Over the Top With the Best of Luck and Give ’em — Well, Buy Liberty Bonds
Newp< irt Daily independent.
YOLUME XVII. NO. 305. NEWPORT, ARKANSAS. MONDAY, APRIL 0, 1918. PRICE FIVE CENTS.
1s PREPARING
' ANOTHER THRUST
Heavy Drum Fire Is Reported In
Sectors and Germans May Renew
Thrust Toward Arras.
Associated Press Dispatch.
London, April 8.— The Ger
mans apparently are preparing
for another big effort on the bat
tlefront in Northern France.
Heavy drum fire is reported in
extensive sectors.
, The most intensive German fire
seems to be in progress south
of the Somme, where a direct
drive toward Amiens is on, and
north of the River Scarpe, to
ward British left flank.
Activity north of the Scarpe
may mean a renewal of the
thrust toward Arras.
Associated Press Dispatch.
Washington, April !8.—Every day
the allies are in better position to re
sist the German drive, according to
an official review of the British mil
itary attack here. British, Franch
and American reserves are pouring
in daily to defend Amiens, the re
view declares.
Associated Press Dispatch.
With the British Army in France, |
April 8.—Intense hostile artillery
work is proceeding at various points
of the British front. North of the
River Scarpe and south of the
Somme, the bombardment is unusu
ally heavy. No infantry action oc
curred up to eight o’clock this •norn
ing.
Associated Press Dispatch.
Paris, April 8.— Violent artil’ery 1
engagements occurred last night, es
pecially on the left bank of the Oise,
according to an official statement.
Associated Press Dispatch.
London, April 8.—It is officially
announced that the British last night
made a small advance on the south
ern bank of the Somme.
WILL PROTEST
TO AMERICA
Associated Press Dispatch.
Washington, April 8.—Because of
the landing of British and Japanese i
forces at Vladivostack the National
Council of Soviets announces its in
tention to protest to the United
States. According to state depart
ment advices the British have landed
’ a party of fifty sailors to guard the
consulate, and the Japanese forces
Saturday were increased by 250 men.
TWO BANDITS
KILLED TODAY
Associated Press Dispatch.
Marathan, Texas, April 8.—Two
Mexican bandits were killed and sev
eral wounded in a clash with Texas
rangers today, according to a mes
sage from San Helena.
Don’t be a dead one. Advertise.
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SUMMARY OF
wicmnY
Germans Are Nibbling At the Allied
Line In An Effort to Locate
a Weak Spot.
Associated Press Dispatch.
New York, April 8.—Checked at
most points on the front from Arras
to Coucy, north of Soissons, the Ger
mans are nibbling at the allied line
i in an effort to find a weak spot. So
far the enemy has been repulsed
along the western leg and elbow of
the salient. In the Chauncy-Coucy
Lafere triangle along the Oise the
French have retired to higher ground'.
North of the Somme the enemy is
confining his efforts to the capture
of artillery positions, but without
success.
Aerial fighting continues heavy.
The French and British aviators
brought down thirty-one enemy ma
chines. Berlin claims eighteen en
tente airplanes were destroyed.
From Arras to the Somme the
British line is unchanged.
The latest enemy attempts to at
tack in the region of Bucquoy, twen
ty miles north of Somme, were brok
en up by artillery fire. Immediately
south of the Somme there is only lo
cal fighting.
The French maintain a splendid
defense east of Amiens of the Paris
railway.
Berlin claims advances in the re
gion of Coucy, but no mention of
fighting here is made by Paris.
American troops northwest of Toul
successfully countered attempted
German raids Friday and Sunday.
j
American Infantrymen Pursue Ger
mans to Their Support Trenches,
Emptying First Ones.
Associated Press Dispatch.
With the American Army in France,
Sunday, April 7.—The Germans at
tempted raids at two points of the
American trenches in the Toul sector
Friday night. The first was easily
repulsed.
In the second the enemy was al
lowed to reach our wire entangle
ments. Then the American infantry
rushed out and drove the enemy back,
continuing their pursuit until the
first enemy trenches were emptied.
The Germans were driven back to
their support trenches.
SHERIFF TO
HOLD TAXES
Associated Press Dispatch.
Little Rock, April 8.— The su
preme court today overruled the mo
tion to restrain the collection of
taxes in the case of Iron Mountain
vs. Road Improvement District No. 1,
of Jackson county, but ordered the
sheriff to hold the taxes collected
pending a decision of the case.
