St. John's Daily Star, 1918-09-20

              Newfoundland VCI IE IV. ($3.00 per Annum)  FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1918. (PROBS: S. to S. W. Wields; Mostly Fair.) No. 20§ "7 ALLIES PIERCE BULGAR LINES-FOE FORCES IN FULL RETREAT BRITISH GET 10,000 HUNS IN ST. QUENTIN DRIVE 10 THOUSAND PRISONERS Haig's Men Have Also Captured Sixty Big Guns in Offensive in Region of St. Quentin.. STRONG GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACK T ONDON, Sept. prisoners taken by the British in the operaations begun Wednesday northwest cf St. Quentin now exceed ten thou«and, according to Field Marshal Haig's communication tonight. More than sixty guns were taken. The text of the statement says: Further reports confirm the heavy nature of the counter-attack which the enemy delivered yesterday afternoon north of Trescault, and ths severity of the losses inflicted on his divisions, including the sixth Brandenburg division. Fighting has taken place today :r. the sector east of Epehy, and also in the neighborhood of Gouzeaucourt. where we gained ground north of Gauche wood. On the remainder of the battlefield only local engagements are reported. We captured a few prisoners today in local fighting south of Auchy Ip Bassee, and miproved out positions silghtly west of Wytschaeie. Hostile raiding parties were repulsed east of Neuve Chapelle and north cf the Ypres-Comines canal. The prisoners taken by us in the operations begun yesterday northwest cf St. Quentin, exceed ten thousand. We also captured over sixty guns. tivity was slight. Four hostile machines were brought down, and three others were driven down out of control. Four of our machines are missing. Our planes kept in touch with the advancing troops and assisted in the attack by bombing and with -jo*** chine gun fire, as well as by reporting many targets to the artillery. During the 24 hours, sixteen tons of bombs were dropped. HUNS ORGANIZE LOOTING SQUADS Special Body of Pillaging Troops Sack Buildings. With the French Armies in Franc?., Sept. 18—(By the A. P.)— Efforts to organize pillaging by the German army and the transportation of loot appear from official documents and verified incidents to have been much more effective than the work of carrying out the removal of legitimate war booty during the summer's operations. The sacking of private houses and public buildings throughout the regions from which the Germans have been driven has been done with characteristic German thoroughness by specially detailed squads. • tm •  SERBS SOLD AS SLAVES. Central Powers Sell Serbian Prisoners Into Slavery to the Turks. Yesterday the enemy aircraft ac- Paris, ept. 18.—The Serbian government is in possession of documents proving beyond possible question that thousands of Serbian prisoners have been sold as slaves for a specified period to Turkey by Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary and Germany, according to a Balkan agency despatch from Corfu. BULGARS IN FULL FLIGHT Haig's Men Have Captured Over 10,000 Prisoners Since Wednesday—Make Vicious Counter Attacks BOLSHEVIK MAKE SLIGHT GAINS J ONDON, Sept. 19.—Thursday saw both the British and French armies in Picardy materially develop their plans for the eventual enveloping of St. Quentin and Cambrai. The British made further gains round Gouzeacourt and east of Epehy while the French, striking southeast of St. Quentin, brought the southern part of their nipper into a still better position for the squeeze against the town which daily seems is growing nearer. More than ten thousand prisoners and in excess of sixty large guns fell into the hands of the British during the big operations begun by Field Marshal Haig, Wednesday, northwest of St. Quentin. In addition extremely heavy casualties were inflicted on the Germans in the frontal attacks, and during violent counter attacks made by them in an endeavor to recoup their losses of ground. So badly was the enemy hammered during this fighting that he did not attempt on Thursday to stir from his trenches, except near Epehy and Gouzeaucourt and to give listless battle on isolated sectors to the south. Foe Attacked Viciously Northeast of Soissons the Germans are counter-attacking viciously against the allied forces holding strategic positions, which are threatening the high ground along the Chemin dcs Dames which the enemy hopes to save as a temporary haven refuge in the event of a forced retirement from the west and the south. Notwithstanding the strength of the onslaught the French everywhere repulsed the enemy. Likewise south of the Aisne in the region of Courland the Germans endeavored to beat back the French, and again met with defeat, the French artillery cutting the attacking waves to pieces. On the Lorraine front there has been considerable mutual artillery | shelling, but no big