davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Military Comment
By William l.. Mcpherson

ESTERDAY complete the fighting
the Flanders This not The German attacks
the last four been spectacular violence Re-
pulsed completely Wednesday the north side of the s Valley
salient and Thursday ste the been obliged
to reform and to fresh troops
1t taken granted Hndenbug his
where the
south
of the Pass
KENNEL hasn't the look of German artillery planted ON the
Men ridges will Ypres and the
position. Probably ndenburg wait
develop this frontal attack
the Mount KENNEL Baileul line
Ypes nothing the is. If they find the
German becoming they will edy draw out the
the Popernhe railroad line
positions further to the
eliminating his what is hap
penng query speculation to British
numbers the Franco Belgian front Most of this circle Evl
deny Hag Flanders draw the be-
ginning that he short because British
supposed have been
signed time ago the direction Of General Foch
Field Marshal
which should have been at the
the British the north? Ypes only few
British Channel bases is only half day
Lloyd George said
recently that all the losses the British armies the
already made good Had this replacement exhausted
the British reserves?
France March u last
the theory that British strength in France month was
generally represented TO be- Colonel Rpngton
that the British France
and much discreet General
Bluch what had become
missing British Flanders
of all British official statements there must be large
at home German superiority
any point France only result of ku shifting
the offensive The
that they bring about balance Of forces at
point by equally vigorous counter concentrations
a body of Italian whose
another of Allied capacity to meet
the shock of a further German offensive
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Delay in roops' Mail
Is Laid to War Office

WASHINGTON, April 19.-railurc Of
the War Department for military rca-
sons to take the postal authorities in
to their confidence in the movement
OF troops was given by Second Assist
ant Postmaster General Praccor ho-
lore house Investigating committee
to-day, as the reason for dclay in The,
delivery of mail to American sojd;ers
in France. 'o'o'ei
"lf we cannot be given full inform q
ton about the troops the army must
take over the distribution Of mail
after it reaches France" Mr.. Praerer
said i"eser
Mail from the United States IN so,-
diers ods in Europe went at the rate Of
100000 pieces month before re-
striction was placed on parcel most
packages, Mr.. Pracger said. In Decem -.
Der, 10000 letters were found unde-
livered at French station, some nost-
marked in July. P0''
The rapid movement Of troons
aproad' abroad a,v with only the army having
congestion in the delivery Of mail he
said, adding that one division of troons
IN France, for which there was a larro
amount of mail, completely disan-
Peared so far as postal authorities had
knowledge. "No
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20

with full confidence the operations as
whole thus:
"Thc second phase of the grand Of
fenslve is ending with the strateeic
downfall of the Germans. The divers
actions which continue to-day are the
last convulsions of the Battle of Ar
mentieres. or rather its reaction. Thev
cannot be of capital Importance.
"The main thing for our enemies
is not to occupy this or that spot. It
is not to obtain such results that thev
have spent 100000 men. All their M.
tion, all the world, knows that thev
desire to bring about the decision o}
the war. -
49, "This is beyond their reach to-dav
Have they chance of attaining Il
tomorrow? What will they trv? Con- ~
slider the idea which has governed then,
1t is the necessity of finishing the con.
hict,. they have promised to their
people, the crushing Of the enemy in
the west.
"On that point they must now rccou-
nlze their impotence. They desired to
expend their troops and their inyen.
tive genius in the pursuit of deci-
sion. They cannot find this bv
tente is completely ready, thanks to
two recent dccisions~-the brigading of
American troops with tho French and
Lloyd Georges man power plan.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Foe, Failing Now,
Will Strike Again,
Says Gen. Bridges
Germans Already Planning
New Blow, British Conn
mander Asserts

AN ATLANTIC PORT, April 19-If
her present offensive is checked, Ger
many willstart another great thrust in
June, either on some part of the West
ern front or in Italy, said Lieutenant
General Bridges, Of the British army,
who arrived here to-day.
"The recent crisis may be over" said
General Bridges, "but, even if the
present offensive is at standstill, the
Allles must expect series of crises
throughout the fighting season.
Tor decision. Checked in one part,
they will dig themselves in there and
try another spot. The war has become
a question of man-power. The enemy
is striving to knock US out before we
can play our trump card-the Aneri-
can army. The British are ready to
make any sacrifice. Our army can no
longer retreat, and YOU can expect
Haig's army to fight to a finish.
"We can't go back, for the re-
linquishment of Amiens and more of
the British line would create very
awkward position and the Channel
would be seriously menaced"
Giving up Passchendaele Ridge was
not serious thing in General Bridges
opinion. 1t was more important to
the British for an offensive than for
the defensive.
Germany still has an enormous re-
serve of man power to draw upon, he
said. He warned Americans not to ex-
pect anything final from the present
offensive, regardless of whether the
Germans or the Allies win
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Capital Optimistic
Over Battle Situation:
Expects Counter Blozv