GRUBBS GOES “OVER THE TOP.”
Esquire J. E. McElrath was in from
Grubbs today and reports a success
ful Liberty Day rally Saturday.
There was a parade led by the Boy |
Scouts and school children after
which they gathered at the school
house, where they had songs, recita- J
tions, and a flag drill by the pupils j
of the public school. i
Patriotic addresses were delivered j
by Rev. Mitchell and Rev. L. C. Doyle
of the local churches, which were
well received by the large crowd of
patriotic citizens. At the conclusion
of the exercises the committee went
to work and in less than three hours
had subscriptions for more than
their quota of the Third Liberty
Loan bonds. Grubbs is never slow in
responding when the country calls
and in this instance was one of the
first towns to “go over the top.”
Subscribe for The Independent.
1*7 ' : v I
Holiday Is Celebrated
By Newport Citizens
■ ■ ■■
Saturday, April 6th was the anni
versary of America’s entry into the
great world war in which the forces
of democracy and civilization are at
death’s grip with the forces of auto
cracy and barbarism. It was desig
nated as a legal holiday and was
fittingly observed all over the United
States. It was also celebrated in
France and England, where the
American ambassadors were guests
of honor at the meetings.
The city of Newport, always in the
front ranks on occasions of this kind,
held one of the greatest patriotic
rallies on record. Long before the
hour set for the opening the court
room at the county court house was
crowded with patriotic citizens, ready
and eager not to do thedr bit but to
do their utmost.
The meeting was called to order by
Chairman Claude M. Erwin and open
ed with the singing of America by the
audience, followed by an invocation
by Rev. J. W. Gardner.
Much credit for the success of the
meeting was due to Mrs. Maude
Reamey and her choir of “Community
Singers,” and Charles Sartorius, the
well known violinist, who led the
music.
The following local singers render
ed solos which were well received
and loudly applauded.
George H. Banks sang “Long Boy”
and made a great hit. Miss Adeline
Pate sang “Liberty Bell,” Mrs. G. A.
Hillhouse, “Sons of America,” Mrs.
Adam Lockard, “Keep the Home
gium, France, England and Italy, and
the causes which compelled America
to enter the struggle for the preser
vation of civilization, Christianity
and democracy. He outlined in a
masterly manner the system of our
country in handling all the affairs of
the government including the three
issues of Liberty Loan Bonds,, mak
ing this subject clear to some of his
hearers who had not thoroughly un
derstood it before. He made a prac
tical illustration of the reason why
this third issue should be promptly
oversubscribed by telling a story of a
wounded American soldier in the
trenches “over there” asking how
are they progressing at home with
the “Third Liberty Loan?” Will you
send him a message in answer to tljjs
question saying “it is a failure?” A
chorus of voices from the audience
shouted, “Ho.” Mr. Wheeler con
cluded his address with an appeal to
all loyal citizens to buy “Liberty
Bonds,” “War Savings Certificates”
and to get in line with the adminis
tration on all subjects that we may
do our part in helping to win the war.
Dr. H. F. Vermillion, president of
the Mountain Home college, was on
the program for an address, but un
fortunately his train was late and he
did not arrive in time. In order not
to disappoint the hundreds of people
who were eager to hear him, he con
sented to make a fifteen minute talk,
and in this short time he touched Hie
tender chords and made to burn
brighter the already glowing fires of
patriotism in the hearts of the au
Fires Burning,” also “We Are Going l
Over;” Arthur Umsted, “Just a j
Baby’s Prayer At Twilight,” Mrs. C.!
P. Bandy sang, “Good Bye Germany”
and the “National Liberty Bond An-!
them,” and the Community Choir j
sang several popular patriotic songs,
including, “Over There,” and “Let’s
Get the Kaiser With a Liberty Bond.”
The principal speaker of the day,
Eustace C. Wheeler of St. Louis, was
introduced by the chairman and was
arreeted with long and loud applause.
He paid a well-deserved compliment
bo the chairman and the committee in
charge of the exercises, saying that
he wasn’t needed here on this occasion
but as he had been ordered here by
the general committee, he had obeyed
rders and was here to do his duty as
agood soldier. Mr. Wheeler re
viewed the conditions leading up to
the war, the early part of the con
flict, the noble parts taken by Bel
Captain George A. Hillhouse, coun
ty chairman of the Third Liberty
Loan organization, was called upon
and made a short address on Liberty
Bonds and outlined the duties of the
various committees and called upon
the citizens for their hearty co-oper
ation in helping to send Jackson
county “Over the Top” in the first;
four days of the “drive.”
