davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1918-05-05
DRAFT Of BOYS.
SHOW DRAIN.
ONMAN-POWER.
OF THE ENEMY.
ny HILARE BELOC.


BY far the most striking news OF
the week is the Reuter- Telegram from
French official sources saying the
higher command had information of
the appearance at an early stage OF a
full company OF the class of 1920. al
ready in the field after only eight
weeks training. 1t is much the
earliest call OF men yet made since
the war began. These boys, not yet
eighteen, or just that age. are an in
dex to the drain Of the present battle.
The action OF last Monday, April 80.
Is OF great Importance also as an in
deN Of the stage the battle had reach
ed after a lulI Of three days. Thirteen
enemy divisions, OF which eleven are
identified, attacked the French and
British along a front of $50 yards
southwest OF YpTes with the object OF
carrying the remainder Of the line OF
hills OF which KENNEL is the first II
is significant that this attack was met
by the concentration for the first time
since the northern battle began of
more than half as many men on the
defensive side as there were on Tue
offensive. The order was Australians
in the right in low ground south Of
the hills. French in the hills joining
the English near La Clytts. Then Eng
lish divisions on the plain beyond as
far as the region of Ypres itself
The German attack was pressed all
day and completely broken, it's lines
were now here advanced at the close
and in places they were retired. The
loss and disOrganizations were so
heavy that three full days were al
lowed to pass without any further
movement.
Weakening Offensive Significant.
In action OF this type. conducted on
so large a scale, breaking down in the
seventh week Of the offensive is OF
significance.
There is evidence OF the concentra-
tion OF fresh divisions on the front
before Amiens.
Two important actions have marked
the week following my last article.
The first was fought on Wednesday
and Thursday last in the reg: II o.
Nillers-BretOnneUN, in front of
Amiens, and the second, far to the
north, occupied Thursday and Friday
and only came to a standstill IA sat
Urday. while German reserves Were
being brought UP. This may be called
the action or Mt. KENNEL.
OF these two actions the first was
by far the more important. II &C.
cupied a greater number OF the enemy
have had far greater results. Happily
IL failed.
The second. which nad the success
IL aimed at, was nevertn"t" = oNeI
emphasized In the public mini be"ausc
OF the fact that the regiOn where II
took place had become familiar 10
civilian observers OF the war, because
the advance which the -ie-man armies
succeeded in making threatened
another familiar region 1.-THE Ypres
salient, which has no strateg,cal val
ue), and finally because this advance
was in proximity to the sea ard there
fore TO the English coast.
The action at Nillers- RrefnnneuX
followed the lines determined i,y me
nature OF the plateau on which the
village stands, which Is sonc 80 20
$50 feet above the water levels OF he
streams on either side and runs from
the Somme valley in the north TO the
Luce brook TO the south. Across this
plateau and covering Amiens. about
nine miles behind il, lies the Allies
The Washington times., 1918-05-05

line; and in the middle OF IT is the
point OF junction where the French
and British troops meet.
The northern part OF the plateau,
held by the British. has on its edge
the village called Nillers- BretonneuN.
from which the army in occupat iOn
can look down on 10 the lower Somme
valley. Behind Villers- BretOnneux Is
a long woods following for two miles
the edge OF the plateau and having
on its southern border the village OF
Cachy. In the French section you
have. overlooking the Luce brook. the
ruins OF Hangard village. and to the
north OF this, toward the British in
front OF Cachy, the long Hangard
Wood parallel TO the lines.
The enemy attacked all along this
The Washington times., 1918-05-05

corresponding redisposItions OF the
defense have leisure for safe and in
expensive adjustment, then the enemy
advance is OF no effect. But IL at
any moment the advance becomes
rapid II will, even in this subsidiary
sector. be OF great effect, though not
what II would have been had IL taken
place in front OF Amiens.
The Importance of
Comparative Losses.
1t is necessary at this stage in the
great series OF actions along 7the
western front to emphasize the great
Importance Of the comparative losses
OF the contending armies, and the
fact that we are not yet in possession
OF those statistics which alone would
permit us to Judge intelligently OF
those losses
We shall have those statistics be-
fore the end OF the summer. but even
il we did not the events upon the
battlefield alone, apart from such
statistical information. will show MS
which of the two great strategic ef-
forts has succeeded.
The enemy's effort is to exhaust
the reserve power OF the French and
English armies before any consider
able American forces can come into
play. He can only do this by con-
tinuing those violent and expensive
offensive movements on which he has
staked his chances in making his
great gamble, in tho hope that some
one OF them will at last produce so
considerable a result on the field OF
battle that II will lower the numbers
opposed to him suddenly and by
great figure.
Like all spectators. however rash
they may be, but who know their bus
mess, he watches his hand carefully:
he does not allow himself to he drawn
too far into operations which have
proved too expensive OF execution in
the lives or his men. He makes his
attempts against the allied forces now
here and now there, choosing the
point and determining the weight OF
his blow with the single idea that
some one such blow will in the long
run give him the considerable effect
he desires.
Conversely, the defensive in this SUI
preme duel or civilization against bar
The Washington times., 1918-05-05

