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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance, 1917-08-09, Page 7HUGE BRITISH PREPARATIONS WERE UNSEEN BY THE HUNS Haig Poured In Enormous Forces of Men and Guns For His Drive, With Foe In Bark, Welsh Regiment Administers Crushing Defeat to 'User's Pet Battalion. British Front In France and non glum, Cable. --(By the Associated teess)-Weish troops yesterday addee it new man' to their crown, for it fell Lo one of tlacir regiments to adminis- ter a crushing defeat, in General liaig's great offensive, on the Third Battalion of Infantry Guards, which Was lemperor 'William's crack body of troops, The terrain in this new battle gone presented tremendous difficulty for the attackingarmies. Between Ininnucle Rnd the point where the Ypres-Comines canal crosses the lines en the lower part of the Ypres salient, two great forces had beau imbedded for three years, and this portion of the line has canto to be looked upon as impregnable for either Wile, The present battlefield, between Duxintule and Lizerne. was "no enapes land," within whose borders lay 'marshes and morasses, which in win- ter months are impassable. This for- midable natural barrier was rendered still stronger by the inundation of large areas by the release of waters from the canals. The Germans and Al- lies alike, seeking bits of dry land for a footing, swung so far apart in some places that tlie distance between the lines was ne-arly three miles. BeloW this section, opposing lines followed either bank of the Yser can - 'al, and then went on tho Ypres sans ene, face to face, but with the Ger- mans holding the dominating high land about the salient. The Dixmude- Lizerue section ot the front is a wild- erness of partly inundated and de- serted farms. dotted with pools of brackish water. and cut into strange shapes by drainage ditches. There are but few remaining civilian habitations Iii this "no taan's land," crumbling cottage weals and an occasional roof- less church rose above the flats. Neither side feared a surprise attack or a trench raid. Since Duke Al- brecht's Wurttemberg troops were swallowed up in the flood let loose by opening up the sluice gates in Octo- ber, 1914, the enemy had not tried to cross•the marshes. nor had they tried to get over the Yser since the Bel- gians, in the .spring of 1915, after san- guinary fighting, flung them back across the bridgehead, at Lizerne. THE YPRES SALIENT. Tito Ypree salient itself furnished as 'nasty a problem as could bo pre- sented to an attacking party, The country here is saucer-shaped, and the Gernaans bad held the lip to this saueer. All the lower lying land with- in this dish had thus been ,dominated by the enemy, who could pour a steam of shell and machine gun fire into the troops and supply columns advaucIng 1 mese the 8alient, The situation was rendered still more difficult by the presence witnie the ismer of a large number of waterways, that must be crossed by tueane of bridges which might at any Moment be eestroyed by gunfire, This difficulty, however, wa,s overcome by a brilliant feat of the British en- gineers, who threw seventeen mridges across the waterways for the advane• Ing troops 11 the face of terrific gun - Bite Similar and equally remarkable work was done by tiae French engin- eers. who were forced to bridge the Yser for the attack. The Germans little feared, appar- ently, that the battle would turn in the direction of their right wing. le was early in June that rumors of the impending attack began to find their way to German ears. and were voiced in Berlin. Gradually the rumors ea- sumed certainty, and the Germans begau feverishly to strengthen their tines, pouring large numbers of fresh forms into Flanders and bringing up all available guns. The surrounding country was evacuated by civilians and stripped for the conflict. " The Germans knew they faced an offoneive. They were unable with all their cunning to gather more than a fragmentary idea of the story of these preparations, which is in itself a mar- vellous One. Day after day the building of new armies eontinued under cover of a unioue concealment in pTaTes. HUNS SAW NOTHING, Enormous numbers of great guns made their way to selected positions, and were mounted on concrete founda- tions laid long before. • Million$ of shells, which are ao-day turning the German front into an inferno of death and destruction were brought tie and stored, while the enemy watched with unseeing eye. Long lines of dreaded tanks took the road, and the living monsters crawled blumsily but pereist- ently northward, to take their place in the Allied battle formation, Clearing stations were established at vantage points, and everything pes- sible was done to care for the streem of wounded which was sure te result. All this and much more went on for weeks before the offensive was launched. The Germans were like a man who waits with tense mueeles in the dark for the attack of an unseen foe knowing the onslaught must come, ignorant of the moment or nature of it. Thoroughness of perparation is one of the striking characteristics of the British methods, and it is safe to say that there is no one man but had re- hearsed the part .he was no play in the opening stage of the great conflict. RUSS POLITICS IN NEW SHAPE Educated Classes are Unit- ing Against Socialists, Whom The Blame for Mili- tary Disasters. •••11.