11.00 Ymt In Advance
VOL. XXI X
FOES RETIREMENT
AT PRESENT END
ENEMY HOPES TO DELAY OR
STOP ADVANCE OF ALLIES
ON OLD BATTLE LINE.
ALLIES FEELING THEIR WAY
Careful Advance Is Being Made
Through Screens of Machine Gun
ners on Fighting Front.
Washington. With the Gorman
army standing today substantially in
the positions it occupied before last
March 21, when its greatest offensive
was launched, it appears certain to of
ficials here that the next few days will
see the plans of the opposing com
manders revealed.
The statement in the official Ger
man communique that "our new
lines" had everywhere been occupied
Is given only one construction here.
Apparently it was intended to mean
that the retirement had come to an
end and that the Germans expected to
stop the allied advance along the old
front. In that event, it was said to
day, the light forces of the French,
British and American armies will
soon reach this defensive position and
x subsequent operations quickly will
show how Marshal Foch proposes to
assail the problem that baffled the
French and British general staffs, the
breaking of this advanced line of de
fefense set up by the enemy on Bel-
gian and French soil.
It was evident from reports that
the allied forces were still feeling their
way forward carefully through the
rear guard screens of machine gun
ners whicTi still cover many portions
of the enemy's present fighting front.
Behind this screen the Germans were
believed to have reoccupied the old
Hindenburg defenses, which probably
have been repaired and supplemented.
SHARP GAINS MADE
IN BRITISH ADVANCE
London. The British in an advance
over a four-mile front between the
Havrlncourt wood and Peiziere have
captured all the German positions on
the high ground between these two
points and won . their old trench posi
tions overlooking Gouzeaucourt, ac
cording to the official communication
from Field Marshal Haig. The Gou
zeacourt wood also is in British hands.
English and New Zealand troops
performed the task and during the
fighting repulsed heavy German counter-attacks.
The text of the statement follows:
"Advanced detachments of English
and New Zealanders attacked and car
ried the German positions on the high
ground between Peiziere and the Hav
rincourt wood. After sharp fighting in
the course of which heavy counter
attacks were repulsed with losses, we
gained the old British trench line
on the ridge overlooking Gouzeacourt
and captured Gouzeaucourt wood.
"On the left of our attack, other
English troops successfully advanced
our line in the eastern portion of the
Havrincourt wood. We captured a
number of prisoners in these opera
tions." AMERICAN TROOPS CROSS
THE VESLE IN FORCE
With the American Army on the
Aisne Front. In the face of the stiff
est machine gun fire since the Amer
icans crossed the Vesle in force, Am
erican infantry advanced at certain
points on a curve line extending from
Glennes to Vieil Arcy.
The advance was preceded by a
heavy artillery bombardment, which
continued all night.
From the plateau the Americans
took up positions in the ravines whichh
drain northward, but the advance was
necessarily cautious owing to the
commanding position of La Petite
Montagne, which is the highest point
In that region. The French and Am
erican artillery bombarded the moun
tain, where the Germans had built
strong emplacements,
GERMAN SUBMARINE
TORPEDOES TRANSPORT
Paris. The American ' transport
Mount Vernoi), formerly the German
steamship Kronprinzessin Cecelie,
which, though torpedoed by a Ger
man submarine off the coast of France
was able to make port, was carrying
wounded and sick soldiers back
the United States.
Senator James H. Lewis, of ChicagJ
111., who was among the passenger
all of whom were saved, is suffed;
from a chill resulting from exposviV
COL CHARLES E. LYDECKER
JT Yhoto by ttmiy.'iij
Col. Charles E. Lydecker, new pres
ident of the National Security league.
Is a practicing lawyer In New York
and a Demoorat In politics, a man of
long military experience and active In
educational work. He was one of the
seven original organizers of the league
and has been prominently active in
preparedness agitation and other mil
itary matters in connection with the
war.
HAIG WIPNG IN THE NORTH
AMERICANS AND FRENCH ARE
DRIVING GERMANS OUT OF
STRONGEST POSITIONS.