WASHINGTON, April 19.-Events on.
the Western battlefront are shaping
themselves, officers here believe, not
only for defeat of the German drive,
put tor counter offensive by General
rooms armies that may open the road
to an Allied military victory.
A wave of optimism to-day swept
over American officials and the military
men Of the Allied missions in Washing
ton. Some of them think it will be
some days yet before General Foch can
complete his troop dispositions for a
great thrust at the enemy, but others
look Tor word that he has struck at anv
time. ''S
The news from the battlefront was
distinctly cheering. The British lines
IN 'ne hard-stricken Flanders field were
holdIng flrmly. French reinforcements
mad arrived there, making practically
certain that the German drive toward
the Channel ports from that direction
has been defeated
AT the same time official announce
ment came from Rome that Italian
troops were already pouring into
France to share in the crucial struprIe
there. This added to the optimism. For
1t means that the fighting men of
france, Italy, Great Britain, America,
Belgium, Portugal and three Russian
o'i'.o are DclHS NlaSSed under one lead
er for mighty blow when the time
comes. '''0
There were many indications to-day
or increased pressure toward getting
American troops overseas in time to
share fully in the battles this summer
upon which may rest the final issue
FROM reports of the battle progress
oiilcers pointed to the appearance of
French reinforcements in the northern
sector of the Flanders line as indicat-
ing more than a defensive measure.
The troops must have faced hard DAYS
'ot marching to reach their post. but
1t was said that had the movement been
only to back up the British lines il
would have been more logical and
quicker to have gone to the south, re-
lievlng British divisions to support
their comrades in Flanders.
Many observers are more inclined to
view the French front from Montdidier
to the south and east as the logical
position from which to launch counter
blows. No one here processes, how
ever, to have been able to fathom Cen
eral Foch's plans
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Anzacs i'm Palestine
Capture l, 100 I szrks
Five Miles of Hedjaz Railroad
Destroyed in Raid by
Australians

OTTAWA, April 9.-Telegraphing
from British headquarters in Palestine.
under date of April IA, Reuters corre-
spondent says:
"Australian troops inflicted most Sc
we're losses on the enemy in the Jordan
area in recent raid into Gilead. They
destroyed five miles of the Hedjaz
railway line and took over 1000 pris-
OnerS.
eve withdrew to the right bank Of
the Jordan, bringing several thousand
refugees desiring British protection.
We maintained, however, bridgehead
on the other side of the Ghoraniyeh
ford.
"On April II the enemy assaulted
the bridgehead at Ghoraniyeh and ad-
v,anccd posts ten miles up the west
bank of the Jordan. The attack was
preceded by violent shelling. as many
as forty shells minute from field and
mountain guns spraying our positions,
pletely tied up.
Another attack was seriously
pushed opposite Ghoraniyeh. The An
zacs, utilizing the excellent cover of
the bank of the Jordan. awaited the
1000 Turks debouching in open order
from the hills against the bridgehead.
The guns moved down the assailants.
who persevered until three hundred
yards distant, when they melted away
under the pitiless rifle and machine
gun fire.
"The following morning 367 bodies
were counted before the lines, despite
the nlght-long burial of the dead by
the Turks. The actual number of
enemy killed was almost thousand.
When the Turks fell back the Aus
tralian cavalry charged to cut off the
retreat, taking hundred prisoners.
besides inflicting numerous casualties
on the enemy. Our losses were insie-
nificant."
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Foes Loss Equals Whole
French Attacking Force