••••• 'MY/00W. _ Petrograd Cable - The political erisis, which is still unsolved, is tak- ing a rim form, owing to the growing tendency of the country to divide ate two sbarply-defined, opposing camps. In the first camp aro the educated, es- pecially• the •landed and industrial, classes, led by members of the Duma, and Ivioscow manufacturers, while the second is composed of Socialists of all shades of opinion. The opposition beeween the moder- ate Socialists and the Bolsheviki group, which reached its height during the July revolt, is declining, as a re- sult of a fear by both canape that the Duma's industrial movement alma at a- reactiOnare counter -involution, The chief evidence of this division of. the unoflicial session of the Duma, at which the Moderate Progressive party combined with the old reactionaries, led by Vladimir M. Purishkevich, Vice - President. of the Union of True Rus- sians, is attacks on the Socialist and the Socialistic policy of the Cabinet, as influeneed by the Councils of Work- men's and Soldiers' arid Peasants' Dee. egaten Paul M. Milukoff sharply assailed the Com:mile for trying to dictate to the non -Socialist members of the Cab- inet in the manner in 'which they al- ready dictate to the Socialist members. A sensational speech was made by a Member of the Pregiessive party, M. lelaslennikoff, whe ascribed the mili- tary disasters and internal anarchy as due wholly to the Socialists, tie re- referred to the Socialists as "a frewd of tette fanatics, adventurers and train ors, 'ten° call ehenaselves the Emelt- tive C01111011 et the Workmen's and Sdidierie DWI -ties." M. Mitslennikoft declared that the ittienealtme could sft'VO RUSsitt, but that to do eo it must mese sitting in a cether, attain of its ?evil, shadow. and Meet in regular session, and demend that the Ministers appear bear° it, autl render an atcount ot their stew- ardship. The Constitutional Democrat, Melt- ols Leta, also declared that the Dime must act boldly. Against this idea the official organ Of the Cottnells of Workmen's and Sol- diers' alid Peasants' Deputies rakes tbe cry that the nutna aims at a Min- ter-revolutiot, In this other organs of the party of the left agree, The Tien tienerte that Um aim of the Dinnit le to re teen -Melt a ileepollien in the intereet of pr011erie. Particularly lands ed property. N'ovaje, V.111811. ;Macke the Du= Ineetifig as having been a giant con- npirany against freedom. It declare:4 that as after the ,Tuly revolt, when eitieene enact appenled to 10 uutinropt1 111., eefiapiefiefee 14111 it;t1 (1 ter fiCht 11.1. Melte wielubere of ter latme. At yesterday's session of the Duma all the speakers repudiated the accusa- tion that their aim is a counter- revolution. They asserted that the Councils- and the Government, under the influence ef the Councils, would ruin Russia irretrievably, and that the Duma's only aim was to present sates ruin, MAXIMALIST ARRESTED. London Cable -A 'despatch from Vetrograd to Reuter's Limited an- nounces that the military authorities at Kiev have arrested Ensign Kry- lenito. a member ot the central execu- tive committee of the Council of Work- men's and Soldiers' Delegates, on a charge of circulating Maximalist pro- paganda in the eleventh army. SEES ALLIES WEAK. German Paper Gets Sun. shine From Cuctimbers. Berlin, via, Lon•don Cable -The North German Gazette sees in British interest in the fulfillment of French war aims an indication of a precari- ous condition of the Entente Allied cause, It says: "A notable indication of the precari- ous condition of the Entente Allies is found in England's sturdy champion- ing of French lust for Alsace-Lorraine, and English iaterest in the fulfillment of French wishes. . "A perusal of the text of 13aIrour's speech, as it has cobae to hand, would seem to indicate that tins interest is only valid, if, as he assumes, the war will end favorably for England, So long as the Entente prospered, the French war fervor required no stimu- lant, England appeared wholly uncon- cerned regarding French war alms. Now that France is revealing signs of exhaustion,.England is endeavoring to save this ally by revivifying its am - rice. In keeping with her unsetupttloue politics, England hopes to continne to benefit from dismeraliered continental Europe. Stich polities, however, will suffer shipwreck on. the rocks of the free German Empire, which did not provoke the war, in contrast to the En- tente nations fighting for coneuest and enslavement." t M. THOMAS TO (MT? French Cabinet Trouble Over Socialist Conference, London, Cable.—The Daily News, which favors the Stockholm International Socialist conference, learns that if Abe Preneh government refuses to issue pass- ports for the Preach delegates, Albert Themes members of the War Council, vitt withdraw front the Ministry, and Wench Socialists •will cease to have any ccuiteetion with the government. The 'Lathy N'ev.s. maintains that if tile Coll. 11,111/rf, is held gie British goverimient, notwil Int 0 ittlitiu, On. cfril..111PD1 inade 113' kieirea Dinar Law cheneenoe et tee Ini,.teneter, in ti'.' !town of nommen:I 1 e fateaday, eill Le (*impelled to grant pateporto. It further declares that the opinion of moderate Conservatives* US wcring towarde a tolerant attitude Ali- i.arding the conference ..1.4.441,..-..A.}...0 Willr ii! '"fl. tilt V, onintimos. 11 'LloeS not rt 'n ;wont tt,11,t,1 with Vt.ititi fit . Len tame. 4a,ERMAIT WAR 'TIM," 1.00.