Enemy Is Being Severely Punished,
and the End Appears to Be
Not Yet in Sight.
The French and Americans are fast
driving the Germans out of their po
sitions in southern Picardy and in the
section between the Vesle and Aisne
rivers. So rapid has been the prog
ress of the allies the French in Pic
ardy and the Americans and French
from Soissons eastward toward
Rheims that the retirement of the
enemy has the appearance of the be
ginning almost of a rout.
Meanwhile Field Marshal Haig in
the north, from Peronne to Ypres has
been almost as busily engaged with
his troops in carrying out successful
maneuers which are only in slightly
less degree of rapidity forcing the
Germans everywhere to give ground.
Haig's me again b wo made the Ger
mans taste bitter defeat on numerous
sectors and the end of the punish
ment seems for them not yet in sight.
In the latest figaUre in the region
extending from the old Noyon sector
to Soissons the French have reclaim
ed 30 villages from the Germans; have
crossed the Somme canal at several
points and are standing only a short
distance from the important junction
of Ham with its roads leading to St.
Quentin and La Fere.
The French and Americans are hard
after the Germans between the Vesle
river and the Aisne and for more than
eight miles, extending from Conde to
Vil-Arcy, they have driven the enemy
across the Aisne and are standing on
the southern bank of the river. East
ward toward Rheims, almost up to the
gates of the cathedral city, the Ger
man line is falling back northward.
At the anchor points of the line in the
vicinity of Rheims, however,, the Ger
mans seem to be holding, evidently
realizing that a retrograde movement
here would necessitate a straightening
of their line perhaps as far eastward
as Verdun. ,
WATERPOWER BILL HAS BEEN
PASSED BY THE 8ENATE
Washington. The administration
waterpower leasing bill was passed by
the house after leaders had failed in a
second attempt to amend it so as to
carry out the wishes of President Wil
son that a "fair value" instead of the
amount of the "net investment"
should be paid by the federal or mu
nicipal governments in taking over
power plants at the end of the 60-year
lease periods.
NO PRESENT INCREASE TO BE
ALLOWED IN SUGAR RATION
. Washington. Retention of the pres
ent sugar ration of two pounds a
month for each person was announced
he food administration. The cer-
e system by which sugar is al-
dealers was explained. Not-
Widlng the promise of a bounti
Yest the administrators agreed
conservation muat be inten
icarry out the plan of sending
tons instead of 10.000,000 i
as la the nex year. I
FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH."
PLYMOUTH, N. C, FRIDAY, . SEPTEMBER 13, 1918
-
OLD DEFENSE HUE
ADVANCED TROOPS PRESSING
FORWARD AND GAINING
MUCH TERRITORY.
MORETHAN 19,000 PRISONERS
Hostile Attacks Were Largely Local
and Were Easily Repulsed
by the British.
London. Advanced British troops
have entered their old defense sys
tem on the southern battle line, held
prior to the German offensive of last
March, according to the war office
announcement.
The British have gained ground
along the Vermand-Epehy line.
More than 19,000 prisoners were
taken by the British in France in the
first week of September.
The statement says:
"On the southern portion of the bat
tie front our troops have now enter
ed the area of the defense systems
constructed by us prior to the German
March offensive. The enemy is offer
ing increased resistance among these
prepared defenses and sharp fighting j
has taken place today at a number of
points.
"Our advanced troops are pressing
forward and have gained ground in
the direction of Vermand, Hesbecourt
and Epehy.
"Local hostile attacks were repulsed
south of Ploegsteert and east of Wul
verghem. On the remainder of the
British front there is nothing of spe
cial interest to report.
FRENCH REACH FRINGE OF
THE ST. GOBAIN FOREST
Paris. The French troops have cap
tured the village of Mennessis, about
four miles north of Tergnier, and on
the t. Quentin canal. Farther south
they have penetrated to the northern
fringe of the St. Gobain forest up to
the outskirts of the village of Servais,
according to the French communica
tion. The text of the statement reads:
"North of the Oise, the French
troops have captured the village of
Mennessis. and are along the Canal
St. Quentin. South of the Oise the
French have made progress to the
outskirts of Servais.
