Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

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MOST COMPLETE
SPORT SECTION
IN THE CITY
SUNDAY IN
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LEASED WIRE TELEGRAPH REPORT TO 3 A. M. SUNDAY
THE WEATHER
Washington. July 8.—Eastern Pennau: Fair and not quite so warm Sunday; Monday fair.
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PRICE    FIVE    CENTS     i-uDushed m Luzeme County.
WEJCES-BARRE. PA.. SUNDAY,    JULY 9,1916.
Entered at Wllkes-Barre, Fa. PPTPP    CIVI?   PITXTTC
as Second Class Mail Matter JrltH^JCi    T 1 V Ilj    V/Jl<i>li5
MINE WORKERS WIN BIG W4GE RULING
WHOLE NATION   IS   UNITED TO FIGHT   MYSTERIOUS   PLAGUE
MJVER's maoM
IN WAGE RULING
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ByFEDtiLlllOdPS
Referee Who Deducted Sup¬ plies From Earnings is Forced to Change Decision to Afford Damages on Total of Wages—Widow Gains Biggest Award Under New Act
Several  Casualties   Reported
and Danger May Result Work For State Militia
in
HUNDREDS AFFECTED
One of the most important rulings handed down since the enactment of Workmen's compensation sustains the claims of the Vnited Mine Workers and establishes a precedent in an un¬ usual case appealed to the Workmen's Compensation Board from the decision of the local Referee. The case is that of Mrs. Anna Catherine Michaels, widow, clainunt, agakniit the A. Pardee Coal Company of Hazleton, in which Mrs. Michaels through the legal de¬ partment of the United Mine Workers appealed from the rulings of George W. Beemer of Scranton In establish¬ ing ihc- amojnt of compensation due the widow and her children through the death nf JaLcob Michaels, a miner who was killed at Cranberry, on February 29tto of this year, while at work.   •
The decision reached this city last iiight. It establish two important phases in the act, that have been con¬ tested by the Coal operators and Miners. The first feature seta the fact that compensation as computed six months prior to time of the ac¬ cident must be inclusive of the cost of supplies, as contended by the miners and Btrenously opposed by the em¬ ployers In many cases. The second rules in favor of the mine worker whose survivors in case of fata! ac¬ cident are to be awarded compensa¬ tion from the date of th© accident and not fourteen days later as claimed In many InstaAe^s by the defendant coal compajiies.
The history of this important case, explained by Attorney Roger J. Devers of thi« city, chief counsel for the United Mine Workers In the Anthracite dis- trlcta. began February 2»th, when Mr. Mlcheal, working a chamber as partner to another miner In the Cranberry dis¬ trict was fatally injured by a fall of rock. The case assumed the usual routine and was brought before Referee Beemer at Scranton and heard June 15 In that city. The bone of contention was In the question: "Should the amounts deducted by tho employer from the gross earnings of the deceased for supplies, etc., necessarily used by him in the performance of his contract be included in computing his average weekly w84;ej??"
.. REFEREE OVERRULED, This question was raised by the de¬ fendant and sustained by the refaree. In this ruling the gross earnings of Mr. Michael for the term of computation were 1246.93 while the company de¬ ducted $22.19. .\ttorne.y Dever asked for an appeal and was heard the same day by the Compensation Board. The decision, reversing the ruling, was handed down by James W. Leech, at Harrlsburg.
The widow has been awarded com¬ pensation for 300 weeks. Including JlOO for funeral expenses, a total of $2,563.93, while the dependant children have been awarded $1,611.69. The award Is one of the biggest granted from the Workmen's compensation act, giving a total verdict of $4,175.52. Opinion by Commissioner L»e«h. This case is before the Board on a hearing granted on an appeal by the claimant from the linding and awaiu of eorge W. Beemer, referee of the Third District, and raises but one question.     namely: "Should       the
amount deducted by the employer from the gross earnings of the deceased em¬ ploys for supplies," etc.. neceseaiily used by him In the performance of his contract, be included In computing his "average weekly wages?"
The gros.« earnings of the deceased employe during the period taken for computation were $246.93, and ihe amount deducted hy Ihe defendant company for supplies, etc.. furnished by It. to him and necessarily used by him In performing his ctmtract was $22.18. Should this latter sum be ex¬ cluded iti computing hi.-s "avenige weekly wages," In ' determining the amount of compensation due his de¬ pendents?
