St. John's Daily Star, 1917-10-25

              The St. John's Daily Star Newfoundlandn VOLUME 111. ($3.00 per Annum)] THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1917. {Price: One Cent.) No. 245. BIG BAOPLTTLE SOON ON ITALIAN FRONT GERMANS WITHDRAW FROM RIGA FRONT The gains made by the French in recent drive are even greater than was at first thought. An enormous number of guns of all calibres, besides a large quantity of material have been captured. The prisoners exceed 8,000.—The Germans have withdrawn troops from the Riga Front to reinforce the Austrians for an attack against the Italians. SHIPPING LOSSES HEAVY THIS WEEK GERMAN IMPERIAL CHANCELLOR HAS HANDED HIS RESIGNATION JO THE KAISER.* ADVANCE BY FRENCH WAS GREAT SURPRISE France Jubilant Over Recent Drive— Did Not Expect Any Offensive Before Spring. DARIS, Oct. 24.—1t would be hard to exaggerate the enthusiasm through the length and breadth of France yesterday. The splendid achievement of the French Army on the Aisne front, falling on the anniversary of the recapture of Fort Douaumont by General Petain, apparently fell with all the force of surprise, for it was understood in the spring offensive the French leader would not find it advisable to resume offensive operations before the end of this year. The key to the whole ridge extending to Craonne was captured, and the French from their new positions are now able to enfilade the German positions not only along the Chemin-des- Dames line, but at Anzy-le-Chateau, and to direct their fire directly along the valley to Laon. According to Marcel Hutin, of the Echo de Paris, yesterday's victory brings out five main points: First, that the enemy nowhere on the west front has been able to take the initiative since February, 1916; second, the enemy continues in a state of inferiority; third, he has been obliged repeatedly to withdraw his lines between StS. Quentin and the Ailette; fourth, he has been beaten in Flanders and forced to give ground; fifth, he will be forced to resign himself to another strategic movement rearwards if he wishes to escape disaster. M. JHiitin in this connection says: French aviators have reported seeing in Laon, trees sawed through and villages demolished. The writer concludes that he is convinced the victory just gained is but the prelude to decisive actions which will be carried out with clockwork regularity, characteristic of General Petain's methods. "COME ACROSS!"—Collier's Weekly. Chancellor Resigns. London, Oct. 24.—Michaelis, German Imperial Chancellor, has placed his portfolio in the hands of Emperor William, according to an Amsterdam despatch given out by the wireless press. AUTHORITIES THINK HUNS ARE BLUFFING By ED. L. KEEN. Claim They Could Not Maintak Submarines in American Waters— Declaration a Bluff. (United Press Staff Correspondent) (Special to Tfce St John's Star.) [ONDON, Oct. 18.—Germany is bluffing again, according to London's Interpretation today of Amsterdam repoiis of Geiroan wireless messages hintiag at inclusion of American waters in the submarine zone. The belief of authoritative leaders expressed to the United Press was that if Germany actually did proclaim America within the zone of her ruthlessness she would be unable effectually to carry out any submarine war there. It was admitted she might send a few submarines to the American coast and at the most might plant a few mines. But Germany is already using her submarines to their fullest capacity trying to starve out England. Moreover long ago she started out to disregard her zone limitations. Even if Germany should include America in her zone of U-boat operations, leading authorities were a unit in declaring such a step could not in any way affect the naval transport situation.Satisfaction was expressed today over the continued decrease in the Germans' submarine effectiveness as shown in the weekly statement of British shipping losses. Only 12 ships of more than 1,600 tons were sunk, according to Admiralty announcement. Efforts of the German submarine advocates to explain the steadily dropping effectiveness of the submersibles, furnished amusement here today. Count Reventlow, foremost supporter of ruthlessness, in a recent article in the Deutsche Tageszeitung seeks to explain away the matter by the excuse that ships are being held out of ocean service for special reasons and that changes are constantly being made in shipping routes. He quoted "an American source of authority" for the statement that the trip between England and the United States now often takes three weeks or more. • m » . BRITISH REPORT Patrol Encounters and Artillery Dnels Reported By F. M. Haig London, Oct. 25.