••••••.......1,1•4•• Mr, Word of Great Drives All From the Censor, inopcubagen. Caniceenlerrnan 110\VS- papers of Thursday Morniug contain tio details ef importune() on the battle in Flanders beyond the official reports. German war correspondents are as yet observinn, tee battle from a safe dis- tance near Charleville, beveral nun. tired kilometree behind the front, end endeavor to give the news front the scanty material supplied by the mita tary censor, That the correspondents observed instructions is evidenced lu an the uewspapers by the heading "Special from the Front," and all state that the German artillery was able to hold its owu with the Anglo-French in the preliminary bombardment. All of the accounts eraphesize the malts char- acter of the British and French attacks. and all claim the preliminary victore, explaining, however, that the heavy fighting has not ended and may con- tinue for weeks. A semi-official survey of the Flan- ders battle supplied by the German genera,' staff through the eAtolfnBureau mention e that Bittchoote three timee changed hands, the French eventualle retaining the village at nightfall, but that the German lines gripped the vil- lage north and 'east, The British according te the survey, delivered the main thrust before Ypres, and, suc- ceeded in dapturiug Langeniarck, In addition to other places Mentioned by Field Marshal Haig, but were unable to hold Langernarck and $t, Julien in the face of a German counter-attack, and were repulsed. The reports seeks to give the bnpression that tally the immediate front line trench in any case was lost, and carefully avoids any mention or the depth of the Entente gain. FINLAND'S MOVE MEANS TROUBLE Russ Government Declares Course is Illegal. Independence Law Floitted, Landtag Dissolved. atetrograw Cable -(Delayed)-The Provisional Government has refused to acknowledge Finland's independence law, and has, instead, issued a mani- festo dissolving the Landtag and ap- pointing a general election on Oct. lst, deelaring that the Government when the Landtag meets will submit its own law regulating Russo-Finnish rela- tions. The manifesto, which is signed by all ten Ministers, expounds the Peo- visional Government's contention that Finland enjoys independence only within the limits defined by her con- stitution, the esseutial factor ef which is the position of the Emperor and Grand Duke, which has now passed to the Provisional Gov•ernment. The in• dependence law, the manifesto saes, not being submitted for the sanction of the provisional Government as the authority invested wit lithe former Grand Duke's right oasanction, is un- constitutional, and it further declares that the Government cannot "reeog• nize the Finnish Landtag's right arbi- trarily to seize the freedom of will of the coming constituent assembly." . The fate of Finland, can be decided. Only in a.greeinent with the Russian people, the manifesto declares. The Minister for Finland took the manifesto to Helsingfors and delivered It to Governor-General Stakovich, wlio read it to the Senate, after which he made a friendly speech, in which ne said: "This manifesto is the most demo- cratic action yet performed by the re- volutionary Government, for it makes Finland's people master of their own destiny." The Landtag is expected to decide its coursn of action to -night. The Soci- ist majority threatens todefy the manifesto and continue in *session, while the non -Socialists expect to obey It. It is stated that the mem.bers of the High. Court have telegraphed to Helsingfors declaring that they would refuse to administer any future Land - tag enactments passed under an un- constitutional -independence law, TEUTONS RETAKE CZEliNOWITZ CITY !Berlin Cable, via London.-Czer- nowitz, the capital of Bukowina, hae been captured by the Teuton forces, according to the official etatement ifse eued to -day by the German general staff, 1.•••••••••••11. Czernowitz haft been the scene of some of the most bitter fighting of the war, and the Bukowina capital has changed from Teuton to Russian nands altogether ten times. Czernewitz was first captured by the Runelane from the Auetro-Hun- garlans on Sept. 4, 1914, only to be evacuated a few weeks later. In No- vember of that year the Ruenians again. oteupied the city, and held it until February, 1915. In the following Month the linesians again returned to the attack, and after a, terrific bat- tle sterraed the Capital and drove the Austrians out, This time the Ett881aft8 held the position. for only two weeks. TW:CO th ;leeway, 1916, the tapital of the 'Crown Land changed hands, aud In June ot that year It Was again sale aired by the Demeans and held with the preeent time, Czernowitz le eittiated on a hill eolith of the River Pruth, ahd le about 140 ranee southeeet of LeMberg, the tapital of Galicia. Before the war 11 had ,a population Of about 70,009. A WARNINO POR 13011DeN. .Moutreal Cable -A warning at Sir Rebut Borden to remember the deaths of Nere and Robespierre, before ex- posing bithself to the punishinent of those who da not leach to tbe call of liberty, was lewd by Dr. in, Mew - PICT atan antletnineeleptiou meeting nit 1.11, not lime ntreet lest nghl, Die elerelee lead the Canadian people :Mould be alleweil to govern Their own destinies by a referenduln and general telecti(m. When iloMe men benen of being the newillteetif rif their fortune:3. WP hi" thPY 1111r,ri1O.t1CA tit f1taIt3ing 111111tflttrq BRITISH FLIERS 1 AUSTRIA, A8 1VIEDIATOU 010 GREAT WORK 