Section 309 of the Workmen's Com¬ pensation Act, In attempting to de¬ fine the term "wages." contains the following clause:
"Nor shall  It  (the term  wages") include amounts  deducted   by   the employer,   under  the     contract   of hiring,   fnr   labor,   material,   sup¬ plies,  tools  or other  things  furn¬ ished or paid for by the employer ¦ind necessary for the performance of such contract by the employee." It is evident that the answer to the question   here  raised  depends  entirely on   what   terms  were  incJuded  in  the "contract of hiring."     It must be con- dMed that if there were a "contract of hiring"  either express or implied, be¬ tween the employer and employe which the employer was required to furnish or pay  for supplies, etc.,    necessarily UMd by the employe In the perform- aaoe of his contract, and deduct  the ccst  thereof from  the  gross  earnings of the employe, then it is clear that the cost  of  such   supplies,   etc.,  should   be excluded  In    computing his    "average weekly xyages."
(«|«BlEaMd Oa Fbc* Sstm.)
Bridgehampton. L. I., July 8.—In a telegram to Governor Johnson this af¬ ternoon. Justice Hughes urged that the conference of CaJlfoniia Progressives co-operate In what he said was the common purpose of the Republicans and Progressives alike. His message read: "I understand that the Progreg- sive conference in California to be held to-day. The national aims to which we are devoted are so vitally important that 1 earnestly hope there may be that strong and effective co-operation which will insure their achievsment. 1 desire a reunited party as an essential agency to national progress, a party drawing to itself liberal sentiment of a quickened nation.
"1 warmly appreciate the many as¬ surances of support that are constant¬ ly coming lo me from Progreesives and the willingness that has been so frank¬ ly shown to forget former differences In order that by common effort we may mee^ our country's imperative need. As to our common purposes, I repeat to your conference what I said in my tele¬ gram to the progressive committee meeting at Chioago—we are not divid¬ ed in our Ideals; let us work together to attain them."
Mr. Hughes paid a three-hour visit to New Tork today, mainly in order to comply with a Pennsyl-vania law which requires that presidential candidates shall nominate their electors within 30 days after a convention chooses the nominee. He also had a brief confer¬ ence -with Chairman Willcox. It was reported that some of the old guard were not particularly pleased with Hughes' announced purpose of putting at least six Progressives on the cam¬ paign committee of 17 members.
MISSOURI HOUNO DOG
BECOMES REAL MASCOT
Fort Worth, Tex., July 8.—^The Sec¬ ond Missouri Infantry has officially adopted the famous "Houn" Dog" song as the hattie cry of the regiment. To make it an Illustrated song, they've ac¬ quired the mounfullest, long-eardest, Missouriest houn' e-ver seen In these parts as a mascot.
GLEN LYON THEFTS
ETROUBLE
Peter Pulen, a Brooksid© contractor who was arrested Thursday by State Trooper Ryap of Troop B, and Chief of Police McA/ee, near Lily Lake, was glvep a hearing yesterday before Just- Ice of the Peace Adamski at Glen Lyon and in default of bail was committed to the county jail. He was arrested for th© theft of a horse, owned by Richard Kesln of Glen Lyon. A short time after Pulen was arrested the horse was found in th© woods near the lake.
Sine© the Brooksid© man's arrest, the residents in Glen Lyon have re¬ ported other t^bberles. Two widows living in that section hav«> reported cows missing. The Nanticoke Store Company branch in Newport township was recently robbed of $600 -worth of merchandise. The police are attempt¬ ing to -lonnect Pulen and accomplices with these crimes.
BANDITS WERE BRAVE
El Paso. Tex., Julj^ 8.—Three re¬ ported border raids and a bloody bat¬ tle between defacto government troops and Vtllistas renewed Interest in the Mexican situation here to-night.
A Carranzista force under General Domingo Arrieta attacked a ViUista column under Callxto Contreras ad¬ vancing on Parral and at last reports the fight was still raging.
Fourteen Mexicans were repotted killed by Tom Perrine and two ranch hands when the three Americans over¬ took about forty bandits who raided Perrine's ranch near the New Mexico border line. Perrine's cattle were re¬ covered.
Terlingua, a hamlet near the Puerto Rico mine in the Big Bend country of Texas, was reported to have been raid¬ ed. It was stated a band captured a bullion train from the Boquillo mine of the International Mining Co. but the American employees o nthe three trucks, after an exchange of shots es¬ caped to the American side uninjured.
