of the British and
French forces against the Germans.
The latest German communication as
serts that all the attacks were re
pulsed: On the Vesle river the Germans in
attacks against Fismett, which is held
by the Americans and French are de
clared to have driven the allies to the
southern bnk of the river. A eoutner
ttack, however, resulted in the reoccu
pation of Fismett.
These successes render imposible
any rupture of the line which would
separate the French armies of the
center from those to the east, or a
rupture of the junction between the
French and British. The most dis
astrous consequence to the Germans
aside from the heavy losses they sus
tained in men and material, Is the
collapse of their plan to drive wedges
into the allied lines and the substan
tial widening and joining which have
threatened general dislocation.
AUSTRIANS FIGHT FOR
LEAFLETS FROM THE AIR
Washington. Neutral pr5S3 re
ports that Vienna citizens paid as high
as 40 crowns for leaflets dropped by
i Italian aviators in their recent flight
over the Austrian capi al in giant Ca
proni planes are causing great satis
faction in Rome. An official dispatch
today says Ae cabinet has congratu
lated the air service on the feat. The
aviators reporied that people in the
streets of Vienna fought for posses
sion of the leaflets.
GENERAL INTEREST CENTERS
IN SITUAYlON ON THE PI
CARDY FRONT.
ALBERT IS STRONGLY HELD
Increasing Artilery Activity Continues
Along New Somme Battle
Front.
With the Britsih Army In France.
General interest in the situation along
the Picardy battle front has shifted
to the northward, where it is confirm
ed that the Germans are evacuating
some of their forward positions. Beau-
mont-Hamel, Serre, Bucquoy and
Puisieux-au-Mont have been abandon
ed. British patrols crossed the Ancre
at Authuille and Aveluy, north of
Albert, and went some distance be
for they were fired upon.
Albert is still held strongly by the
Germans. British patrols, on entering
the town, were fired on from the Al
bert cathedral.
It will be remembered that the Ger
man retirement In February, 1917, to
the Hindenburg line was immediate
ly preceded by slight local retire
ments such as have been made north
of Albert. The mystery now is wheth
er some such plan is being carried
out by the enemy.
Along the new Somme battlefront
quiet still continues except for rather
increased artillery activity at several
points.
PLANS VET IN MOTION TO
REGISTER 13,000,000 MEN
Washington. Provost Marshal Gen
eral Crowder announced that plans
already have been made for register
ing the 13,000,000 additional men which
he estimates will be brought under
the selective service law when Con
gress enacts the pending bill extend
ing the age limits to include men be
tween 18 and 45 years. From thig
number approximately 2,000,000 quali
fied for 'full military service are ex
pected to be secured.
So urgent is the need for additional
manpower, General Crowder said,
that the draft machinery is being put
into shape for the great task ahead
without waiting for final action by
Congress. Men of the new draft will
be needed by October 1 and in order
to get them, registration day will have
to be held not later than September
15 and if possible September 5 will be
fixed as the day.
When the 13.000 men are enrolled
nearly $25,000,000 will have been reg
istered since the United States enter
ed the war. There were some 10,000,
000 enrolled on the first registration
day, June 5, 1917, another 600,000 last
June 5, and several hunred thousand
more are expected to be enrolled Aug
ust 25.
2,000,000 IS FIGURE SET
AS PROBABLE IN CLASS 1
On the basis of actual figures from
insurance companies, census compu
tations and theexperience of this of
fice in the previous registration, it
has been estimated that the required
number of men for class one may be
had only by including within the
draft age limits men between 32 and
45 and between IS and 20. That is to
nay, approximately 13,000.000 men
must. hf added tn thp list nf rovlo. I
trants in order that, with all exemp
tions allowed at least 2,000,000 men
will remain in class ont.
DATE OF REGISTRATION
EARLY IN SEPTEMBER
Assurance having. been given that
the legislation will receive immediate
consideration upon the assembling of
the house and of the senate, this of
fice, in its preliminary instructions
set out to draft executives in the
various states, has proceeded on the
assumption that the new registration
might be held earl yin September.
