St. John's Daily Star, 1917-10-26

              The St. John's Daily Star INeu> found lnn6 VOLUME 111. ($3.00 per Annum) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1917. . (Price: One Cent.) No. 246. AUSTRO-GERMANS START DRIVE AGAINST ITALIANS FRENCH MAY FORCE GENERAL RETREAT Germany, under pressure of the French victory on the Aisne, may be forced to make a general retirement. The French drive still continues. More than 12,000 prisoners have now been taken besides a large number of cannon and machine guns.-|-The Austro-German drive against the Italians is in full swing, but the Italians are evidently fuflF prepared and are offering a stout resistance. MANY PRISONERS TAKEN BY FRENCH French Continue To Push The Germans Back on the Aisne Front Austro-Germans open big Drive Against Genl. Cadorna's Forces Italian Headquarters Were Expecting this Move And Had Made Arrangements CAMPAIGN INAUGURATED TO RAISE DROOPING SPIRITS OF AUSTRIANS WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.—The great Austro-German drive against the Italian front, now in full swing, was fully expected by General Cadorna. For several weeks past he has been placing his army in readiness, selecting with great care proper defensive positions for the Italian troops. Official telegrams received here today declare that in addition to heavy reinforcements which the Austrians have received from troops withdrawn from the Russian front, many German divisions have appeared on the long line from Tolmino to the Carso, so that there are now 20 full divisions with a great amount of artillery in German trenches. The Italian Headquarters recognized jn this enemy force confirmation ef reports that have been leaking out from Germany and Austria of the conclusion reached by the German General Staff that the real issue of the war is to be fought out on the Isonzo and Tyrol fronts. ft was also learned that the German General Staff has freely conceded the high strategy and military ability shown by the Italian Commander-in-Chief in his choice of positions. Many days of extremely bad weather, which finally gave way to cold and clear, made possible the beginning of the Austro-GermanAustro-German offensive. This was necessary, according to information received by Italian officials here, to encourage the suffering and starving people in the interior of Austria, who are thoroughly tired of the war and spirited by the long defensive campaign of the Austrians. Today's reports state that in this drive German troops, for the first time, have appeared on the Italian front, and German airplanes and much German war material on the Bainsizza Plateau. One German airplane was brought down yesterday within the Italian lines. The official statement given out by the Italian war offic says: Yesterday morning after an interval of a few hours the enemy resumed a violent bombardment all along the front with a specially destructive fire on that portion between the southern slopes of Monte Rombon and the north edge of the Bainsizza plateau, where afterwards a strong infantry attack was launched. At the same time powerful attacks were made to the west of Volnik, on the Bainsizza plateau and on the western slopes'of Monte San Gabr'elle, but they were kept in check by our troops, which in the course of successful counter-attacks captured a few hundred prisoners. A DUET.—News of the World, London. FOOD ADMINISTRATOR URGES MORE ECONOMY Emphasises the Need For More Wheat and Hogs For Allies' Armies ENDURANCE WILL WIN THIS WAR; UP TO U. S. TO FURNISH NECESSARIES WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.—1n a statement tonight reviewing the world's food situation, Food* Administrator Hoover said the fight against the submarine would be won if the United States and Canada could stimulate production and effect economy so as to feed the Allies from this continent. Shipments of wheats and hogs are the great needs emphasized by Hoover. This country's pork consumption had increased during the war until the production had been outstripped. The situation must be changed. If we discontinue exports, Hoover said, we will move the German line from France to the Atlantic seaboard. The production of fats is today a critical necessity for the preservation of the Allies and the maintenance of their constancy in the war. Every pound of fat is as sure of service as every bullet and every hog is of greater value than a shell. As to wheat, the Administrator said the Allies* deficiency of productions is 196,000,000 bushels with imports of 577,700,000 bushels required foT the maintenance of normal consumption. He estimated the aggregate Amercian, Australian, Indian, Argentine exports to give a surplus of 770,000,000 bushels, but he pointed out that the lack of ships made it necessary for this country and Canada to bear the burden of meeting the Allies' deficit. Placing the States' wheat export surplus from this year's crop at 80,000,--000 