OTTAWA, April 10.-The French, in
their successful attack yesterday on
the west bank Of the Avre, in which
they took 500 prisoners, inflicted on
the Germans "casualtics equivalent to
the entire attacking force of the
French" says Reuters correspondent
at French headquarters in a dispatch
received here tonight.
Asserting that all obJcctivcs were OBJ
tanned IN two hours and that the foe
was. deprived Of several useful points
Of departure for the next drive nast
Hangard toward Amens, the dispatch
says:
"Thc ground gained is about Il mile
in depth on a front Of three miles.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Great Battle May Last
16Weeks, Says Tardieu
Germans VIII Not Break
Through, He Tells Audi
ence at Meetiue

M. Andre Tardieu, High Commis.
sloner of France to the United States.
was the guest yesterday of the New
York Committee of the Fatherless Chill
dren of France Association. at the
home of Mrs. Charles B. Alexander.
West ifty-eighth Street. The meet
ing was held in the ballroom, of Mrs.
Alexander's home, which was crowded
with prominent society women.
After describing some of the work
done by the association in France and
thanking America for the assistance it
has lent in providing for the care of
the French orphans. Commissioner
Tardleu spoke briefly of the present
drive OF the Germans. He declared the
Germans, having failed to break
through in the first two DAYS of the
battle, would never do so now. He
sald he would not be surprised if the
battle lasted fourteen or sixteen weeks
before the final result was obtained.
The Rev. Dr.. Henry van Dyke. for
mer Minister to the Netherlands and
now lieutenant commander in the
United States navy, introduced the
algh Commissioner. Ten cents a day,
Or. van Dyke said, keeps a child in its
home 80 '
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20

back to line few miles north and
northeast Of the city. Since then the
big German guns have been bombarding
the city and its famous cathedral.
The population Of the city until, a
few months ago was less than 10000,
but these persons lived in dugouts or
IN cellars, and the city was virtually
dead
The cathedral was one of the most
magnificent examples of early Gothic
architecture, and was begun in 1912.
Inc west facade has three portals,
which contain about $50 statues. Above
the portals was the gorgeous Rose
window, forty feet in diameter and one
OF the finest specimens of the art of
stained glass construction.
City Victim of German Hate
Up to November 1, 1915, the Ger
mans had fired thousands of shells into
the city, 1000 of which had struck the
cathedral. Since then, whenever the
German troops met with reverses the
enemy guns took up the bombardment
anew Until the latest bombardment
the cathedral mad suffered greatly.
The leaden roofs had been DESTROYED
and the Rose window practically shat
tered
In January, 1917, Emperor William.
IN response to request from Pope
Benedict said he w0uId norm; T. ,o,,o; ~
to be made to the cathedral in his en-
deavor "to preserve from the terrors
OF war venerable places of religious
worship and monuments of art, which r
consider as the common property of
humanity"
The German military authorities have
attempted to excuse the bombardment
OF the cathedral on the ground that il
was being used for military purposes
by the French. This claim has been
denied repeatedly by Archbishop Lucon.
who up until a few weeks ago made
ms nome in the residence beside the
cathedral, unmindful of German hatred
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Dartmouth Man, Flying
In France, ON Missing List

HAVERHILL, Mass, April 19.-Cor-
poral Herman X. Whitmore, an aviator
Of the Lafayette Squadron, missing in
France, is supposed to be n German
prisoner, according to q cablegram re-
ceved at his home here to-day The
message, from a Paris banking house,
said that Corporal Whitmors was last
seen on April G, while on patrol duty
over the German lines.
He was graduate of Dartmouth Col
lege in last years class
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Foch's Hour Has
Not Yet Arrived,
Is Feeling in Paris

tBy Cablo to tho Courier des Etats Unis)
PARIS, April 19.-Thc situation re-
mains very serious in the north and
the losses of territory are regrettable,
military critics here said to-day, but
when a commander throws his troops
into the furnace regardlessly, and
when the attack meets only pure
defensive, it is inevitable that some re-
suits be attained.
AS long as the Germans keep the
initiative, it is agreed, one must ex-
pect them to continue registering their
local successes, but it should not be
forgotten that meantime the Allies
continue to increase their men and ar
tillery on tho line Of battle.
Foch's hour has not arrived, is the
sentiment, but the Allied reserves nrc
ready for use. The French and Brit
ish armies know they have sure
means Of holding the Germans.
Confidence Holds.
The Allied command, says Maurice
Barrcs in "L'Echo de Paris" consider
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Airrnen Raid Rapaume