1 Strange Ny'ord_s_. by.. Teuton Foreign, minister, IN BIG ADVANCE In Worst Weather, They Gave Magnificent Help to the Troops. ONE HEROS DAY Touched Ground in Enemy Drome, and Caused Ter- rible Havoc. (By R. T. Small, Start Correspondent of the Associated Press). British Headquarters in Franco and Belgium Cable -The work done by the British air service in Tuesday's offensive has not been surpassed in efficiency and spectacular features. since the war began, More unfavor- able. weather for aerial operations could hardly have been selected, Al dawn, when the infantry advance be- gan the whole country was blanketed by thick, low-lying clouds, Despite the tremendous disadvan- tages nuge squadrons of British planes led the adeance into the enemy terri- tory, field not only maintained con- stant contact with their infantry, but flying at such a low altitude that they often were only a few feet from the ground, they carried on a destructive warfare of their own with their ma- chine guns. Many fights occurred between the rival pilots, but the Teutons were completely outclassed, both IA numbers and in skill, and were forced to retire at most points, after losing six machines. Tho majority of these air battles were at a height of 200 feet or loss, and in at least one instance the two eposing pilots battled to within fifty feet of the ground, at Which height the 'German side -slipped and crashed to the earth. The British planes were under con- stant and heavy fire, particularly from rifles and ma.cleine guns, owing to the low altitude at which they were flying, but through all this hur- ricane of lead and steel all but three time back .safely. These are reported missing and there is no indication ot what befell thein. ONE MAN'S HEROISM. Wonderful heroism was displayed by the British airmen, who performed remarkable deeds. One typical in- stance will show the nature of the im- portant work carried out: A British aviator crossed the Ypres salient just as the infantry attack began eat dawn. For a time he patrolled the roads and canals, now and then running the gauntlet of the enemy fire at a Might of 30 feet in order to secure informa- tion for the guidance of the infantry In their advance. During this patrol work he came to a German aero- drome. Owing to the early hour, only one enemy was stirring outside the shed. and he paused in his ablutions only long enough to satisfy himself that the plane above him was one of hie own. The British airman circled low and dropped a bomb squarely on one of the sheds. This brought numbers of Germans tumbling in a panic from the buildings. He turned his machine gun on them, and, circling about the field, bombed two other sheds, with dime- trous effect. All the time he kept up a steady stream of machine-gun fire at the Germans, a number of whom were killed or wounded. The Teutons finally got a machine gun into action agaiaet liha but he dived and at 20 feet :stamped it with his own gun. Having put tide gun out of action, he circled the field, firing with his machine gun through the doors of buildings at the huddled ene- my within. .At one time his machine actually toadied the e-reuntl. Leaving the aerodrome the British aviator attacked two German mount- ed officers and put them to flight. A little later he encountered a column of 200 troops and swept along the Hue with his machine gun working stead- ily. The entire colunm was dispersed and fled by devious ways to cover, leaving numbers of their comrades lying in the road. Two German battleplanes appeared on the econe, and the Briton engaged them both, sending one to earth and putting the other to flight. pur- sued the fleeing plane, but it was soon lost in the clouds. ACCOUNTED FOR MANY MORE. In the meantime a large body of German soldiers had gathered around Jut maebine which had been brought down. The British flying man came sweeping back from the mists in which he had hidden, and accounted Lor several of their number with his machine gun. His next objective was it troop train. He traveled along its entire length, pumping bullets into the crowded cars, This completes the story of one aviator's fights for the day, but he later did valuable scout- ing week over the enemy lines. , Numerous instanceare related of pilots charging the anti-aircraft gun. ners and machine gun operators at a height of 30 or 40 feet and silencing the guns. Pistol duels benevetut the British aviators and the German in- fantry were not uncommon occurren- ces. In one instance a young aviator, in a burst of chivalry, deliberately Stopped his mechine gun when a Ger- man officer drew his pistol and be - shooting at him, and engaged the enemy with his pistol ,aPperently feel- ing that he had no right to take an untair adeantage ot his opponeat, The aviator'; pistol was sufficieut, hole - ever. • $ ,HONORS POE 'HINDY.' ' Gets Cross and Star of House of Hohenzollern. 