—A report from Field Marshal Haig on the Flanders operations tonight reads: We captured a few prisoners during the night in the course of patrol encounters on the battlefront. Hostile artillery was active this afternoon against our positions in Houtholst Forest. Our artillery carried out counter-attacks and destructive bombardment at different points. In the Nieuport'sector a large explosion, was caused behind the enemy's lines by our artillery fire. The weather is stormy* _ . - v Reinforce Austrian Line For Drive Against Italians German Forces Join Austrians and Begin An In-' Intense Bombardment WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM RIGA FRONT TO GET NECESSAY REINFORCEMENTS gENERAL PETAIN'S troops who made a brilliant dash northeast of Soissons on Tuesday morning, at last accounts were holding all their gains, iand were meeting with no resistance except by means of bombardments. Very heavy bombardments continue. In the third sector, in the region of Hill 344, the army of the German Crown Prince delivered a violent attack against the French. The enemy succeeded in capturing a French advanced position, but later as a result of a counter-attack was forced to relinquish it. In the Austro-Italian theatre large German forces have reinforced the Austrian line, and apparently a big battle is imminent over a 23-mile front from Monte Rombon southeast through Flitch and Tolmino and thence southeast to Bainsizza Plateau, which lies about ten miles northeast of Gorizia. The Berlin war office reports the capture on the northern sector of this front of positions near Flitch and Tolmino.The Germans began their offensive after intense artillery fire, in which specially constructed gas shells were thrown at various places. The Italian war office says bad weather intervened during the attack and the fighting died down to some extent. The Germans obtained large numbers of reinforcements for the Austrians. They have been sent post haste from the northern Russian front, where between the Dvina River and the Gulf of Riga there has been a withdrawal by the Germans over a wide front. ■ »  GERMANS ARE NOW BAEY RATTLED By WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS. Are Endeavoring to Build Dam to Try and Flood Ground Around Passchendaele, Held By British. United Press Staff Correspondent. (Special to The Si. John's Daily Star.) WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN " FLANDERS Oct. 17—While Haig's guns and men break the German hold on Passchendaele Ridge, the Germans are striving desperately to throw against the ever-encroaching advance the barrier which the Belgians successfully invoked to stop the Teutonic hordes of 1914. The enemy is working night and day pushing to completion a dam two miles above Nieuport by which they hope to flood the ground beyond Passchendaele Ridge. The very desperation with which they are carrying out this plan, coupled with extreme "jumpiness" which the Boche shows every hour of the day, is due to the knowledge that German troops cannot hold Passchendaele Ridge much longer, if the British continue their push. Prisoned German officers, examined today, admitted as much. One said, however, that plans had been laid so that if the Germans were forced to relinquish the high ground, they would retreat five miles further to prepared positions. One evidence of how the enemy is "rattled" comes in the failure of his favorite mode of defense—counter-attacks. They have been few and far between and have been absurdly weak. One of many proofs that the German artillery is disorganized was furnished on one sector, full report of which was received today. There a German bombardment which lasted 36 hours did not cost the British a single casualty. I personally saw this bombardment. At least 40,000 shells must have been fired, at a cost of $1,250,000—n0t including the wear and tear on German guns. This latter item, as United Press dispatches have heretofore detailed, is not inconsiderable with Germany as short x>i metal is. now,. COUNTER-ATTACKS. Germans Make Desperate Efforts to Retrieve Losses, But Are Repulsed. London, Oct. 24.—The official communication issued this morning from the British headquarters in Flanders, reads: Yesterday evening the enemy again attacked our positions in Houltholst. An attempt was made against the point of junction of the British and French armies. It was completely repulsed. Since our attacks on the morning of October 22, the enemy delivered several counter-attacks against our new lines without achieving material results at any point. A successful raid was carried out T>y Gloucester troops last night, southeast of Gavrelle. A number of the enemy were killed and several of his dugouts were blown up and a few prisoners and machine guns were brought back. 1 ■ SPLENEID WORK OF THE AVIATORS General Maurice Gives Summary of the Work Being Done By British Frying Corps lONDON, Oct." 25.