infantry engagements. A raid attempted by the Germans against General Pershing's men northwest of Pont-a-Musson ( came to naught. Bulgars In Full Flight In the Macedonia theatre the Bulgars are still in full flight before the Serbians who have recaptured numeious towns, taking large numbers of prisoners and great quantities of war stores. Following the usual tactics of the Teutonic allies, the enemy is devastating the country he traverses, leaving it a wilderness, through the use of the torch and explosives. In European Russia the Bolshevik and the Germans for the moment seem to have the upper hand over the Czecho-Slovaks who have been compelled to evacuate Volsk, Simbirsk and Kazan. The success of the enemy forces is attributed to a lack oi ammunition and other supplies by the Czecho-Slovaks. In Trans-Caucasia the British force which recently went to the relief of the besieged Armenians in Baku hasj been compelled to withdraw into North Persia in the face of large forces and the ineffectiveness of the Russo-Armenian aid. •-•-.  Commercial Agreement Signed. Washington, Sept. 18.—Danish- American commercial and shipping agreements which have been the subject of negotiations between the waT trade board and the special Danish mission in Washington, were completed tonight and signed. simjlar agreements have been made with the uplifting of mankind, land. Turks Retake Baku. Paris, Sept. 18.—Turkish troops have taken Baku, according to a Basel despatch quoting a telegram from Constantinople under date of Sept. 17th. CAN'T CALM ''EM, WILHELM HARD THRUSTS BY AUSTRIANS Italians Give Ground Before Fierce Austrian Onslaughts. London, Sept. 18.—Persistent thrusts by the Austrians in the Seren valley on the northern Italian front were repulsed oh Monday night by the Italians, according to an cfficial Italian wireless message received here.  At one point, however, the message says, the Italians were forced to make a slight withdrawal on one of their posts. Italian reconnoitering parties have captured an enemy post in Gabana valley. AUSTRALIANS ADVANCE Beyond Hindenburg Line—Serbians Break Bulgar Front. London, Sept. 19—(Via Reuters Ottawa Agency)—The Australians have advanced beyond the. Hindenburg line outposts and up against the main line. The Serbians have completely broken the Bulgarian front. Other Serbian cavalry are advancing upon the important junction of Prilep. The front is now 25 miles wide and is regarded as a most important success. FORMER EMPRESS BURNED TO DEATH Ex-Empress of Russia and Daughters Perished When House Was Burnt London, Sept. 19.—The former Russian empress and three princesses and the grand duchesses, whose name are not reported, were burned to death about a month after the Russian emperor was shot, according to a story reaching London. The source of the story is given consideration in some quarters, and an investigation has been started. After the former emperor was killed, the women were taken to an isolated village, according to the present report, made prisoners in a residence, and were there only a few days when a crowd of Bolsheviki attacked the house. The women barricaded the doors, and the house was set on fire. All the persons in the house perished. There have been various reports as tg the fate of the former Russian empress and her daughters. A London newspaper on Sept. 12th reported that she and her four daughters had been murdered by the Bolsheviki foreign minister. DRIVE WEDGE IN FOE LINE General Mangin's Army Attacks Northeast of. Soissons and Captures Colombes Farm. TEUTON SOLDIERS ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN 11 FRANCE, Sept. 18 (By the A. P.)—General Mangin's army attacked along the front northeast of Soissons today and captured the Colombes farm on the plateau just east of Sancy, and just south of the point where the Chemin dcs Dames branches off from the road leading from Soissons to Laon. A strong counter attack led by grenadiers of the Prussian Guard was repulsed by the French who drove the enemy back of the road leading [horn the plateau of Ange Gardiene to the Colombes farm. This road is less than half a mile from the Chemin dcs Dames. This success puts the French Iα possession of part of the important plateau of Ange Gardiene, which commands the ridge along which runs the famous "Lady's Way" for a considerable distance. It also drives deeper the wedge south of the Hindenburg positions in the St. Gobain region and facilitates operations in the direction of Pinon which was held by the French until the German offensive late in May. The fighting in this region has been most seveTe during the last few days. Prisoners are now complaining that they are frequency left in the front line to shift for themselves. Rarely do their officers stand by them when they are attacked, they say. » ■ -«  Germans Mutiny. Amsterdam, Sept. 18.