1n 1011. paitit to Itetiter's cent:Jilts the rettriull,1 :4,1140. Enitioror \VII - Jinni 10 li'n111 Morolial von rtimictiIntru 'if II. a ot illy leave trry (tear fleet mareene nt the eceeeenlon lee third F,•51' iif of nil waro, ill witit.11 you ittecsmittly and with brit - Rant stratt gv mei net havn doffed- ftiO iminsori tAutt,rior fotc(1!, ond Piquet"( filo way for our orioles to victory, to 1.10ite88 ,tonnw to you my IttextutustIble thanks. T 'scot itt., to.o::!.r..atut Way tit 111,' 11101 trrifIJITT'01 ;1::.:t.P11"1'41 "r II" 11W Ir.1.2. II $, t‘t.:(.4 roles , tk'ogott gefs:tCsitt ii°111 'A scull -Official Vienna tleaPatell man that Daunt eizernin, the Austro. Hungarian Foreign Minister, read with great pleaeUre certaiu etateMents of Lord Robert Cecil, einneter of Block- ade, in the House of Comment:1, wield he iuterpreted as meaning that Eng. land does not regard Austria as a real enema. From this the deduetiOn Is anvil that there are no real obstacles to peace negotiations between, Vienna and London. ie n(nloni "rsage IttlaS that COunt Czernin would be willing to act as a mediator between Berlin and London, and that he bas noted that in France. as well as in Eugland, there is no direct hostility to Austria," * • e =Alen)) IN sTOCKHOLE. Pate Pireman On Warship Are Liable to Nest, The soldiers who fight with least recognition in the battles at sea are the stokers of the destroyers running at full speed, Eight men work under the command of a stoker petty officer Ip a space so narrow that movement of. any kind seems impossible. There is a furnace in front and one in the back. Sandwiched in between is a maze of levers, pipes, Minnie and gear - Yet within these close quarters the stokers tind space to perform their heartbreaking toil in an atmosphere almost too hot to breathe, says the Popular Science Monthly. When the men are at their posts the iron hatch is closed down, and the air sucked in through a ventilator has to pass through the furnace before it gets to thane. So long as the pumps work well and the evaporated water is displaced with automatic regularity by fresh neither the tubes nor the boiler' casting can gat dangerously hot. But sometimes without apparent cause the water slow- ly descends below the level. Sotne- times the cause of mischief is it leak- age -a pipe broken or a joint strained that allows the water to escape. • If it can be remedied, well and good. But if not the water continues to drop steadily the stoker petty officer has but one dutyto perform -to keep the hatchway from being opened by the frenzied stokers, thus allowing the flame e to escape and destroy the entire vessel. The heroes who perish In the stokeholds like so many rate caught in a fiery trap are not even • * listed. FRENCH TROOPS WON IN MISTS Seized and Held Every Hun Post Assigned Them, Though Fog Blinded Thei Observers. With the French Armies in Flan- ders, Special Cable Says A.n infantry battle in mists has fol- lowed upon the most sustained and most intense bombardment yet deliv- ered during the war, stretching from the coast to the North Sea to beyond Ypres. French foot soldiers. "went over" this morning along a front 01 about 3,000 yards and succeeded in taking and holding German positions from a point near the famous Ferry- man's house, which acquired bloody renown at tne end of 1914, almost ta Boesinghe, to a depth ranging from 2,000 to 2,600 yards. The thick mists' overlying the abso- lutely flat country prevented observ- ers .from watching the progress of the Cightipg. Even the airmen were com- pelled to desist from this futile task. When the airmen ascended at an early hour to follow the advance they found thick etlocks of fog hanging at an altitude of 100 yards and could not even see their comrades in the air. News brought back from advanced infantry unite, however, told of a victory, despite obstinate 'resistance. All the objectives set for attainment of the French troops were ranidly gained. How many prisoners were taken cannot be ascertained at the present moment. The troops found tbe ground :wberever they advaneed terribly churned by shells. The deep craters had immediately filled with water, owing to the land being below the sea level, and in many instances the craters were joined together, forming a string of miniature canals, which were difficult of negotiation. Nevertheless, the Frenchmen.: oveit came these obstaelestemd also ex- tensive fields of barbed wire, amid an awful barrage fire and showers of machine-gun bullets. The Ger- Mans had occupied for three years the eastera bank of the Yser Canal, the westerrt bank of which was in the hands of the Allied troops. At the northern flank of the French line the country was inundated as far as .Dixinude, making operatines virtu- ally impossible in that vicinity. On the enemy's side of the canal, and hidden in. tho woods it short dis- tance behind It; .raitchine guns bristled in nests of dozens, but the artillery preparations by the Allies had accounted for Many of them be- fore the Preach attempted theft ad- vance. Steenstraete and Helene, on the canal, were soon loft behind by the lerenela who steadily preesed for- ward, only baiting for it breething spell when the first GerMan line eame into their possessimt. Meenwhile beindrede of bateerie$ reared ineeesantlYbringing replies front the powerful German artillery. In the second stage of the battle tbe .Preneh progress took them long bet fore, noon into and beyend the see. end line Gernum treaches, and the troops halted only when the day's task set for than had been Mtn pleted. Thee, thy eta. about to on minim the capturea grotind. HON OFIOP DESTROYEtt, Aim natem,new'- The fl'4,ttl - Pr iliontiOnt ef the lhintivishiad tepoita Mot flu, sc•!;iltittIc crcqi In fti great klisappointionnt. t lairripotto nit Sinultty tam( MCI great damage in the oP Wllitern Llormany. Many 'Many buiLitu.18 v,t;ro iltnttrovell, thou. -valuta of 0Pi.4 IVt't,‘ uprooted. field and # rv!il I•Vit#i 0.0 nen' nave, e pi retina evevye here eu fee f d 01* .4,0 41, illt Itit leerp ERMANS ARE ,PREPARING FOR RETREAT ON WESTERN FRONT Holland Reports Their Headquarters Being Moved to the Eastward. Heavy Enemy Counter -Attacks All Repulsed by the British. 