Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / April 4, 1918, edition 1 / Page 1
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w: n i tt a ah aaw ia i ia AJWito land VOL. 16. NO. 1. KINGS MOUNTAIN, N. 0., THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1918 $1.50 A YEAR IN ADVANCE GENERAL FOCH SOLDIERS TO FRONT PERSHING'S ENTIRE FORCE HAS BEEN GIVEN INTO HAN03 OF GENERAL FOCH. ON THIER WAY TO FRONT Germans Lose Great Numbers in Kill ed and Wounded French and British Make Gaini The Aroi'hi an army In Kmnit Is lo fiKht s'luiililir in xhoiililiT Willi the Hritisli anil K.-i wh troops who now are 1'iiKitKrd in the liliuili- MniKRle Willi the (iiTinuns In I'lrunly. CitMl eral Pprshlngs enilre force has heen given inlo the hand of (iiMH'ral Foch, the new K'"!ienilisnlmo. who Is to use the men whore he desires. More than 100,00 Amerlrsns. Inten sively trained and fully arcoutered. are available or immediate use in aid ing to stem the tide of the German hordes, and large numbers of them on railroad trains and In motor trucks, and even afoot, already are on their way to the battle front, eager to do their part In defeating the Invaders. The miserable weather which hat broken over the country Is proving no deterrent to the Americans as they push forward from all directions to ward the battle lone. The acceptance by France of Gen eral PcrBhing s offer for all American men and material for the present emergency has In effect virtually re sulted in a unified army command, so far as the French army and Amcr can forces are concerned. This is shown by the act that the orders Is sued to the American troops are of French origin. Great activity continued throughout the zone where the American troops a(e quartered, etc., as sent. Even more activity was observed behind the German lines opposite the American front on the,Toul sector. An entire battalion was seen on the march. Infantry at other points was being shifted about, while the cav alry also was seen again. Numerous automobiles of members of the Ger man staff made their appearance be hind the lines. ' . Three American patrols -penetrated the enemy's lines. One 'patrol went In nntil electrically charged barbed wire was encountered. This was cut. Enemy sniping posts took warning and opened Are on the Americans, who were forced to retire. No casualties were suffered. Another patrol Inspected 'German front line trenches, hut did not en counter a single German. The third patrol penetrated the enemy's wire field to a French airplane which fell there last week. The engine of the plane was found to have been re moved. The .enemy gas-shelled the Ameri can batteries without effect. On Way to Front Lines. Washington. The announcement thai American soldiers actually are on their way to the fighting lines to take places beside their hard-pressed Brit. Ish and French allies, sent a thrill throughout the national capital. It was the first positive statement that General Pershing's forces actually are on their way to the battle lines In help tern the tide of the German drive. The American soldiers previously referred to In the official dispatches being In the fl,ghtlng are believed to have been the engineers or other aux iliary troops, Ahich. probably were caught at their; work, as they were a few months avo at Cambral when the Germans suddenly enveloped par ties of Brltish-fbrcea behind their line In a swift turning movement. The sending of General Pershing's fighting troops to places In the British French line has been expected by mil itary experts to follow the creation of a unified command under the French chief of staff, General Foch. and Gen eral Pershing's formal offer of all the available American resources. i i GENERAL FOCH HAS General Foch, the (jret French strategist, hat been placed in supreme command of all the entente allied armies. GERMAN CASUALTIES 400,000 THE BRITISH REGAIN GROUND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SOMME RIVER. KING GEORGE VISITS HEADQUARTERS IN FRANCE London Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters In France, de scribing King George's visit to the front, says: "In the course of an Inspection the king visited an airdrome, where he In spected an American aection, the mem ' bers of which he congratulated upon .their fine.; and .smart appearance, praise which wae well Justified, for a likelier looking set of lada never yet swore to drive Huns out of the air. i u ,1 i -4 ' British Have Repulsed