against the French. must have been
about eleven, OF which eight were
Identified from prisoners taken by
| the allied forces.
The Taking of
Mount KENNEL
In the battle on the north for Mt.
/ KENNEL nine German divisions were
used. being taken from the German
Fourth Army that OF General Won
! Arnim-with the object OF capturing
this mound OF ground. the first OF the
somewhat isolated hills which stretch
IN chain westward across the plain
OF Flanders. II is a point giving eX-
cellent observation over all the region
to the north, including the neighbor-
hoods OF PoperinEhe and Ypres. The
hill was too difficult TO take by
frontal assault, and tho action there
fore developed. as had been expected
ever since the loss or McsSincs Ridge,
along the two valleys to the east and
west OF It. with the object OF turning
the summit
\ village to the northeast OF the
hill gives II name 10 KENNEL. A vii
lage on the southwest bears the name
OF Dranoutre. The enemy fought his
way along during the whole OF Thurs
base OF the hill: he passed Dranoutre
by about 5000 yards and reached and
held the village OF KENNEL At this
point the summit was surrounded by
sort Of horseshoe
Orders had been given for the
French division occupying the summiS
TO hold on till the last not because
there was any hope Of holding the hill.
which was now obviously doomed. but
presumably in order TO give time so
that necessary disposition could be
taken in the rear. This French division
hung on until the last, and its sur
YlvOrs were captured
The action continued during the
whole OF Friday. the German line
reaching the village OF Locre and
La Clytte. the crossroads 81 Vier-
STRAIT and the village nf St. EIoi
outside of NpTcs. On Saturday Locre
was retakcn by the French, but
heavy pressure was continued along
the whole line during the period in
which the German command was
bringing up the new forces. which
were used in the tremendous and
futile assault on Monday.
May Compel Npres Evacuation.
II Is clea- that the German ad-
vance here seriously threatens the
Npres salient and may compel its
evacuation. What is less fully I'M
derstOUd outside Of military circles
is that this salient in itself has no
strategic value. Any advantage
which the enemy might gain in com
polling the evacuation Of Il would
depend upon the rapidity with which
he could enforce the British retire.
ment and the corresponding con-
fusion which he might impose upon
the British armies
On the other hand. the capture OF
the whole OF that line OF hills Of
which KENNEL is the first would have
the serious consequence that il would
compel a general withdrawal along
the coast. uncover Dunir and involve
a very rapid and difficult readjust-
ment OF the large forces now in that
region. II is to create such condi-
tons that the enemy IL now acting at
a very great expense OF life in his at
attacks in this continuation OF the |
I.ys battle. His success or failure
VIII depend not upon the fact OF his /.
advance, but entirely upon its speed. /
II It's pace be curbed and his cor
responding expense in men be en-
forced and emphasized, and II the !
The Washington times., 1918-05-05
The Plans of Two
Opponents in Strategy.

Now and again the defensive suf-
fers similar and unexpected loss
through the use OF an insufficient
containing force, through surprise,
or through the unexpected break
down OF some particular section OF
its line.
But, over and above these details,
reign the master plans of the two
possibly say yet which OF the two
has so far made its points in the
deadly game or which OF the two Is
advancing the more rapidly toward
its goal. It does not follow that
the defensive is being beaten because
II loses ground. nor that the offensive
Is being beaten because II loses a
larger proportion OF men, so long as
that proportion OF men or the proper
ton of ground is kept within the limits
assigned to II, and so long as IL
Achieves its end before the exhaus-
tion Of reserves or the limit Of safe
retirement comes.
What We have to watch I'm all that
is TO follow Is not so much the slow
encrouchments OF the Germans, as
shown upon the map, as the large and
rapid changes OF disposition OF their
armies which may be forced upon the
allies: such large and rapid changes OF
disposition being always dispropor-
tiOnately expensive both in morale
and numbers. And what we have to
follow in estimating the success OF
the defense is not its power to retain
this or that place without retirement,
The Washington times., 1918-05-05