AMERICAN TROOPS CAPTURE.
THE VILLAGE OF MUSCOURT
Washington. Capture by American
troops of the village of Muscourt with
50 prisoners is announced in General
Pershing's communique, received at
the war department. The statement
follows:
Headquarters of the American Expe
ditionary Forces.
"Section A. South of the Aisne our
troops entered the village of Muscourt
and captured 50 prisoners. Hostile
counter-attacks in this sector were re
pulsed and our line was slightly ad
vanced. Two strong hostile raids in
the Woevre were beaten off, leaving
prisoners in our hands. In Alsace, a
successful raiding party iniflcted loss
es on the enemy.
"Section B. The commander-in-chief
has awarded the distinguished
cross to the following men of the
American expeditionary forces, for
the acts of gallantry set forth after
their names:
"Sergeant Albert Ni Elsea, machine
gun battalion. While acting as ma
chine gun leader near Hilsensirst,
France, July 6, 1918, he was wounded
in the face by a bursting shell but
continued to direct his men until the
attack ended and then insisted on
walking to a dressing station.
"Corporal Clayton N. Moore, band
infantry. During the attack on Hil
sensirst, France, July 6, 1918, while
carrying a wounded soldier through
machine gun fire to shelter, he was
wounded, but by unusual pluck never
theless brought his comrade to safety
and realising the scarcity of stretch
ers, insisted on others being taken to
the rear and walking himself."
PLANS BEING PERFECTED TO
PENSION AND INSURE R. R. MEN
"Plans for the uniform and equita
ble compensation of injured employes j
or the dependents of employes who
may be killed In the service of the ;
railroads, are being considered," said j
an official announcement, "and it is '
hoped that it may also be possible to j
arrange for the retirement of em-;
ployes upon pension at a given age
as well as to provide for their pur
chase of life, health and old age in
surance at reasonable rates. '
SENATOR W. H. KING
SKZ n
Senator W. H. King of Utah, protest
ed vehemently against Senator Lewis'
plan to have printed in the Congres
sional Record a petition asking con
gress and the administration to Insist
on the immediate independence of Ire
land. Mr. King said it was an attempt
to Insult one of our allies.
HUN ARMY IN GREAT DANGER
STRATEGY OF GENERAL FOCH
IMPOSES NECESSITY OF
FURTHER RETIREMENT.
Retreat Is Forced in Soissons-Rheims
Sector; An Action Long
Ago Predicted.
1 The Germans are now giving
giound over the entire 150-mile battle
front from Ypres to Rheims.
Seemingly the question whether the
Germans will be able to hold even
relatively their presen'. line from
Flanders to Champagne is being an
swered. And the answer apparently
is in the negative.
The strategy of General Foch,
which imposed upon the Germans the
necessity of falling back in Flanders,
Artois and Picardy, now likewise is
compelling the enemy to withdraw
from the Vesle river between Soissons
and Rheims, northward toward the
Aisne in order to avert disaster.
Outflanked on all defensive works
along the western part of the battle J
line and in great danger of a turning
movement eastward from the regions
of Noyon and Soissons, the German
high command at last has been forced
to begin the retrograde movement in
the Soissons-Rheims sector which the
military experts long had predicted
would be necessitated through the
successes of the British, French and
American armies.
1,600,000 AMERICAN TROOPS
EMBARKED FOR SERVICE
Washington. -Announcement by
General March, chief of staff, that
more than 1,600,000 American troops
had been embajked for all fronts up
to August 31, furnished a new meas
ure of the forces Marshal Foch has at
his disposal with which to follow up
the victories already won on the
western front.