EXPEDITIONARY FORCE HAS
REACHED PUBERESHKAIA
London. The allied Archangel ex
peditionary force has reached Paber
eshkaia, 100 miles south of Archangel,
on the railroad toward Volgoda. Bol
shevik forces, on retiring, are declared
to have committed every form of
atrocity upon the civilian population.
Allied forces have been landed along
the shore of Onega bay, 10 miles
southwest of Archangel, lv: the fur
pose of intercepting bolshevik forces
retiring from Archangel.
THE NDUSTRIAL AGENT OF THE
A. C. L. IS CO-OPERATING
WITH FARM WORKERS.
FOR MORE SHEEP AND WOOL
Sheep Shearing Demonstration It to
Be Pulled Off During Meeting
on September 12.
Raleigh. Mr. G. A. Caldwell, agri
cultural and industrial agent for the
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, was a
visitor at the offices of the experi
ment station and agricultural exten
sion service. Mr. Cardwell is a very
interested co-operator with the agri
cultural workers in the development
of farming conditions la eastern sec
tion of North Carolina, having been
instrumental in having the banks of
the section appropriate funds for
financing livestock and other clubs.
Just now he is interested in the
question of more sheep and wool and
is co-operating with Mr. R. S. Curtis
in making a success of the big sheep
and wool meeting to be held at Wil
mington on September 12.
Mr. Curtis has arranged a compre
hensive exhibit of sheep and wool and
has arranged for a sheep shearing
demonstration by one of the field men.
Great Progress In Drive.
Salisbury. Methodists throughout
the Western North Carolina Confer
ence will be interested in an an
nouncement of the progress that is be
ing made towards the raising of $100,
000 for an endowment fund for the
superannuuated ministers and wid
ows and orphans of ministers in this
conference.
Rev. J. P. Rodgers, who was ap
pointed by the last annual conference
to raise this amount nad who is mak
ing his home and his headquarters in
Salisbury, states that about two-thirds
of the desired amount has already
been pledged and that prospects are
good for the completion of the full
amount by conference time or shortly
thereafter.
J. A. Bell, a layman, of Charlotte,
originated the plan and by his own
efforts raised $16,000 as a starter for
the fund.
Physicians in Trouble.
Raleigh. The State Board of Health
made public the names of seven phy
sicians of Robeson county who have
been convicted during the present
month of violating the State quaranr
tine law. In each of the seven cases
the physician was found guilty of
having failed to report cases of ty
phoid fever as required by the statute.
Among those found guilty of violat
ing the law in Robeson county was a
former membei of the General Assem
bly of the State. The names and ad
dresses are as t'ollows: Dr. N. H. An
drews, Rowland; Dr.- H. H. Hodgin,
Dr. R. D. McMillan, Dr. B. F. McMil
lan, Red Springs; Dr. W. F. Stephens,
Fairmont; Dr. D. S. Currie, Parkton,
and Dr. W. P. fexum, Maxton.
Fayetteville Clean-Up.
Fayetteville. With a representa
tive of.the surgeon general's office In
stiuting the work of cleaning up the
city, morally, members of the United
States Highways Bureau and the State
Highway Commission looking after
the improvement of the roads leading
to the cantonment site, and examiners
from the War Department's land bu
reau advertising for landowners to
come forward with legal description
of their lands, crops and timber for
purposes of valuation, Fayetteville war
camp activities are beginning to take
definite shape.
Reduce Work Hours.
Greensboro. Proximity, White Oak
and Revolution cotton mills and Prox
imity Print Works announced to their
employes that, effective at once, 55
instead of 60 hours will constitute a
week's work and there will be no re
duction in pay. These are the mills
of the Cone family.
Condition of the "Gassed."
Wilmington. Information from the
' Coast Guard Station on Smith's Is-
, land, at the mouth of thef
, river, is that none of f
the gas there recently"
injury and all an
! who suffered at
j derstood to hf
i Pontaii, rV,o
X 7 i L 1 V- 1 1 '
one other,
of the lighy
xxist guar,"
!so suffer
i
i
v.