bushels, and Canadas at 150,000,--000 bushels, Hoover urged for domestic economies to increase this country's surplus to 150,000,000 bushels. This we could do if our people would eat one pound less of wheat flour per week and one pound of corn meal instead.The question of who wins this war is who can endure the longer, and the problem of endurance in a large degree is the problem of food supply and ships to carry it. If climatic conditions next year are right, he estimated a wheat crop in this country of a billion bushels. For this the food control law guarantees a minimum price of two dollars per bushel. If the war continues this wheat will be vitally necessary, he said; but if the war should come to an end there will be no foreign markej: for at least four hundred million bushels. The Government must then take over the wheat and probably find a market for it at a very great loss. "I should anticipate that the Government may lose from $300,000,000 to $500,000,000 in this wheat guaranty if peace arrives before the 19 V 8 harvest is marketed." Turning to the meat situation, HooveT said pork products were more vitally needed by the Allies than beef. In the matter of beef, he said, the Allies can support themselves without any consequental expansion of imports from the United States. In view of the Euopean situation and the American shortage in hogs, he pointed out that there would be to the vital advantage of every farmer to raise hogs, adding, we need to keep up a pig movement in this country. He also said further production of sheep, both for meat, and particularly for wool extensively used in uniforms, is needed. Our American farmers, he said, would be wise to realize that for a considerable period after the war there will be a very poor export market for American bread grains, whereas there will be a wide demand for meat products. • m »——— PRO-GERMANS ACTIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO Endeavor To Force Restaurant Keepers To Serve Them Meat On Meatless Days WASHINGTON, Oct. 26—Attempts of the pro-German element in San Francisco to frustrate the Government's food conservation policy, were reported to the Food Administration today by its advisory committee of California hotel men. A committee of restaurant men have informed mc, says the Chairman, that a large pro-German element in San Francisco who patronize their places of business are insisting »on having beef served to them on our beefless Tuesdays. They threaten if they don't serve them they will cease their meals in their restaurants, 4 ITALIANS TO GET SHIPS FROM D. S. To Relieve British Tonnage For Her Own Trade U. S. Will Place 25 Ships At Disposal of Italians WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.—The Shipping Board agreed today to charter to the Italian Government 25 American commandeered steel ships of an aggregate tonnage of 100,000 deadwight tons, to relieve the Italian shortage of shipping to transport vitally needed supplies. This action was made late today. Britain has been supplying France and Italy with shipping to meet its emergency needs, but cannot continue to do so in view of the increasing British requirements. Part of the ships chartered will be old, and part new. Some may be taken from these on the way from the Great Lakes to the ocean. They will be used between United States and Italian ports. Another Loan To France Washington, Oct. 26.—Another loan of twenty million dollars was made to France today, bringing the total credits extended to the Allies by the United States to two billion, eight hundred and twenty-six millions, four hundred thoustnd dollars. MUST BETTER CONDITIONS We Want to Arise Prom This Carnage and Slaughter With More Justice and Better Liv ing for the Workers MUST BE NO IDLERS RICH OR POOR SHEFFIELD, Eng., via Reuters, Ottawa, Oct. 26.—1n the course of his speech here yesterday, General Smuts of South Africa, said We want to arise from the carnage and slaughter to a new and better world, we want to see more justice in this country, less poverty and less luxury. We want to see better standards of living, more economy, freedom and security for all workers in the world, where there will be no idlers, rich or poor. To gain this end militarism must be swept away from the face of the earth. I hope we never will sheathe the sword, never make peace until we know there is no longer a threat of militarism. As the principle achievement of the war there should be established permanent machinery for the securing of peace. After the war we want to see arbitration that will prevent future wars. We want a league of nations with sufficient force behind them, ensuring that there will be no future threat to peace. It would be suicide to western civilization if this cataclysm is to be repeated what is the good of peace. I would like to see a peace setting forth the vital issues that have been raised by the Pope, who would express no judgment on