—1n the course of his weekly talk with the Associated Press yesterday, Major General F. B. Maurice, Chief Director of Military Operations at the War Office, said: It is no discredit to the British airmen that they did not bring down a single Zeppelin, while the French airmen brought down five, in the course of the Zeppelin visit a few days ago. No French airmen would think of comparing the task which they had of attacking the Zeppelins in broad daylight which the airships were at the end of a long flight and partially crippled, with that of the British airmen in finding and attacking them in the night, while the invaders were still fresh. Incidentally it may be said the British air service, since the beginning of the war, has brought down sixteen Zeppelins, under conditions far more difficult than those under which the French were so successful the other day. Discussing the work of the British airplane on the West front, he said, during September, our bombing machines made 226 raids, dropping on the Germans 7886 bombs, representing 135 tons of explosives. In the same period the Germans dropped almost exactly 1000 bombs on the British. Now bombing is only a part of our air operations, by far the most important work of the airmen is the direction of artillery. During September we made 7694 shoots at enemy batteries under aerial observations and silenced them in 1813 instances. During the same period the Germans only succeeded in ranging on 743 of our guns. While most of the belligerent armies have certain air heroes whom they advertise immensely and . from time to time announce the total of their victories, the British have never adopted this system. Our airmen agree that although they are in a service which appeals to the imagination of the general public, they are in no more dangerous or more vital work than their comrades in the trenches, and they do not wish their deeds noticed in any different man ncr from that adopted in the case of their comrades in a less spectacular branch of warfare. The number of planes brought down by our leading fighting airmen exceeds the record of any similar group. During September we engaged and brought down 274 enemy planes, and this figure errs on the side of conservatism, for our headquarters never allow an airmen credit for a victory unless the fall of any enemy is corroborated from either an observer on th* ground or another aviator* Rome, Oct. 24—Though King Victor is the only ruler who has constantly lived at the front among his sol- j diers, yet very little is said and printed about him. His name never appears in the General Staff communiques. The war correspondents never mention the King's name and doings, except when allowed to describe official ceremonies connected with the visit at the Italian front of other Entente rulers or high Entente officials. Very few civilians have seen the King during the last two years. Even during his brief visit to the capital, when his presence here is required by important Cabinet meetings, the King is never seen in the streets, as in former years. ■ m* » KIKTG VICTOR.. THIS WAR MUST END MILITARISM Sir Edward Carson and General Smuts) Emphasized the Great and Dominating War Aim of Great Britain lONDON, Oct. 25.—Great Britain's determination to fight until German militarism is crushed was emphasized yesterday by Sir Edward Carson at Portsmouth and by Lieut. Smuts at Sheffield, where, respectively, they addressed meetings under the auspicies of the War Aims Committee. Carson said the war had entered a I phase where the question with Great I Britain*was whether we are going to prove superior, in sticking power, to the Germans and our other enemies. He added that Great Britain could not, and would not, make any peace without the concurrence and consent of her Dominions, neither would Great Britain enter into peace negotiations behind the backs of her Allies. Smuts said, that to his mind, there was only one great and dominating war aim, the end of militarism and the end of standing armies. Admiral Jellicoe, First Sea Lord, who also spoke at Sheffield, declared that the war is all but won. We have only to set our teeth and the war will be won. Referring to submarine warfare, he said that the figures of September were good, but that the figures for October would not be so good. » m> »  Will Consult