When the orchestra struck the first
strains of “The Star Spangled Ban
ner” the audience arose and sang
the national anthem in a manner
which would strike terror to the
forces of tyrany and oppression.
Rev. J. W. Gardner pronounced the
benediction and the crowd dispersed
while the choir sang, “Let’s Get the
Kaiser With a Liberty Bond.” The
sales committees report favorable
progress in the sale of bonds in the
county. _
SINK SHIPS TO
THWART HONS
Three Battleships Were Blown Up
By Russians to Keep Them Out
of German Hands.
Associated Press Dispatch.
Washington, April 8.— Russian
warships were sunk on the southern
coast of Finland to keep them out of
Ghrman hands and later were blown
up after German warships opened
fire on them, according to a state
department dispatch from Stock
holm. Three were battleships.
WHEAT CROP
IS REPORTED
Department of Agriculture Estimates
The Production Will Reach
560,000,000 Bushels.
Associated Press Dispatch.
Washington, April 8.—The depart
ment of agriculture today in the re
port showing the condition of the
crop to April first to be 78.6 per cent
normal, estimates the winter wheat
production will be about 560,000,000
bushels.
Mrs. Evelyn Kinman returned Sun
day evening from a delightful week’s
visit with her daughter at Pine Bluff.
Mrs. De Sha Lester, of Newark, is
visiting Mrs. Charles Hogan of our
city.
FALSE REPORT_
IS CORRECTED
*hma&
General Sturgis Denies Report That
White and Black Soldiers Are
Mixed At Camp Pike.
—
Associated Press Dispatch.
Washington, April 8.— Reports
of indiscriminate mixing of white
; and negro soldiers at Camp Pike, Ar
i kansas, are unfounded, according to
a report to the war department from
General Sturgis, commanding at
Camp Pike, who explained that the
situation complained of was only
temporary and that steps were taken
to correct it.
At a recent regimental formation
white cooks were drawn up with a
negro unit, but were not mixed.
A Mississippi congressional dele
gation made the formal protests.
FIRST DAY’S
LOAN DRIVE
Associated Press Dispatch.
Washington, April 8.—From unof
ficial reports to the treasury it is
estimated the first day’s subscrip
tions to the Third Liberty Loan cam
paign will reach a quarter of a bil
lion dollars.
Mrs. W. H. Matthews of El Dorado,
who spent last week with her sister,
, Mrs. H. E. Smith of the Columbia ho
j tel, has returned home.
EXHIBIT TRAIN TO
BE HERE TONIGHT:
I
Train Carrying War Relics Will Re
main Here All Night and Depart
Tomorrow Morning.
Newport and Jackson county will
have opportunity of getting a close
up view of the great world war to
night and tomorrow morning, when
the special exhibit train from St.
Louis will be in the city. Ira J. j
Mack, director of Publicity for the j
Liberty Loan campaign in Jackson
county, has received the following J
telegram from H. S. Gardner of St. j
Louis, general director of publicity:
“The special exhibit train contain
ing foreign officers and war trophies
from the battlefields of France will
arrive in Newport April 8 during the
night, departing April 9 at 11 a. m.
Please use every effort to have large
crowds, as this is an opportunity of a
life time to hear the battle stories
from eye witnesses, and see imple
ments of war which have played a
part in the great conflict.”
Accompanying the train will be
captured German war implements,
and many other interesting relics of
the battlefields of France, and the
tieat will be worth going many miles
to enjoy.
Newport people should get busy
with their telephones and notify per
sons living out of town of the train’s
:oming and urge them to visit New
port tomorrow morning. The train
is to remain here until 11 o’clock, dur
ing which time everyone will have
opportunity to see these relics and
bear the speakers.
It is not a pleasant thing to relate,
sut the city of Newport is in need of
i general clean-up, such as all house
keepers are forced to undergo at the
proper season.
Our streets are strewn with paper, j
straw and rubbish, flying from one j
side to the other, and even into yards. !
Front street especially attracts,
the notice, with unswept sidewalks,
and unclean gutters on Sundays. [
-A great deal of this pride rests j
with the individual citizen. It is the
individual that forms the whole col
lectively and moulds public senti
ment.