LONDON, April 19.-The British Off
cial communication dealing with avia-
tion. issued tonight, says:
"The weather made it impossible
Thursday for our airplanes to carry
out more than low Reconnaissance
and to drop few bombs on the battle
area. At night nine tons of bombs
were dropped on Bapaume, Armentieres S
and Warneton and the railway junction
at Chaulnes.
Cali Of our machines returned"
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
French Block Foe
AT Hangard; Rush
Aid to the North
[By The Associated Press


WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
FRANCE, April 10 (Noon) ALL efforts
by the Germans to keep the French
engaged around Hangard- Santerre
and prevent them from sending rein
forcements further north, where the
enemy is launching an attack against
the British lines, have failed. The
French in the course of numerous ell
gagements in this district have great
ly improved their positions and have
not in any way been deceived by the
attempted diversions of the enemy.
The battles in the neighborhood of
Hangard have been of most fierce
description, involving handto-hand
fighting IN the streets and inside
houses. The village itself has changed
hands several times, but now is firmly
held by the French, who, throughout
the most determined onslaughts of the
heroic bravery. The Germans have
dead lying about everywhere. A con-
siderable number of their men also
have been forced to surrender. Since
April II there have been repeated
small attacks by German shock troops.
All were repulsed.
Foes Plan Spoiled.
The French administered sharp set
back yesterday to the German forcas
which since the great push have been
hammcring away relentlessly in an at
tempt to get astride the railroad con-
Meeting Amiens with Clermont. The at
tack was carried out most brilliantly.
1t began at dawn along a front extend
ing about five miles between Themes
and Mailly-Raineval. The result was,
in addition to the capture of several
hundred Germans, the seizure of a
number Of important points which the
enemy had occupied, whence he prob
ably intended to make another forward
bound.
This ground has been the scene of
nearly dozen fierce encounters since
April a. The Germans have thrown at
least fifteen divisions into the fray at
different periods in an obstinate effort
to reach their objective.
Before the French went over the ton
the Germans evidently saw that an
action was brewing. They sent over
poisonous shells, but did little harm.
The French artillery preparation was
most vigorous. Then the infantry went
forward.
Battle in the Mud.
1t was raining slightly, and the
ground was in terrible condition. The
soldiers went over their knees in mud.
but those veterans OF the Sonme were
not dismayed. On the northern flank
they. soon carried the commanding
heights. Meanwhile in the centre an
ether wave OF infantry entered Scnecat
Wood whore numerous machine run
emplacements which defended the an
proaches to Castel were reduced and
cleared up by grenadicrs and rifemen.
The outskirts of Castcl were reached
and the garrison of that town was
menaced.
Further south, other French units
occupied the dominating heights and
advanced toward Anchin Farm, on
the road between Aily-sur-Noye and
Moreuil Everywhere the Germans
offered the stcrnest opposition, but
nothing could stay the French advance
When the fighting calmed down
prisoners we're still coming in. A num-
ber Of machine guns fell into the hands
Of the French. The German casualties
were very heavy
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
German HateL LeavesRheirns
Charred Mass Of Ruins
Beautiful Buildings, Including Famous Cathedral Crumbe
Under Battering of Shells and Flames Make
Destruction Complete

PARIS, April 19.-Rheims, which has
been on fire for week, is now nothing
but a great pile Of smoking ruins.
During the last week the Germans have
fired more than 100000 shells into the
heart of the city, according to the cor
respondent of lie Matin," and flames
from the burning buildings could be
seen by aviators sixty and seventy
miles away.
There are no traces of streets and
thoroughfares, which have disappeared
from view under the accumulation Of
debris. Ancient buildings in the Place
Royale and the market place, and the
Musicians House, which dated from the
sixteenth century, have been reduced
to dust and ashes.
Famous Cathedral Shattered
The vaulting of the famous Rheims
Cathedral, the correspondent says, is
falling stone by stone, and soon there
will be nothing left of the cdihce but
the west front and the pillars. Shells
are still bursting all around the build
ing.
notwithstanding the terrible bonn
bardment, Paris firemen are still in the
city, working to save the furniture and
portable effects of the inhabitants.
Some of them have lost their lives.
With the Paris fremen are some local
firemen, one of whom. Sergeant Eloi,
has been on duty in Rheims since the
outbreak of the war and mas been
wounded fourteen times.
Rheims, before the war city of
more than 100000 souls, has slowly but
none the less surely been falling vic
tim to German hate.
In their first advance in the fall of
1914 the Germans held Rheims for sew
eral days, but the battle of the Marne
stopped their advance, and they fell
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
The Official Statements