'Louden Cable.- --Nene the rain and the morass have served to hold the allted forces ftt least), preventing a resumption of the greet offensive of Tuesday, they have oat been effeetnto ei keeping the Germans from throw- ing colentenattachs wine great forces if men against boy eral newly -won sec :ors of the frau:, helki by the Britisli end French :temps nor in bringing about a cassette t of the violent Arnie .ery duel along the entire line. The Arnie of the Crown Prince Rup- precht evidently considers the Bina .sh. gain nortienitst of Ypres the most :raportant made in Tuesday's battle, .or upon tine territory he has con. eentreted the strongest of his coma ter -offensive operations in an atteinlit to -regain the lost ground, His dt. ()ran however, have gone far nauglat, Pc _British' artillery WI infantry fire raking the advancing forces merci- lessly, putting an end to the attacks and adding materially to the already .leavy casualties the Germans have suffered. The battlefield is said to be literally strewa with German dead. There is no indication in either the British or Preach offieial communica- tions just when their combined push again will be started, but it is eossible that at least it day of warm sunshine will be atecessary to dissi- pate the quagmire so that the big al- lied guns may be realigned and .to Permit the airmen to relocate the positions the foe is holding. Reports coining from Holland de- clare that the Germans are Moving their b,eadquarters lurther east, which bears out earlier stories that the Kaiser's generals feared their lines might be broken and the forces in Belgium isolated. That the Battle of Flanders will Last several weeks at least is well un- derstood here. The allies are using men and material on a scale hitherto unknown. It is generally conceded on the result of this offensive will de- pend the question' whethee it is fees. .ble or not to drive the Germans by force of arms from the occupied terri- tory and also the wider question of the value of it frontal offensive an a general strategic • principle. THE OFFICIAL REPORTS. Thursday evening's report from headquarters in France reads: "In itt i cemee at the morniug and again this afternoon the enemy made it series of violent, but 11084C0,088fUl, attempts to recover the ground lost by him northeast of Ypres. "Regardless of the increasing soy - piety of his losses, strewn, bodies of his troops repeatedly attacked, our position from the Ypres-Roulers rail- way to St. Julien. In every ease his advancing lines were brOkeu up and dispersed, IV our artillery barrage or repelled bY the steady fire ef our rantrYe "Paties of our troops raided enemy trenches last night northeast et Gous. acOUrt and inflicted many casualties.' FRENCH REPORT. Paris Cable -The official state- ment issued by the War Office Thurs- day night read: "In Belgium our artillery, dominat ing the German artillery, whose ac. tivity was manifested markedly east and north of Bixseboote, has prevent- ed. every attempt orthe enemy to at tack. Two German attacks east of Cerny were stopped by our fire. "Ir Champagne 1n patrol encoun- ters we took prisoners. There was re- ciprocal artillery action an the left bank of the Meuse, • "Aviation: From July 21 to 31 twenty enemy aeroplanes and two `Drachen' were brougbt down. In the same period 21 enemy aeroplanes were seriously damaged, descending in their own lines. About ten ot our escadrilles carried out numerous raids, bombarding notably the rail- way stations at Routers, Metz, Thiene vine, elontmedy and Bethenivelle, fac- tories at Hagondange, cantonment and bivouacs in the Forest of Flout- hulst and Spincourt, and ammunition depots in the region of Leon. Forte thousand kilos of projectiles Were dropped in the course of these ea peditions, which caused important damage to military establishments, "Eastern Theatre, Aug. L -There was moderate artillery activity on the right bank of the Vardar. The allied positions in the Cerna bend were violently bombarded during the night. Our artillery silenced the ene my guns. British aviators in the zone of Gievgeli and Demir-Hissar, and Frenchaviators north of Monas tir and north of Koritsa bombarded enemy installations and works." FRENCH GIRL'S AWFUL STORY Diary of Slavery and Worse Under Captivity. But One Way Out—And That Dishonor. Paris, -A party of forty French girls returned by the Germans out of a total .ot 6,000 taken into litual slavery from Lille and nearby teeri- ,cry, were permitted to make their way to Perin because the Germans at Lille were afraid of the effeet of their.stories on the civilian population there. Here are extracts from tho diary of nvonne Trevino, one of the girls, daughter of a- physician of Lille, shown some consideration by the Ger- mans because of his usefulness as a doctor to the people of his parish: "Feb. 23 -Before 1 conld answer the loud knock on my bedroom door it was burst °pea. A German soldier trashed past my mother,,shouting: lect up and dress, Yott lave in twenty minutes to plant potatoes 'n the Ardennes.' He did not leave the room and --well, I dressed over my night cletnes. Mother tried to shield me by pretending to help with my clothe.; but eke was weeping 80 bitterly she fell on the floor, Out- sidethe other Germans lined up in the square stared at me, saying: 'Mill You have caught a pretty one, Fritz.' they laughed. ELEVEN YEARS IN TWO.DAYS. "Feb, 26-I1 all happened only two days ago, not two years. But I am not 19 now. I am 30. The girls in the cattle truck with me were all cla.sses, White we traveled through the night German soldiers moved about among ue le the truck. 