the conduct of the nations or the cause which led to the * war "We cannot make peace until the German machine becomes a scrap of, paper. Germany must learn a lesson i that war does not pay and that the wages of sin is death. Germany must not retain an inch of her war map at the end of the war. Let out motto be "No spoilation to the spoiler; no peace until Germany is prepared to evacuate the countries she has invaded." FURTHER DEVELOP THEIR SUCCESSES Germany May be Forced to Withdraw Her Troops to New Hindenburg Line Before She is Ready TRENCH forces in the Aisne region continue to develop their successes of Tuesday when they made an advance over a front of about six miles, capturing important German positions and thousands of prisoners. The number of prisoners now exceeds 12,000, and more than 200 officers. Germany, under pressure of the French victory on the Aisne, may endeavor to effect a general retreat to the new Hindenburg line, well in the rear of their present position. Various hints from /German Sources lately have indicated that the German experts recognizing the menace, particularly to the exposed salient south-southwest of Laon, were preparing a new fortified line somewhere between Laon and their former front, to which they expected to effect an orderly retreat in their spring withdrawal as soon as the menace became too great. The pressure of the French attack seems to have anticipated this strategy and the German withdrawal, if made now under the hammering of their victorious opponent is likely to be quite a different operation from that planned.War Time Economy. New York Oct. 20.—The last word in war-time economy was exemplified here today when a woman bought two dollars worth of two-cent stamps because she had heard that the Government would raise the postage rate November Ist to three cents. "I will jay in a supply and save a dollaT," she said. ■ ♦ t—l  French Continue To Force Germans Back on Aisne Front Have Captured Several Important Positions — Belgian Artillery Is Active FRENCH HAVE TO DATE CAPTURED 12,000 PRISONERS AND 120 BIG GUNS * pARIS, Oct. 26.—French forces on the Aisne today continued their successful advance, capturing several important villages as well as two thousand additional prisoners. Since the beginning of the present operations, says the announcement made tonight by the war office, more than 12,000 Germans have been captured as well as 120 big guns and many guns of smaller calibre. The text of the statement reads: Our troops carried out this morning a general advance beyond the positions reached last evening extending to the Oise-Aisne Canal, the village and forest of Pinon are in our hands as well as the village of Pargyfielain. South of Filain, where our patrols penetrated, we occupied the farms of St. Martin and LaChapelle Ste. Berthe. The enemy under our pressure was compelled to abandon important material, including a score of cannon, of which several were howitzers of 150 m.m. The total number of cannon captured by us since October 23rd is about 120, to which may be added several hundred minethrowers and machine guns. In the course of the day we took more than two thousand prisoners.The number of prisoners taken since the beginning of the operation exceeds 12,000, of whom more than 200 are officers. On the right bank of the Meuse the Germans followed up their bombardment, indicated this morning, of our positions in the Chaume Wood, with an attack which our fire arrested. ' Belgium Communication—Our artillery has been very active during the course of the last two days. On the 24th more than twenty enemy batteries were subjected to our destructive fires. Numerous observatories and enemy works were violently bombarded. Barrage fires by our artillery and machine guns veTy carried out on the same organizations while during the night fires of destruction continued. On October 25th our aviators gave effectious aid to these various operations. Eastern Theatre, Oct.24th—There was feeble artillery action* along the whole front by reason of bad weather. ■ ■ .—■ No Longer Expected Copenhagen, Oct. 26—Captain Yon Salzmann, military critic, and Far Eastern expert of the Vossische Zeitung of Berlin, warns his readers that they should no longer count upon a future war between Japan and the U« S., which had become a fixed idea with the average German. j SEE THE VERY LATEST COVERING FOR ROOM FLOORS. The"YUCATAN" FIBRE SQUARE, | SIZES 6x9 feet, 8 x 1012,9 x 12.. ~1„1>„t„t.,<..>..»,.»..t..t,. „■,-.,,,„„,.■■ m »,^,,t„<..>„t,.„1,„>.,»,,tug ,» The " ARISTOCRAT" FIBRE SQUARE, 1 SIZES 8x 10 1-2 feet! 9 x 12, 9 x 15. All nicely bound, soft and durable; a good substitute for wools carpet. Bordered, with plain akid fancy centre, j PRICES RANGE FROM 1 $7.90 up tff 22.98. \ ALSO FULLILINE Chenicle BATH RUGS, I ASSORTED COLORS AND SIZES j From $1.38, 2. 75, 3.75, up to $5.50 each. Bowring Bros. 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