barism watches its hand with equal
care. holds the .enemy,s offeHsives
with the very smallest number pos
sible. REINFORCED only when some vi
tai point is in danger. and is deter
mined so far as 10 possible to main
tain his balance Of fresh troops.
Now and again the offensive gets
let into quite a disprOpOrtionate loss
OF men through some miscalculation
on its part. as. for example. during
the great attack on April 4. when the
Germans threw away men wholesale,
but without result. in the belief that
they could force line which had, as a
matter OF fact, been consolidated in
front OF them.
The Washington times., 1918-05-05

ond is, as yet. invisible. But those
are the two great elements in the play
and we must never forget them in the
more vivid though inferior interest Of
narficular acIinns =
The Washington times., 1918-05-05

but its power to drain the strength
from the attacking force. Cnfortu-
nately. the first OF these two elements
Is far easier to gauge than the sec
ond. The first is visible and the sec.
The Washington times., 1918-05-05

line at $50 on the morning OF
"Wednesday, April -. attempting two
maneUvers. The first was TO drive the
British out OF ViIIers- BretOnneaux and
so reach the edge Of TIE plateau and
have observation over the Somme val
ley and down to -Amiens. The second
was to turn the French left at its
I junction with the British twhile at
the same time h" was attacking the
| French directly from the 'front.', 80
! to push up the Avrc valley and ma G
the French abandon their part OF the
plateau.
1 In the second Of these tasks
against the Frenchl the Germans
| failed. In the first against the
! British) he succeeded during the
course OF the first fifteen hours Of
I the battle. but his advance was nail
ed down again in the remaining if-
! teen hours. lie first attacked against
, the British with the seventy
! reserve division. recently come from
| the Russian front. and with the
/ Fourth division OF the Prussian Guard
which had already appeared twice in
| the battle since the Germans launch
ed their offensive on March 81, but
which had been Withdrawn and re-
cruited, and was returned to the line
after a fortnight's rest.
The attack was launched from
about a thousand yards or So in front
or to the east OF Nillcrs BrcionneuN.
along the great high road go NmienS.
which here traycrseS the pLlteau
During the course Of the morning
two more German divisions were put
in, and portions OF two others ap-
pesred before evening. The village Of
Nillers- BretOnneauX was carried, the
Germans reached the edge or the
plateau, and on their left. penetrated
far beyond the original British lines
to Cachy, using tanks for the first
time in this operation.
Movement Fails
OF Final Success.
BY the extension OF their move
ment to Cachy. the French left at
HanEard Wood. which had itself sue
cessfully resisted the German as
sauIts. was left Uncovered. the French
lost the eastern part OF the wood, and
also lost for the fourth time the viii
lage OF Hangard. south Of it-for this
village had changed hands eight times
from French to German and back
again. and the fighting here for a
month has nuctuated over a belt OF
less than one thousand yards In
width.
In the course Of the night reserves
were put in by the British command,
part OF them Austria lians. and these
drove the enemy out OF VilIers- Bre -.
tonneuX and re-established the line
4 point OF great Importance was thus
saved. In the meanwhile new British
tanks appeared from Cachy and par
TALLY restored the line there also, but
not sufficiently to permit the French
to advance eastward Of Hangard
Wood.
The Germans claim in their first
blow against both the French and
British total OF 1000 prisoners and
four guns. and the British at the end
OF their counter attack counted 300
prisoners. The action was over by
noon on Thursday. and has been sue
ceeded by no further Infantry move
ment in this region. but only by vio-
lent mutual bombardments. The total
number OF German divisions occupied
from first 10 last during this affair. !
counting from the SOmme on the
north to the extreme eft OF the Ger
mans attempted running movement
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-11-21
INTERhED IN HOLLAND
Former German Crown Prince Is
Alive and Well.
Returning Soldiers Aid in Creating
State of Anarchy in Austria
and Germany.