—A large number of German recruits, most of them boys 18 years of age, refused to entrain for the front at Aix la Chapelle, according to Les Nouvelles, which says that the soldiers were ordered to fire on the mutineers of whom eight were killed and many wounded. ■ » i  Between Fcrryland and Caplin Bay the catch of codfish is reported as 8490 quintals with 100 for last week. Thirty-two dories and skiffs and 26 motor boats are still fishing. HINDENBURG IS READY FOR PEACE But Army Must Keep up Struggle Without Interruption Amsterdam, Sept. 19—Field Marshal Hindenburg has issued a proclain ation to the German army in the field, according to The Zeitung Ammitag of Berlin, in which the German commander in chief alluded to the recent Austrian peace offer, saying that it does not involve an interruption in the war operations. The field marshal adds that a readi ness for peace is not in contradiction with the spirit with which Germany <s waging the struggle. It is the army's duty, he said, to continue the struggle while* waiting to see whether the enemy is sincere and ready for peace negotiations. Adopts Peace Proposals London, Sept. 19.—The inter-allied labor conference today unanimously accepted the report made by the international relations committee recommending that the conference subscribe to the 14 points formulated by President Wilson, thus adopting a policy of clearness and moderation as opposed to a policy dictated exclusively by changes on the war map. ■ «  Munition Factory Destroyed Amsterdam, Sept. 19.—Many persons have been killed or injured in a fire in the Woellersdorf ammunition factory in Vienna, according to an official report received here. After the fire there was a panic among the workers in the shell making section of the factory. MANY PRISONERS ARE CAPTURED Australians Resume Attacks on Outposts of HindenJburg Line London, Sept. 19-JThe British last night made further progress in their drive into the Hindenburg line in the St. Quentin region, aimed at the encircling of that town. According io field marshal Haig's report, in a continued advance noTth of Pontru they reached the outpost positions of the Hindenburg line. The Australians resumed their attacks and carried the Hindenburg out posts. Many prisoners and a number of machine guns were taken by them. The town of Lempire was captured, as was Geuchc. Wood. (Lempire is four miles directly west of Le Catelet.)NEW TALES OF TREASON Fresh Revelations, Made By Government of U. S., Deal With Bolshevik Betrayal of Finland. ASSASSINATION COMPACTS MADE WASHINGTON, Sept. 19—How the iron hand of the German general staff was extended into Finland through the German-paid Russian Bolshevik government is pictured in today's installment of secret documents brought out of Russia for the American government. There are also some peremptory notes from the German military intelligence service, to Trotsky, the Bolshevik foreign minister, telling more of the story of the suppression of revolutionary propaganda in Russian provinces after it had played its part in throwing the provinces into German control.When the Bolshevik were slow about opening the way for complete sway for their masters in Finland, the German intelligence service had the honor to remind them that the withdrawal and disarming of the Russian red guard in Finland must be commenced immediately. Furthermore, the Russian agents were directed to send to Finland a trusty agent to deal with Yarvo Haapalainen, chief of the Finnish white guard?, >vho was disposed to be loyal to his country. This Edgar Sisson, who procured the documents, explains in a note, accounts for the sudden withdrawal of the red guard last March, leaving Finland to her fate. Some of the Russians resisted disarmament, but they were beaten. A series of curt orders from the intelligence service to Trotsky calls for the removal of all agitators from the Ukraine, Estland, Litma and Courland, and for the restoration of rights and property to German landlords, who had been declared outlawed in Estland. Other communications throw further light on assassination compacts between the Bolsheviki and anarchists, which have figured in earlier chapters of the series. A list of anarchists of counter-revolutionists, includes several characters of international notoriety. ■ ■  Wednesday's west bound .express arrived at Port aux Basques at 1 p. m. yesterday. REPLY OF U.S. TOO 'BRUTAL' Germiji Papers Are Bitter and Pessimistic in Comments on Rejection of Austrian Note. SAY PEACE TALK NOW PURPOSELESS fOPENHAGEN, Sept. * 19.