Included in the American ship
ments are men sent to Italy and Si
beria, the arrival of Major General
Graves, American commander, at
Vladivostok, with nearly 1,400 men of
the forces dispatched direct from the
United States having been announced
by General March. The total number
of men sent elsewhere than to France,
however, is less than 10,000, leaving
more than a million and a half Amer
ican troops available for the use of
the supreme commander in the great
battle.
The size of this American force be
comes increasingly important as the
scope of the new British assault at
the very center of the German line on
the Douai-Cambrai front becomes ap
parent. RECRUITING STATIONS OF
THE ARMY TO BE CLOSED
Washington Voluntary enlistments
for the army except as authorized by
acts of Congress in certain cases have
been ordered discontinued and all re
cruiting stations will be closed as
speedily a3 is practicable. The enlist
ed men serving at such stations will
be sent to the nearest recruit depot to
be physically examined and their
qualification records made out with a
view to their assignment to "appro
priate duty."
1 IPm M
,V t TV M Vj .7.. .". iV. -V.V- , .,'.1
RE
ALL OLD
AMERICANS ARE STILL MAKING
PROGRESS IN THE REGION OF
VILLERS-EN-PRAYERES.
HFAVY DEFEATS ARE INFLICTED
Entire German Line on the North Is
Endangered by the British
Under General Haig.
Paris. The French have occupied
all their old trenches along the whole
of the front to the north of the Aisne
river and also have captured the
towns of Ham and Chauny in the
salient southwest of St. Quentin.
South of the Aisne the American
troops have made further progress in
the region of Villers-En-Prayeres and
Revillon. The French advance east
of the Canal Du Nord at some places
has reached a depth of more than ten
kilometers.
The Germans continue to give
ground before the allied armies over
the 150-mite battle front from Ypres
to Rheims.
Particularly heavy defeats have
been inflicted on them by the French
in the old Noyon salient and by the
French and Americans in the region
between the Vesle and Aisne rivers
east of Soissons.
To the north Field Marshal Haig's
men have pushed their lines eastward
at numerous points into the enemy
held territory for important gains and
daily are increasing the menace
against the entire German line fac
ing them.
NO PROTEST TO BE MADE TO
THE PRESIDENT ON COTTON
Washington. Plans of southern
senators to protest to President Wil
son against the proposal of Chairman
Baruch, of the war industries board,
to have a commission appointed to in
vestigate the feasibility of recom
mending stabilization of cotton prices
were abandoned.
After a meeting of southern sena
tors, Senator Smith, of South Caro
lina, announced that a statement
which was prepared for presentation
to Mr. Baruch would not be made
public at present, but that a confer
ence with Mr. Baruch would be
sought.
STAPLE NOT TO BE TOUCHED
BY FEDERAL PRICE-FIXERS
Atlanta, Ga. There is no occasion
for alarm over the agitation to fix cot
ton prices, according to a telegram
made public by William J. Harris,
from President Wilson. The message
was in reply to one Mr. Harris sent
earlier in the day calling the Presi
dent's attention to the apprehension
of many persons over the situation,
and protesting in the interest of the
farmers against such a- movement.
LOCAL AND DISTRICT DRAFT
BOARDS TO BE ENLARGED
Washington. As an additional step
in speeding up the draft organizations
in the effort to induct into military
service in October men who register,
Provost Marshal General Crowder is
planning to enlarge local and district
boards wherever necessary.
Announcement was made that Gen
eral Crowder had telegraphed draft
executives in all states asking if an
increase would hasten their operation.
Boards already have been authoriz
ed to use additional registrars.
Employers or dependents of regis
tered men who for patriotic reasons
may object to entering a claim for de
ferred classification on the ground of
dependency or occupation, will expe
dite proceedings and prevent injus
tice by making the exemption claims
for the men. it was said at the provost
marshal general's office.
Local boards will find their duties
more complicated if registrants en
titled to exemption do not claim it or
some interested person does not make
the claim in their behalf.
VICTORY WON BY ALLIES
IN REGION OF ARCHANGEL.