Washington, Nov. 16.-The state de.
partment has received reports that
the situation in Austria-Hungary and
Germany approximates a state of
anarchy on o of the conduct
of returning soldiers released from the
fighting lines.
Official information reached the
State department through neutral
sources that the former crown prince
has arrived in Holland and has been
interned. The State departments ad-
ices were from The Hague.
These advices, which are regard.
ed as definitely disposing of reports
that the former crown prince had been
killed, also said the former empress
expected shortly to join her hus-
band and sol in Holland.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-11-21
WOMEN SEND OUT APPEAL
Declare German People Have Been
STARVING for Years.

Declare German People Have Been
Starving for Years.
Washington, Nov. 16.-Appeals ad,
dressed to Mrs. Woodrow Wilson and
Miss Jane Adams of Chicago, on be-
half of the of Germany, ask
ing that the armistice terms be mod
flied, to prevent ~,"unspeakable disas-
ter" have been sent from the Ger
man wireless station 1t Nauen.
They were picked up by the mill
tary intelligence radio at Haulton,
Me-, and were made public by the
War department.
The appeal to Mrs. Wilson said "the
women and children of Germany have
been starving for years." and that they
will die from hunger by the millions
unless the terms of the armistice are
changed so that sufficient rolling stock
will be made available for moving
food from the farms.
The appeal was dated Berlin and
signed Gertrude Baeumer and Alice
Soloman for the National Council of
Women of Germany"
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-11-21
Work for Returned soIdler..

Chicago. Nov. 16.-With the pur.
pose OF providing employment for
every soldier returning from the war,
chairmen OF the Sc exemption boards
In Chicago met to discuss plans. A
check OF the various industries was
outlined and 1t will be determined how
many OF the men In uniform can drop
back into their old places whar de.
mobilization ONE Chicago Is pre-,
pared to launch a series of improve.
ments that will cost'in the aggregate
100000, 900 and will provide employ.
ment for $4,000 men.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-11-21
WANT GUILTY PUNISHED
Demands That Men Who Started
War Be Brought to Justice.
American Defense Society and French
Deputies Ask Trial of Those
Responsible.

New York, Nov. 16.-The following
telegram has been SEM to President
Wilson by the executive committee of
the American Defense society:
The American Defense Society
earnestly recommends that the United
States government shall present at the
peace conference the request that no
terms of peace shall be assented to
which shall not include the trial, and,
IL found guilty. the punishment of all
persons who may have committed any
criminal acts outside OF the laws Of
war, regardless of rank"
Deputies Ask Action.
Paris, Nov. 16.-Three deputies
have served notice of their intention
to that the Allied governments
open legal proceedings against those
responsible for the war through estab-
lishment of a tribunal composed of
representatives Of all the countries
which have suffered from the machin-
ations of these men.
They declared In a memorandum
that even II Holland should refuse
extradition. "the fact that the kaiser,
the crown prince and their advisers
had been condemned by such a tri-
bunal would place them in such a posi-
ton that their only refuge would be
DEATH"
France has plunged into the task of
reconstruction and rehabilitation.
The Oldest classes probably will be
the first to be mustered out. Next
Will come the farmers. miners and
men of similar qualifications for much
needed labor and those whose old jobs
are waiting for them.
The ministry Of labor is working on
a scheme for jobs for the jobiess and
will start up peace time enterprises.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-11-21
Fatal Accident on transport.

New York. Nov. 16.-One man was
killed and several members Of the
crew were badly scalded when a big
steam pipe In the hold OF the u. s.
transport Louisville. moored al Pier
81 in North river. blew up. The police
could give no details of the explosion
or the names OF the dead and injured,
The Louisville vas formerly the
steamship St. Louis of the American
line. Several months ago a similar
explosion occurred aboard this ship,
which resulted in injury to six mem.
bers Of the crew.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-11-21
Secretary Lansing Replies to
Appeal for an Early
Peace Conference.
MUST ADDRESS ALLIES
Secretary Of State Calls Attention Of
German Government That Its
Wishes Should Be Sent
to Other Powers.