Dominions London, Oct. 25—In the House of Commons yesterday, Mr. Hunt asked for assurance that no peace negotiations would begin without the full knowledge and assent of the represent atives of the great dominions. Mr. Bonar Law replied that the Government would certainly not enter into peace negotiations prior to consultation with the dominions. ■ »—«—» British Statement London, Oct. 25—The Admiralty statement regarding sinkings and arriv als are as follows: Arrivals, 2649; sailings 2689, British merchantmen over 1600 tons sunk by mines or submarines 17, under 1600 tons 8, British fishermen sunk, none; British merchant men unsuccessfully attacked, including one previously reported, seven. '< FRENCH CAPTURE GUNS AND MATERIAL In Tuesday's Drive a Large Quantity of War Material Was Taken— 70 Cannon and 80 Machine Guns. PARIS, Oct. 24.—The sweeping nature of the French victory is shown in the official announcement made tonight.The statement says: North of the Aisne German artillery was active in the sector of La Royeles. Bovettes and in the region of Fort de La Maison on our new front, which extends from Mont dcs Singes (Monkey Hill), which we have occupied in its entirety to Chavignon. It is confirmed the tanks played an important role in yesterday's attack. The number of prisoner taken since yesterday exceeds 8,000. Of the matcwal left in our hands, \,!>ch we will not be able to inventory before several days, it has been possible up to the present to count only seventy cannon, thirty-nine mine-throwers, eighty machine guns. In Champagne in the region of Mons, we successfully carried out two surprise attacks, the first northeast of Prunay, the second at Monthaut, and brought back about 15 prisoners. As a result of a surprise attack in the Struma Valley. British troops brought back six Bulgarian prisoners, one of them an officer. The day was calm along the whole front, because of unfavorable weather. SHIPPING LOSSES This Week's Report Shows An Increase In Ships Sunk. London, Oct. 24.—An increase in the loss of British merchantmen through mines and submarines is noted in the Admiralty reports for the current week. Seventeen vessels of over 1600 tons, and eight under 1600 tons were sunk. In the previous week 12 British merchant vessels of over 1600 tons and six under, and one fishing vessel were sunk. ■ ■ . Will Enforce Act Ottawa, Oct. 25.—The Prime Minister has issued an official denial of the newspaper story published in Montreal that the Government had decided to abandon the enforcement of the Military Service Act. His denial reads: "The statement is an unqualified falsehood, wholly devoid of any foundation what-, ever. It. can only be characterised a complete fabrication." MEATS SCARCE. Civilians in Germany Placed On Short Rations—Crops Below Normal. (By United Press.) Washington, Oct. 18.—Meats and fats in Germany are running extremely low. Food crops in several sections are far below normal. State Department reports today summarized the German internal situation thus, adding that civilians had been put on very short rations. Cattle slaughtered in Holland and shipped across the border will hardly suffice to give any appreciable relief to the meat and fat shortage. The State Department has been unable to give definite reports on what crops the Germans can expect from Roumania and other unoccupied terrl" tory, though indications are that considerable relief will come from sources next year. « m> t Italian Losses Rome, Oct. 25— Italian shipping losses at the hands of submarines  ing the week ending Oct. 20 on all seas were three steamers of more than 1600 tons, and one steamer under 1600 tons. One steamer was attacked but escaped. » m> • . Will Contest Election Toronto, Oct. 25—The Central Executive of the Toronto Liberal Association last night decided to contest all ridings in the cities in which Union Government candidates are placed. • m> »—'  8,000 Prisoners. Paris, Oct. 24.—The number of prisoners taken by the French in their attack northeast of Soissons h*9 reached eight thousand, the war of&ce announce*. SEE THE VERT LATEST COVERING FOR ROOM FLOORS. The"YUCATAN" FIBRE SQUARE, SIZES 6 x 9 feet, 8 x 101-2,9 x 12. «.„.....,.,.....,...,„.,..„.....,.„.„.„.,....,...,..,..„.,.t „„„.,« m|m The " ARISTOCRAT" FIBRE SQUARE, , SIZES 8x 10 1-2 feet, 9 x 12, 9 115. All nicely bound, soft and dim ,ble; a good substitute for wool carpet. Bordered, with plain and fancy; centre. PRICES RANGE FROM "~ $7.90 up to 22.98. ~ v I  ALSO FULL LINE) Chenicle BATH RUGS, ASSORTED COLORS AND SIZES From $1.38, 2.75, 3.75, up to $5.50 each. Bowring Bros. Ltd. *~m~* j ADVERTISE IN THE STAR