London. A British official com
munication dealing with the opera
tions of the allied forces in the region
around Archangel, Russia, says:
"After further servere hand-to-hand
fighting with an enemy force led by
the Germans, the allied troops have
occupied Obozerskaya. Prisoners to
the number of 150 were captured and
heavy losses were inflicted on the
enemy. The allied casualties were
slight."
OCCUPY
GROUND
Sirvgl Copies, 5 Cent.
NO. 6.
GREAT STOCK SHOW
ON DECEMBER 10-12
WILL ECONOMIZE BREEDING OF
IMPROVED AND BETTER
STOCK OF ALL KINDS.
AVERY FASCINATING PROGRAM
Among the Attractions Will Be Sale
of Cattle, Swine, Sheep and Pure
Bred Poultry.
Charlotte. At a recent meeting of
Ae North Carolina Live Stock Asso
ciation it was decided to held the
next meeting in Charlotte, December
10-13. In coming to Charlotte the
livestock association feels that the
conferences will be held in a section
where the question, of better and more
Improved blooded . stock is receiving
proper recognition, and that there will
be considerable interest among the
people in the surrounding sections.
Different from their usual plan, the
association will put on educational
displays around over the city In such
places as the lobbies of the principal
banks, the show spaces in some of the
prominent stores, in warehouses, etc.
.The .regular program, comprising
lectures by some of the most promin
ent livestock men of the state and na
tion will be put on at one of the local
auditoriums. In addition to this,
sales of pure bred beef cattle, dairy
cattle, swine, sheep and poultry will
also be held. The associations com
prising the organization which will
hold this meeting are the North Caro
lina Beef Breeders' and Feeders As
sociation, the State Dairymen's Asso
ciation, North Carolina Swine Grow
ers' Association, the North Carolina
Sheep and Wool Growers' Association,
and the North Carolina Poultry Asso
ciation. The general secretary of
these associations is R. S. Curtis, ani
mal husbandman of the North Caro
lina experiment station at West Ral
eigh. Mr. Curtis will be glad to an
swer any question relative to the
show.
Camp Site Condemned.
Raleigh. The United States district
attorney filed petition in the district
court at Raleigh for the condemna
tion of a large portion of the artillery
camp to be located near Fayetteville,
and other proceedings will follow until
title to the property, containing 120,,
000 acres of land, i3 obtained.
It was learned that the filing of
such petition for condemnation does
not indicate that the land owners are
not co-operating with the government,
but in order to get into immediate
possession of the property, the con
demnation proceeding is necessary
and negotiations will continue be
tween the land owners and the gov
ernment for the purchase of the prop
erty and as fast as purchases are
made the parties will be released
from the proceedings. If prices
are not agreed upon commisioners.
will appraise the property. It seems
to be certain that the camp to be
established in Cumberland and Hoke
counties Is to be of great magnitude
and that the work will be pushed vig--orously.
No Contract Will Hold.
Durham An offer of the Durham
Traction Company "to pay the bond
inte-rest on an amount of the city's
street improvement bonds equal to the
entire cost of paving the space be
tween the rails and sis inches on
either side along the tracks of the
company throughout the city on basis
of one single track; said interest to
be at the rates paid by the city ot
said bonds," was rejected by the board
of aldermen after advice from Attor
ney Jones Fuller, who had been,
engaged as city counsel in this matter.
Mr. Fuller advised the aldermen to
remain fast to their demands that the
traction company pave within the
tracks and 18 inches on each side. He
argued that no previous board had the
right or authority to contract with tae
traction company whereby the com
pany would not be required to pave
its tracks.
Are Now 2nd Lleutena''
Raleigh. Among the rr
pointees as second lie"
Camp Taylor, La., are
North Carolinians: Gw
eron. Southern Pir '1'
hoon, Columbia1
bins, Yadkin'if
Wilson; Will ..
Durham; Fnv
mony; Willi "
' C; Willian-
Ham B. Le
l Canton; R
boro; Da
i
1
t
r i
r