Heavy Attacks and Driven Germans Back Across the Ancre River. The stretch of the great German offensive In France apparently:, is fast diminishing. On the seventh day ol the titanic battle there were strong indications that the enemy was feel ing materially the strain he had un dergone and that his power had been greatly impaired through bard usage. While the town of Albert has been captured from the British and west of Roye the French have been com pelled to give ground In the face of greatly superior numbers, the British hitve repulsed heavy attacks, both north and south of the Somme and also driven hack across the Ancre river the Germans who forded the stream. The fighting still continues of a sanguinary character on all these sectors, but everywhere the British and French are holding the enemy. Especially severe has been the fight ing west of Albert, where the Ger mans, in an endeavor to debouch west ward were repulsed by Field Marshal llaig's men with the heaviest casual ties. All along the 50mn front, from the region of Arras to the south of the Oise. near Noyon, the effects of what was to have been the final stroke to end the war in a victory .'or the Teutons are only to plainly evident in the redcvastatlon of the country side and the wreck and ruin of the towns, villages and hamlets through which the armies have passed. About 25 miles represents the great est point of penetration made at any place by the enemy in his advance, and on the northern and southern ends of the big salient he has left his flanks dangerously open to counter attacks, which. If successful, possibly might result In a retreat greater than the 1916 retrograde movement of von Hlndenburg and nullify in Its entirety the drive that has been accomplished. It Is not Improbable that British and French reserves, and posBlbly Ameri can troops, known to be behind the battle front soon will , be' thrown against the weakened enemy. Notwithstanding the stcrngth of the German drive, nowhere, has the Brit ish or French front, along the latter of wkjlch American troops have given a good account of their ability as fight ers, been even dented. Ground has been given, it Is true, but so skillfully and with such precision of movement that from north to south a surveyor scarcely could have worked 'out a more even line. Still intact in the hands of the allied forces are portions of the old line from which Hlnden burg fell back In his "strategic" re tirement In 19K. . ALL FORCES OPPOSING GERMANY IN FRANCE ARE FIGHTING UN DER SINGLE COMANDER. EARLY "STRIKE-BACK" EXPECTED Germany Claims 70.COO Prisoners and 1,100 Guns Captured Since Drive Began American Forces Offered Foch. The cut. Mile forces npciing Ger many in !-'r;.n ' are. for the first time duniip the war. lighting unilcr the con trol ol a , single commander. General Foch the great French strategist, to whom has tiecn accorded much of the credit fur ihe victory of the Marne in September. 1014, Is generalissimo ri the entente allied armies in France. This report was received in the form of an i nofficial dispatch from London, but In the evening it was officially con firmed by advices to Washington from Paris. Early In the day. President Wilson sent a personal cable message of con gratulation to General Foh and Gen eral Pershing placed at the disposal of the French commander the Ameri can forces now on French soil. Gen eral Foch Is given supreme command over all the men on the battle lines, and. In addition, has a strategic re serve force, the size and location of which' is not known, but which. Judg ing from reports, is very large. After eight days, during which It has swept forward over the rolling hills of Pi.ardy. at times like a tidal wave, the German offensive has slow ed down. Instead of a sweeping ad vance, lis progress has been checked at all but one sector of the front, and there it has been merely creeping for the last two days tills fact even ad mitted by the German war office, which usually -concedes nothing. From Aileux. north of Arras, to Al bert, on the Somme, the British lines have been holding stubbornly and have thrust back the Germans at a number of points. From Albert south to Montdidler. there has been a slow movement to the west, but the hills west of Montdidler are still being held by the French. No ground has been made against the French along the southern side of the salient drlyen inlo the allied lines, while It Is as serted that the French counter at tack from