1 took the part of one girl, not educated as I liad been, ilea dazed. 73ut always saw my mother's face,, as. it was when 110 treck left. It seemed to be bo- oming seatteleee with grief. I may never see it again nut I ellen alwaye gee it. "telarch 10 --We liave been in an empty house in an Ardennes village More than a week. Am 1 alive or dead -after that When, talon to the headquarters, atiother empty house, the day aftee we came, the officers ordered me to strip. I was stunned, Witi tureed to stone, and eottia not -"Not lit pity, hut to stive time he OX. 1113.111Pd something about medleal ex- nmination . And when I Was nakee the (lore= doctor aelted questione eml made Mate I did not understittel-- then. 1 elneeted se much tbat girie later in lino were treated more kindly, 4. • • • • I had not Seen the elan on the Nellie where 1 am kept with five other ghee, until this mora- ine,. en (terra:in it said wornen.' That is why these soltiii,rs had 00:11e tn lone nt 11-5, and hint at Melilla 'nett it,4 Wily WP n(.‘or te•tve !tacit onto!, alone, tog Opp. Mil, HIV )1:At'1tP lo Ilie ann, whet; teen, men tome 'What do yeu Meant" 1 milted lengettie, an firtisen's daughter from our piirlith in Vileely tether wee a fleeter arid ever watched over in ±. Velum sne fele wbet elits 110 1 11n4.,1%..tri1r1 •Mfe. i;?t.n /11/1 01,41(Itat#'0 " r#1 "ire et II reatien. ANOTHER ATEKOCN. AL EXAMINA- "April 3 -Eugenie has gone. . . There was another medical examina- tion two weeks ago . , More insulting, more obscene than I ead dreamed of. During it things were suggested I kept from fainting only by remem- bering if I did fait1 might lose more than life. We were catalogued es 'good for anything.' We were so ashamed we went home by different streets. "Eugenie had been gene from OW house for a week. . No wonder! It is simple. it, is -easy. Poor girl! She haa les; training. . Irish& has a san it will be sent to Germany to become at laaai a.soldier. SOLDIERS LODnED IN HOUSE. "May 20 -One of the soldiers bad been beating 0113 of the eiris in the Rehls Very day. He Ititti tried me tirst, and told Inc how I could escape. . The vision of my mother's race helped 1113 to lie to him , When I told him the lie he left me alone. To-duy itt inicl-aft3rnoon ,he other girl he Asti been • beating for weeks fell exhausted. He bent over her and talked a minute. . . . . rhey left the field. . . "And .to -night I heard we are to go home to Lille to -morrow, 40 of u$ out of 6,000. My prayers! My prayers! My mother, so brave! But -t do not know 111 shall get thete sere, or sane -or even alive!" GERMANY KNEW OF ULTIMATUM Washineton Report-Gernian'n had possession of Austria's ultimatum to Serbia fourteen hours before it was deliveeed to Belgrede, according to pozitive information which has reach- ed officials here, and which was made public to -day for the first time. It was stated that former noreign Secretary Zimmerman admitted this himself, when pressed very closely as to Germany's foreknowledge of the action of her ally which precipitated the European war. Germany has rritintalried consist- ently in all her public doeuments that she was not consulted by Auetria as to the ultimatum, which practically dented Serbia's Independence, end that she did not even have knowledge of the step. This feet fits in very closely with the recent statements, first advanced by Oeputy Cohn In the Reichstag, and since adopted by the Allied Govern - milts, that Gerro8n and Austrian leaders hold e war council at Pots - clam oil July 5, at which- it was rt rac. neatly deckled to plural° Europe into conflict. Thrif ty GeeSe, The Bolan geese are no Cond of toe lecting materials for their 'nests that they do not .desist front the ban evee when they nro about to al:maim .thel: nettle for the winter mienation, Ott tee -coaet 01 Scotland one day patellae oi straw beading were :Pen Coating, and. eltheligh 1 nt, biriTS We're 01 Mt' ovn nr 11,`1,0r:1180. eatberel tin .iwory wisp, as thuonli they hall tlic;r nests to build, .and Itt the eame lined they WO-() 80011 co1itC:111; 1 /4 eanitary engineer of Pasadena, ' nee nettle it tom; .of irepection of the fen tewere teeentle. I...weird on the rear et a tent erre ale, FRUIT CROP FOR DOMINION Applati-Tilere bave been some Changes hi the apple situation blue lea mouth. In Nova Scotia the rav- egce of the Natter worm and the ac• velopment of mean have beeu ecritnie, and have reduced the crop of No. 1 eppicebo keente extent. Scab 1$ also very seriOne Ii1 Quebec, 13r111tlh Contra- bia proSpecte have fallen down on 4000141).t of au exceptionally heavy June drop. Indications now Plat to an increase of 30 per cent, over last year's crop in Nova Scotia and about 10 per cent. In British Columbia; Quebec will nave only 40 per cent, of iast year's crop, and Western Ontarla about the same; the oriel) Itt leastera Ontario will be elightly lees than Met t ear, Clean fruit is cetifined to Min mete. that line been well cared for itud properly sprayed, The crop Is light in Lalubten, Nor- folk, Essex and the Niaeare eistrict, This