Half a dozen live citizens can make
this a clean town. It is true we are ,
quite busy just now with war work,
such as war savings stamps, Liberty
Bonds, Red Cross work etc., but for
the sake of civic pride, stop long
enough to clean up your premises
clean out rubbish from the alleys and
behind the buildings, all of which
will add to the looks of our city.
TO ELIMINATE
MANY OFFICERS
Associated Press Dispatch.
Washington, April 8.—Orders were
issued to day to eliminate f.om the
medical reserve corps of the army all
men who are not qualified for active
service. It is estimated that about
1,500 commissions will be revoked.
NOTICE.
Since rumors have been circulated
and money solicited by parties repre-1
senting themselves to be in the em
ploy of the United States department j
of agriculture, we take this opportun-1
ity to warn the farmers of Jackson
county. All department representa
tives will be accompanied by us, so i
put no faith in strangers. Instead, 1
have them arrested and thoroughly
investigated.
G. H. Banks, Co. Agt.,
Mrs. G. H. Banks,
Home Demonstration Agent.
d & w.
Miss Audrey McLain has been at!
Brinkley for several days, the guest
of her sister, Mrs. Walter Brown. ,
Will Probably Oversubscribe Third
Liberty Loan Within a Period
of Four Days. /
Citizens of Newport and Jackson
county have reason to feel proud of
the manner in which they have sub
scribed to the Third Liberty Loan.
The following townships are reported
to have practically subscrib'd their
quotas: Bird, Glass, Village, GruMbe,
Cache, Breckenridge, Bryan and Bate- ?
man. , ■ - 'S
Up to 5 o’clock Saturday\ fht Un
ion township, in which NeWyort is
located, had subscribed a total of
$125,800. Its quota ia $150,000.
It is probable Jackson county will
oversubscribe its quota in four days.
Everybody will be called upon and
given a chance to purchase a bond.
The women of Newport were busy
today selling bonds. This organisa
tion is in charge of Mrs. S. R. Phil
lips during the absence of Mrs. C. G.
Henry from the city, and the differ
ent committees are expected to re
port good subscriptions.
Th negroes of the city are respond
ing readily. The work among the
colored population today was carried
on by Drs. Taylor and Goodwin and
Walter Hubble.
There will be a meeting tonight of
the sales committees, when a full re
port of the county’s subscriptions
will be received.
VISITS STATE FARM. S
^ VrV^. ..ibjfsHEi
Editor Independent: ^3
Saturday night I returned from
Gamer, where I went on business, |||
and while there took advantage of the v*
opportunity to run over to the Cum
mins state farm, of which our for
mer fellow-townsman, John McCuis
tion is superintendent.
I was agreeably surprised to find
such a splendid farm. Mr. McCuis
Lion certainly is to be commended for
the manner in which he has brought
the place out. It is in perfect condi
ti n. There are 4,500 acres in culti
vation, and of this acreage 2,500 are
planted to foodstuff, and from the
present outlook I believe there will ^'r'
be more stuff than they will be able
to gather. Cotton is coming up and
it looks splendid. The whole farm
looks like one big garden.
I visited the wards and found them
■sanitary. The cooking is first class,
find as good as anyone should desire.
I talked privately with several pris
oners I knew, and they all said they
were receiving fine treatment in ev
ery manner—had all they wanted to
eat, enough work to keep them busy,
and a good place to sleep.
There is splendid discipline among
the men, so good, in fact, that the
men say there is hardly more than
one whipping a week.
It will pay anybody to visit the
Cummins farm and acquaint himself
with the extraordinary prison sys
tem our state has established.
Yours truly,
I W. C. McDougald.
SPECIAL NOTICE.
I will give a Fireless Cooker dem
onstration at the court house, Wed
nesday afternoon at 2 o’clock, at
which time I will make and demon
strate a fireless cooker. All ladies
interested in food preparation and
c nscrvation are invited to attend.
Mrs. Geo. H. Banks.
Mrs. Myrtle Best arrived home last
night, having gone to Conway from
the teachers’ meeting at Little Rock,
where she spent Sunday with friends.
J. H. Shipman and R. O. Busbee
were in from Grubbs today on busi
ness.
Miss Carolyn EngjjSsSS^* of Rush
ton’s store, spent Sunday with
friends at Little Rock.
Manager O. P. Moss of the local
water and light plant, has been in St.
Louis for two or three days on busi
ness. _
An organization of women to com
bat German propaganda has been
formed in New York.