Lassigny to Noyon la still going on. The extreme depth of the German wedge now Is about 37 milet. Soon, If Effective. When this blow. If it comes, will fall, or where. Is as yet sealed in the minds of the men directing the prog ress of military affairs for the alles. but seemingly It must come soon. If it is to be effective. The German ad vance now is converging on Amiens, the railroad center of northern France, which Is known to be the ganglion from which run the main communi cations of the British army In northern France. The railroads from Paris to Amiens was cut by the Germans at Montdidler. but this would not be vital If Amiens itself Is held by the allies. The German thrust In front of Ar ras, while, according to Berlin, It netted thousands of prisoners, has ap parently come to a stop before Orange HHI, Telegraph Hill and the labyrinth, strongholds held by the British in this sector. Repeated mass attacks by Ihe Germans on these points have re sulted in terrible losses to them, with out.' however, breaking the line and causing more than a straightening of the front before Arras. WILL H. HAYS i W sTltl ill ' BIN GERMAN SPIES IN AIRPLANE PLANT RESPONSIBLE FOR PART OF DE LAY IN PROGRAM SAYS NORTH CAROLINA SENATOR. SUBSTITUTED INFERIOR METAL OVER THE LAND OF THE L0NGLEAF PINE illOKT M l I I S OK IM I III 1 10 ltOl INIWS Will H. Hays, the new chairman of the Republican National committee, though only thirty-eight years old, hat developed the natural Indiana gift of politics from the precinct organiza tion through the state chairmanship and right into his present position without a hitch in his record for suc cess aa a political organizer. In tha laat general election as chairman of the Indiana organization he turned what looked like defeat Into a big Re publican victory. He is a lawyer with large practice. AMERICANS ARE IN THE FIGHT MANY WIPE WHEAT OFF HOTEL MENUS Washington. Wheat and' wheat , products were wiped off the menus of several hundred of the country's lead ing hotels In response to a request of the food administration that "every indenendent. every well-to-do person i In the United Slates" should pledge ! complete abstinence from wheat until :lhe next harvest. CLASS OF 1919 TO BE CALLED TO THE COLORS Paris, March 29. Tb,s soldiers of the class of 1919 are to be called to the colors at an early date, which Is to he fixed by the ministry of war. This was decided on by a Ybte of the chamber of deputies this aflerndtm. It Is known that the ministry jot war has decreed that the recruits shall re port April 15. ' The chamber voted 490 to 7 on a law providing that the date INDICATIONS THAT ALLIES ARE READY TO STRIKE BACK AT SOME POI.'JT. Germans Desperate Effort to Widen Salient Defeated. Dent in Allied Line Becoming Wedge Shaped. Point at Albert. After six days of tci-rMf fighting, the German offensive in France is be ginning to show signs of losing Its momentum. The progress of the ene my has materially -i:i kened and the form of tha dent nuicie in the allied line west of ( ambrai has begun to rei.emlile tLe familiar wedge-like sa lient. Instead ci the broad straight for ward movement offensive which car ries all before It. At its apex this wedge has gone be yond Albert, to the south of that place, and is to the westward of the old allied line as It stood a year ago when Vcu Hlndenburg began his 'strategic retreat." From this point the line runs off to the northeast at a gentle angle, with the line to the south running back until It reaches the Olse river. In spite of tremendous exertions and terrible losses, the German ef forts to widen the tip of this sttllent were defeated. The British lines have stood firm to the north ami have forc ed the Germans to turn southward to ward the point of least resistance. Americans Taking Part. Official statements issued at London confirm the report from Berlin that American forces are engaged In the struggle. They are reported as '9ght Ing shoulder to shoulder" with the French and British In the region of Roye, on the southern side cf the salient driven into the allied front. There has been no official report sent to Washington as to the Identity of these troops who are taking part in this greatest battle In blstory. With the slackening of the German pace there come indications that the allies are ready to strike back some where along the front. Just where this blow will be launched will not be known until It is struck, but It may be expected that Its Impact