Washington. Nov. 16.-Secretary of
State Lansing states hat he has ac-
knowledged receipt of the message of
DIR. Solf asking for a Fastening of the
peace convention, in view Of threat
ened famine In Germany, and had re-
quested that the Germans not confne
their appeals to the United tSates
alone, but address them also to the
Allied governments.
Foe Pleads for Haste.
Berlin, Nov. 16.-The new German
government has sent a message to
President Wilson appealing to him,
''in order to save the German people
from %perishlng by starvation and an
archy," to send pienipotentiaries as
quickly as possible to The Hague or
some other city.
Fall 10 Publish Allied Food Pledge.
Copenhagen, Nov. 1.-THE Politik-
en- here quoted Colonel Wade as say
ing I'm an interview that the Germans
In publishing the terms OF the armis-
tice omitted six or seven articles, in
Guiding that relating to the Allies pro-
viding food II necessary.
Belgian Capital Awaits Liberators.
Client. Nov. l6.-There Is no organ
feed authority yet in Brussels. but
with comparative calm and dignity the
Belgian capital awaits the coming of
the armies OF liberation.
Three delegates from the "repub-
lie OF Hamburg" arrived at Brussels.
Standing on a balcony the military
commander OF the city addressed a
crowd OF 5000 soldiers and civilians.
Three million Germans have been
killed during the war" he said.
THAT is sufficient; let US have peace"
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-11-21
Rail Conference Called.

London, Nov. Accommodation
have been addressed to the German
authorities giving directions for deie-
gates. in conformity with the armis-
tice conditions, to present themselves
to delegates Of the king of the Bel
gians ct Bruges ON Nov. Is, and also
to the president OF the Inter-Allied
commission CO RAILWAYS Il the field
and the president Of the Inter-Allied
commission of navigation on Nov. 16
at Nancy. to receive instructions re-
garding the question of railways, nav
igation and telegraphs.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-11-21

Washington, Nov. 16.-Resolutions
adopted by the National Association
of State Railway and Utility Com.
missioners in annual session here.
suggest action by President Wilson
or the director general of railroads
to recognize consideration of legisla.
ton on the interstate rates and serv-
ice and advise consideration Of legis-
lation on tho future status of rail-
roads, Before adoption OF the reso-
luton q clause was eliminated de-
claring that federal control OF rail
roads should al soon
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-11-21
Sentiment Against Throne Is
Growing as Revolutionary
Feeling Develops.
DUTCH PEOPLE UNEASY
Public Pulse Is Being 0uickened by
Presence In Holland of Former
German Emperor and Many
Of His Supporters.

Washington, Nov. 16.-News reach.
ing here from official sources indicates
that conditions in Holland are caus.
ing anxiety and hat the presence
there of the former German emperor,
with members of his family and some
OF his strongest supporters, may so
infiame the people as to endanger the
monarchy. 1t Is suggested that the
Bolsheyist may see in the presence
OF the former ruler of Germany an
excuse to precipitate an uprising
against the queen.
Austria-Huneary to Be Republic.
Berne, Nov. 16. - A wireless dis
patch from Budapest says Count Es-
terhazy, Count Szechenyi, Count
Deseffy and Baron WASHES have re-
turned from Eckartsac castle, where
they conferred with former Emperor
Charles. The latter, they declared,
has decided to all participa-
tion in Austria and Hungarian affairs.
The Hungarian national council and
the two chambers of parliament, the
the wireless message adds, will meet
to proclaim a republic, dissolve the
two chambers aud elect Count Kar-
olyi governor of Hungary. 1t is also
planned to proclaim universal, secret
and equal suffrage for both men and
women.
The message adds hat all these res
olutions will become effective irmedi-
ately and that tomorrow will be made
a holiday, enabling the population to
celebrate the event.
Finnish Tyrant Dead.
Copenhagen, Nov. 16.-Major Gen.
eral Zyn, formerly governor general
OF Finland, has been taken from a
hospital at Kronstadt and either
drowned or shot. according to a Hell
singfors dispatch to the Berling
Tidende.
Another King Missing.
Amsterdam, Nov. 16.-The where
aboats OF Ludwig III, former king of
Bavaria, Is unknown, according to a
dispatch from Munich. The Frank
fort Gazette announces that the Ba-
varian government has adopted an
eight-hour working day in all state
departments.
Poles Disarm Germans.
Polish troops have taken possession
OF German general headquarters in
Poland and are disarming the Ger
man troops, diplomats cabled from
Berne stated.
General Pilsuski is temporarily ad-
ministering martial law, but the re-
gency council, in a manifesto to the
Polish people. says authority will be
RENTED to the diet as soon as 1t can
be assembled.