applies particularly to Baldwins, Spies and other late eall and winter apples. Early varieties in some (=W- ards are a fair crop. In the Burlington district Ribston, Greening, Duclieen, Wealthy and Pameuse give the beet PrOnliso) but even tneso are. les$ than a nietliem eron In 'Western Ontario the crop is prac- tically a failure, not more than 50 per coat. of last year. The only varietiee than have any showing are Wealthy, Duchess, etc. Later varieties are very short, The crop in. the Lake Ontario die- trict is very scattered. Winter varie- ties ate pal tieularly light and there are preetteally no Spies or Russets. Cherries -In the Niagara peninsula sour cherries are about 50 per cent. of a normal crop and in the Burntigten district about 75 per cent. Sweet cher- ries aro only about 15 per cent of a. _normal crop. The exceptionally heavy rates of last week interfered with the harvesting of the first shipments and In many cases picking operations were abandoned, Both sweet and sour var- ieties have been rotting badly. Prospects have fallen off in British Columbia. The Okanagan valley crOP of sweet cherries is light, although the blooin was 'very heavy. Sour cherriee are quite a good crop. The Kootenay distict crop is about 65 per cent. of last year. Peaches -Between Hamilton and Griinsby the crop will not exceed 40 per cent. of last year. From Grimsby to Niagara Falls there will be about 60 per cent. of last year. Elbertas arc Particularly light through the whole section. The total crop will probably be in the neighborhood of 50 per ceut, of last year. Leaf curl has been especially bad between Winona and Beamsville. The erop has been very great and the recent rains have also caused some falling off. Outside of Niagara there are practically no peaches in Ontario this year, with tho exception of Lambton county, • which has about 10 per cent. of last year's crop. In British Columbia the bloom is very heavy, but on account of cold, wet weather the fruit has not set well, and there will be only a medium crop. Grapes -The Niagara grape crop promises to be good. It will be about two weeks late in maturing. Peare-In Niagara the crab of Bart- letts, Anjou, Duchess and Clargeau is light to medium or between 30 and 40 per cent. of a normal crap, with an occasional orchard having a fair crbp. Keiffers are between a medium and fair crop. In the Okanagan valley most var- ieties are good, but the crop is not as heavy as was at first expected -per- haps 25 per cent. less than last year. There is a moderate crop in Neve Scotia. Plums -There has been a aeavy June drop in Niagara, which has con- siderably reduced the early estimate. Washington, Gueii and Burbank are medium; Lombard, Reine •Clande, Yel- low Egg, Black Diamond and Monsen% are light to medium or about 30 per cent. of a normal crop. Elseethere in Ontario and in Nova Scotia prospect; are good. New Brunswick win have a light crop. Reports from British eta umbia indicate a crop somewhat heavier than last year and of better quality. The crop is scattered, some varieties being very heavy and others notably Burbanks, very light. Small • Fruits -Generally speaking, reports indicate a good crop of small emits in every -district. The crop et strawberries in British Columbia hae been about average. With satisfactory prices, There hae ben. a marked lin- erovement in the grade and pack. Owing to the decreased acreage Ontario, the supply has not been equal to the demaud. Pri006 have been good. Tomatoes -In the lower mainland A' British Columbia the continued gold. wet weather has reduced the acreage to it considerable extent. Elsewhere in the province the prospects aro very good considering the late pinntiug. Western Ontario reports plants strong and vigorous. In the Niagara district the acreage has been reduced about tel per cent. on the low land on account of heavy rain, The crop throughout On tario will be iftte. Prospects are for a good crop in Quebec. Odd and Interesting Pacts. Many of Lite osttiches In South Africa are now hatched in incubators. The term "Yankee" is supposed to have bt.en derived from a corrapt pronuncia- tion of the word "lInglish" by the In- dirms, wiroess telegraphy, was discovered by Marconi in 1607, and he conducted. ex- rerhnents in IfIngland the stone year. On December 20, 1002, a message was .ectit from Canada to Cornwall. It is claimed for the Bragauza, which foulard part of the Portuguese crown Jam( Is, that It Is the biggest diamond in the world, weighing 1.860 carats. Some doubt exists, however, as to whether it Is CA 1.0111 CIiSniOIItI, 11.5 110 official testing eau be authenticated. It was found hi 33razil Common ivy ean be made to form plcaaant decoration for rooms thiring,, the winter by placing it few shoots in any reetptacle containing water; tip* dclicato young loaves will flonrtsii and nrOdtteci a charming effect. The Color of Gold. (*mid it; not alWityc the "goieen yel- low" or tee poen., but. under certeln einidinorie may appetii• .oranget, retid7,411 green, er et en purtee. Addition of top fli4 311 al'io3to mak:, thi. metal hard eitint-..;:t tor tamiturre:ol gitc.t II go:t1 an or,11.40 tie .evra tvil apH:.artitice, Savor makes it it liaee yci- lpu . If it 16 neaten into vtry thin told leaf, it transtnits a green. Unlit, Bet if eery Thieledividedgreet attseendre in a Mann be preen Ranch frota it co- latlen, It appeore In be latrine. no Yell tiliwint ate tween rote' le 111' Tht.' 11