will be terrific. It is known that the al lied war council at Versailles created a great strategic reserve of men to be used in Just the contingency which confronts the armies which have borne the brunt of the fighting since last Thursday morning. This force probably will be launched when and where It is believed it will break the force of the German on slaught and send the enemy reeling back over the desert from which the British have slowly withdrawn. ' Investigation Into Delay Started By Senate Military Committee In Sec ret. 90 Days Behind Schedule. Wii-lt.iiKtun. Ihvestiiitliin into ln iny in tile alrjil.ini' nn.ni.iin was he Klin by tiic vi miin- military t niiiiiiiili'e lii'lillnl closed ilui.rs after Severn! iliiys of ilL-i usMiiti jn the senate whiili ml TUinutci! in l lie assi itiiin by Senator Overman, of Xi rth ('nroliiin. that part of the trouble was due to ;tiii;iii spies In the Curtiss plant whii li as extensive government enntnu ts. Members of the committee were pledged to secrecy and (hanni.m Chamberlain announced that no state ment woaltl be issued until i he Inquiry had been completed. MaJ. Gen. George O Squire, chief signal officer, and Colonel Deeds, of the aviation branch, were the first witnesses called. They remained with the committee nearly four hours. The committee plans to hear MaJ. Gen. J. Franklin Bell, who has Just returned from a visit to the Ameri can front in France. Later Com mander Billgs. of the British flying corps; Colonel WaMnn. or the Ameri can signal corps, and Howard Coffin, chairman of the aircraft board, will be called. Senator Overman furnished Chair man Chamberlain with the names of his informants, so that they can he called. His speech followed charges that Instead of having hy July 1. 12. Ofin airplanes in France or ready for shipment as provided in the original pi;grata. that number would total onlfcv 37 and that the American air plane program was !i0 days behind scehdule. Senator Overman said although he would make no charge against any one employe of the Curtiss concern, there were spies there and were he secretary of war he would comman deer the plant and put In new em ployes. A metallic brace used In the construction of airpiane frames from which a piece of metal had been r moved and lead inserted so as to weaken it. was exhibited by the sena tor as a sample of spies' work. Yhe first machine tested at the plant fell, he said, and on Investiga tion showed that this tampering had been the cause. A delay of two months followed, while government Inspectors went over every airplane part In order to replace parts which spies had weakened. FRENCH MAKE DRIVE INTO GERMAN LINES Slowly assuming the shape of a giant ploughshare, the German drive in Pleardv has come nlmost to a halt 1 ercent ol the verv tin of the salient driven Into the lines of the entente allies. As this area covered by the Teutonic offensive stands now. It runs, on the south. In an almost straight line from Landrirourt. on the old "Hlnden bnrg line." to Montdidler, well behind the allied positions as they stood in 1916. Savage fighting has taken place on the French part of the line. The Ger man attempts to advance on the ex treme tip of the salient driven into the French positions have been fruitless and they have been driven back at the (Point of Ihe bayonet. The British on the front north of the Scarpe auso have repulsed the enemy, but south of this river they have been forced to retire. From Montdidler the line to the northeast runs with a sharp angle to Warvlllers and there It turns north ward and passes along the Somme river to above Albert, where it again turns to the northeast until it Joins Ihe old lines held by the contend ing armies on the morning of March 21. WILSON CONFERS WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS. of the calling of the class be advanced. Washington.The second of the weekly conferences between Presi dent Wilson and heads of executive departments, or special war adminis trations, was held with Secretary Dan iels and Acting Secretary Crowell add ed to the list of officials who partici pated In the conference lest week. The heads of. the war-making branches were calied In by the President to d iacnss -questions of Industrial pro cuction affecting their departments. DEATHS AMONG TROOPS IN AMERICA INCREASED. Washington. Although health con ditions In general among the troops trianlng In this country are describ ed in this week's reports of the divis ion of field sanitation as "very good," deaths among the soldiers Increased from 180 the week before to 223." Pneumonia Increased In tha ( army and regulars, but in the national . .Tuard all .epidemic diseases are de , clipin;. . , ... , . : .,7 Ma l then S Sn-nter. ai ( i.h-i t Mnmit Hive, V C . was aspt: xia: i in a morning hntiM at Ith hnmi.'i .