LONDON, April 19-Fd Marshal Hcg official reports gOen ou
to-day foloc
hld the neghorhood of Caudescure
north of NdeFvie No infantry action o'owea
moving along the road behind the Ly battlefront.
ing Of KENNEL were successfully repulscd and
this locality during the evening broken by
artillery
activity battle
quietly the whole British
We captured prisoners and machine guns as result OF minor enter
prises different points.
Regiments
been engaged in the unsuccessful attacks delivered by the yesterday
The Gvenhy,
of costly only
limited footing points advanced defences The
the his attacks and his losses the of the days
fighting equally
No Infantry Actions French Front
PARIS, April 19-The official the Office
day folow:
NlGHTThee during of the
opposing artillery
and the bank of the Meuse
op
posing
The number of taken by reached $780, of
Elsewhere the front there
cannonading.
Nothing New to Report Says Berlin
BERLIN, April 19Th official communication issued By
Office today said:
NIGHT.Thee is nothing
failure the French
Of
Flemish
connoitng Belgian
several Strong attacks launched by
~ Mhst @ ~ Rehnne our % infanrv ad ~ brst ist htH ,;
Gveny huung fighting taking place We have taken
artillery activity days
deeply ranked
through the senecat
both sides the ANyMou attacking
times During
the bitter struggle the enemy driven back suffering
Strong artillery firing continued during the night this
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Repeats Anti-Labor Law
Bill Passed by Bundesrath Re-
moves Restriction on Workers

AMSTERDAM, April ia dispatch
from Berlin says the Bundesrath has
adopted a bill abolishing the drastic
anti-labor' law, which provided for the
lnfiiction of Imprisonment for incite.
,ment or inducement by threats or by
ooycottlng to secure better economic
conditions for workingmen.
The dispatch adds that as the
Relchstag. repeatedly and by large
majority had expressed itself in favor
OF the abolition of the anti-labor law
1T is now certain that it will ratify the
decision of the Bundesrath.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Paris Again Shelled
After 48-Hour Lapse
French Counter6re Believed To
Be Cause of Battery's
Long Silence

PARIS, April 19.-The LONG. ran.o
bombardment of Paris was resumed
this evening, after the superguns had
been silent for forty-eight hours
There is reason to believe this Ion.
period of quiet was the result of new
methods Of counterfire by French artil-
lery.
From what has been accomplished. il
is hoped that the activity of the Ger.
man battery at Crcpy-en -Laonnois will
be made much more difficult.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Gen. Belin on War Council
He Succeeds Gen. Weygand
as Representative of France

PARIS, April 19.~Announccmcnt was
made to-day that France henceforth
VIII be represented on the intcr-Allied
Supreme War Council at Versailles bv
General Bclin. He will take the place
Of General Wcygand, who will devote
all his time to his duties as principal
assistant to General Foch.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20

nat the operation is embarrassing to
., lne Germans seems certain. The enemy
mas, on a several mile front in this
sector, massed divisions awaiting the
opportunity to push out toward Amicns.
Inc fronts of three German divisions
were engaged in yesterdays engage
ment"
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20

the ridge section of the north are
picked hill troops, such as Alpini
and Bavarians.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-20

ton, "but, on the contrary, we have
every ground for confidence both in
Picardy and Flanders"
The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-06-14

pressed by Judge Payne that the
short lines operated by through
lines taken over would follow the
through lines and necessarily be OPP
Grated by the government. Short
lines. the stock OF which were con-
trolled by the through lines. the di-
rector general will require the
through lines taken over to continue
to operate. The real discussion was
turned to the short lines, not con-
nected with the trough lines. The
tentative plan suggested by Judge
Payne for the director general was
that these lines should be operated
and their owners given the profits
made from them, except where they
were not valuable for service to the
public, and lines built primarily to
furnish transportation to private
enterprises were expressly to be ex-
cepted. suggested modification
OF this plan to the effect that short
lines taken over by the government
should be guaranteed any profits
they were making during the three
prior years Just as the guarantees