—The German press generally, from the socialists to the conservatives, regards America's answer to the Austrian peace note taken in connection with the speech of Foreign Secretary Balfour as a final proof that the allies, so the newspapers charge, seek to complete the destruction cf the central powers and their people and the dismemberment of their ter- The Socialist Vorwaerts of Berlin is bitter and pessimistic. It declares that the American answer and the utterances of Secretary Balfour compel the conclusion that the entente will not hear of a peace by agreement. Mr. Balfour's speech, says The Vorwaerts, contains two poin'.s which a great many of the German people are ready to discuss and two others which will evoke powerful opposition from every German. The first two points are Belgium and the Brest-Litovsk; the other two concern the German colonies and Alsace-Lorraine. If Mr. Balfour wishes that these last two points should be fulfilled, -which wh\d !»« possible only through a complete military victory by the entente, there would be a feeling left among ths entire German people that they had been made the victims of a robber's warfare. The Vorwaerts says that even if the entente does not admit the justice of the German standpoint, i»s rejection of the Austrian invitation is nevertheless an act of stupidity and brutality. The Lokal Anzeiger's «on\ment is on an "I told you so" nature. The newspaper says that President Wilson's anwer makes it necessary to wait and see what the entente nations will say. It declares it is evident from Mr. Balfour's speech that negotiations are impossible unless Germany is willing to accept in advance all the conditions laid down by the The newspaper adds if the matter of giving our colonies back to us is a closed incident for England, then any peace talk also is purposeless as far as we are concerned. THE WAR SITUATION (By J. T. M.) CROM late despatches it appears that at last real war is going on in the Balkans. It will be a hopeless task to follow closely the course of the conflict if we are to rely on the best available war maps of that country. At every step one will trip over the most formidable jumble of letters which these people use to express the names of their towns and villages, and the most tantalising part of it is that each nationality has a different name for the same places. Neither the Serb, the Turk, the Greek' nor the Albanian will write the name of a town or village alike, except the cities which rank first in importance, and even then we find two or more names for some of them. What is Monastir with the Serb is Bitolia with the Greek and Vitolia with the Turk; and when tlfc Serb tells he has captured Prilep, a Greek general will announce the fall of Per leppe, and the Bulgar will give it some other name. Most of the names of places in the Balkans are unpronounceable, and the average English-speaking man would just as soon see the Bulgar and Turk win as be obliged to tell their neighbors the names of the towns and villages the allies may capture in this drive. The best way to follow the progress of the allies is by measuring their progress in English miles from a given point. Accepting the reports to hand of the progress made by the French and Serbs since the opening of this drive their advanced posts are now at least twelve miles north of the Greek frontier. Their advance on the east end of their line is along the westerh side of the V»rdar River which extends from Uskub, 70 miles north of Monastir, to the Gulf of Sal onika, crossing the Greek frontier twelve miles west of Lake Dorain. On the west end of their line, their advance has been across the southern plains of Monastir, and along the Cerna river valley. Their left flank rests on Lake Presba where their line forms a junction with the, Italians, and on the east their right rests on Lake Dorain, where they maintain contact with the British. Advancing between these two points they appear to have pushed a wide wedge northward into the Bui gar front, driving them from some ex ceedingly strong positions between Monastir and the river Vardar. Grad eshinitz (Gradishce) is on the south of the Cerna River, and shows an advance of twelve miles from the point where the drive started in the centre. Northwest of Monastir their progress has been considerably less. In that sector the Bulgar stands on a strong mountain position overlooking the plains of Monastir, over which the aWiei must advance, unless they dislodge the enemy by flank manoeuvre from the Albanian front, or force his abandonment of his line bj (Continued on Page S) j lllliilllilillllllflllill Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllii j Bowing's Always I, , BOWRING'S 1 Goods 1 Cotton and Found 1 J Will Wool I I L Blankets AmoD2 I I Stand  I A,so I tl - The Ine The Fancy 3 y CANTON R . I lest Best. 1 BLANKETS 1! ■"■IS - ■■■■■!■> I For I I MOTOR CARS, 1 1 BUGGYS, 1 I BEDS or SOFAS J I ALL EXTRA VALUE. § I Bowring Bros., Ltd. | iiiii!iiiijiiiiiiiiiii!iii!iiiiiiiiiiilii!liiii]|i!iii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!iniiiii^