- , result nf hlnwitiK out the ii i retiring. That wan tli' io.wi ifrfi hi'fl hy t'nroiii-r Vh: .' !: ;i! : r mttkiitK .hi htvctlif'ulioi Of inti'M-st (II ol HUUl'.l-u MitTi LJ.ti! h and busings m'ti thrnnlinu- 'rtd Carol inn i the .niiioutu i riMn: Iv S rotary I'.itil I.f'inninl S;.i - ihitt ih- St;iN M-it liiim' Asmu m:nn will hull) its l!!f i oii ii! Jim .it Wrijr.itM ill.- !!. It .June IS IN .mil I'D. I'rul I'. ..allium, nf .'' Ht-'Vin n i rtfiil nl thi' Kurnii'rs ami I'.in.i Worn-i-fl'w Stilt' As iMi.ttloii. is iiiiitwiip.' iali oralf plan !- fur thp tiij: rnm ntii.Ti fLat is lo tii' hi'lii tiy th'' li-rnicrs unii their wives nt State ('nllrp', lialriKli. during thr latter pitrt (1f Auimm. Family IliMr r-fif to h At least this ik i h declaration of I'mit-d States I 'oninti1-Lionel IIukIi S arlett, whn (let ec ted a n effort to liange birth date in the family Hihle of Wil liam Williams, ulnnd, cf Person county. Williams was before the com missioner on a chaise t.f MnlatniR tha selective draft by failinp to register. J. r Ainiisted. Nscal aji'-nt fro tba Empire Steel Company, a North raro Hna cori-omtnn. Is being nought by of ficers of Wake county who have Wfcr rents for hit arrest in arrest and bail proceedings. Ihe waratil being sworn out by perMins who have pur based stock in the corporation on alleged rep resentations Traffic officer J. T liwyer. of the Charlotte police department has in his possesion an adz which was used by hfs grandfather. Thomas K Dwyer. in helping to build the Merrimac near Norfolk, Va . during the war between the states, Mr. Dwyer prizes the old relic very highly, and members cf the police department were recently gven an opportunity to inspect t. The man who invented the sewing michlne achieved vhnt he was after when he stopped trying to Imitate the human bund. If you go Into u factory JOQ will nee machine dointf things whtfh only Inimnn si; HI could do but a host lime ago, but ihe processes nre quite different '.'rom the innnnnl meth od. The Inventors have lisen superior to the formulae that nature ouid to nave laid down for tbttn. After deliberating on the matter the city commissioners of Ashevitle an nounced their decision to close ail the pool rooms and bowling alleys of the city on June 1 hy refusing to ii-sue hew license for the next fiscal year. This action is taken as a war measure, a large number of citizen of the city having appeared before ihe board to ask them to close these places for the reason that they promoted Idleness and crime. The advocates e,f cattle tick in Cra ven county, that is those who are op posed to the dipping vat route to de struction of this peat, have launched thJr offensive u gainst the govern ment's campaign to eradicate the tick by dynamiting four vats. One waa destroyed on the farm of Mr. W. R. Pate about nine miles eaat uf New Bern and the other three were a few miles further west. The dentity of the dynamiters is' unknown. "Out of the tragedy of war there ran come no compensation, but there may come out of it some things that will lift us up and show us that no man loves anything he will, not die for," said Secretary of ihe Navy Jo sephus Haniels in an address before the students of the S:ate College of Agriculture and Engineering He championed the cause of the American youth, vouching for the high purpose, the patriotic spirit, and the zeal of the young men of today, who, he de clared, are "worthy of the men who won the liberties which now hang in the balance." " Th body of Charles Thompson. H year-old son of Mr. and Mrs,. Henry Thompson, of Burlington, after being In the water 73 days, was found just below the dam at Swepsonville. Jan uary 12, the boy. with some compan ions, was walking some planks used for Inspecting under the railroad tres tie at Haw River and he lost his bal ance and fell forty feet to the water below. Efforts are being made to pot to work the 2.000 Interned Germane at Hot Springs.
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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April 4, 1918, edition 1
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