The report of the raid lacks official confirmation. Army authorities await¬ ed reports from border patrols at Marfa and Marathon.
General FVanclsco, Juarei comman¬ dant, officially announced that Ar- rleta's column had engaged the V'lUis- tas near Baca, midway between Jlm- |4nez and Parral. Three thousand men were engaged. Arrieta's force con¬ sisted of 1,200 cavalry and 800 Infan¬ try. The VIUiBtas were sweeping northward toward Parral, fresh from looting Jlnrlnez and their bloody vic¬ tory over the Carranzista garrison at Corralitos.
Although outnumbered th* Villistas apparently put up a desperate fight Thebattl© began shortly after dawn and the outcome was still In doubt when Gonzales received his last mes¬ sage this afternoon.
With Parral in their hands, the Vill¬ istas would be In virtual control of southern CVhihuahua and northern Durango, menacing Chlbuahub
and Carranza's grip on northern Mex¬ ico. A much farather advance north .would bring the Villistas in touch with the American expedition in Mexlca and place them in a position to strike at the American border.
Texas Towns  Endangered.
The rebels, In fact, were reported rushing from Kalomir to La Mula Pass to raid the Big Bend, Tex. border towns. It appeared unlikely that the Villistas reported to have left Falomlr yesterday, figured in the raids reported today and independent bands are sus¬ pected.
Villa himself was reported leading the column mo-ving on Parral, but this vas not bom© out by Gonzales official announcement In Juarez. Communi¬ cation betwee«n Jlminez and P»arral was cut b ythe Villistas who were said to be recruiting as they traveled north¬ ward, when intercepted by the Car¬ ranzlstas. '
Baca, scene of th© battle is in th© mountains mining district southwest of- Parral. "When the details of the fight become known It is believed the losses on both sides will be hea-vy.
Two brigades of Pennsylvania in- fantiT. a Massachusetts brigade and several smaller eastern units of all branches are tonight encamped in El Paso.
CHILDREN OF NATION FACE PLAGUE TERROR
New York. July 8.—Public Health Ser\ice hopes to be able to open a laboratory and office here to fight in¬ fantile paralysis. The work of the fed. eral experts—there are five of ihem here now and more will be coming later— I is first of all to ascertain Infeciivity— that is how long a pArson is a carrier of the tiny germ of the dreaded malady —before he develops symptoms, and, second to find out how long after he develops symptoms he can still trans¬ mit the disease to others.
The laboratjory work will include a study of the source of infection, includ¬ ing experiments to arcertain whether the germ Is carried by parasite, fleas, lice, bedbugs, flies, mosqulto.s, or other insects, and how.
The tragedy of the present situation here in New York is lack of experi¬ mental animals. There ar-; only two ariimals which are of any ise In de¬ termining disease of this character— rabbits and monkeys. In the present instance with infantile paralysis, rab¬ bits cannot be used. But an outbreak of surra, a disease wihch affects horses, among monkeys in the Philippines and South America, resulted some time ago in a quarantine against their importa¬ tion by their department of agricul¬ ture.
As a result there are practically no monkeys available in the United States for bacteriological experiments. Hun¬ dred.* are needed here in New York. Public health surgeons were delighted to hear that Secretary of Agriculture Houston today had raised the quaran. tine on the Simians from the Philip¬ pines ae a special emergency measure.
hut they pointed out it would be a month or more before these prospective sacrifices to science could arrive here. In the meantime th© public health ser¬ vice in Washington will strive to rush a shipment of monkeys from Panama. Ask Drastic Order When Dr. Rucker reaches Washlng-
j ton he will ask for issuance by the Sec¬ retary of the Treasury of a special order directing all common carriers leaving New York thoroughly to disinfect and machine clean all cars when they leave and again before the cars are sent across the New York State line on the way back.
"You can say with all emphasis that there has been no thought of a general quarantine against New York," Dr. Rucker said.
"It was understood the federal ex¬ perts regarded the magnitude of th© task of maintaining any sort of an «f- fectiv© quarantine as utterly out of pro¬ portion to the amount of good which might be accompllched by such an em¬ bargo. Some sort of a general inspec. tion system, however, may be evol-ved t-<ut this will have to be considered by t>e general board of the Public Health Service.
' Th© scheme advanced in resolution which passed the House in Washing¬ ton this afternoon to have the federal
j government turn over the Ellis Island contagious hospital to the city for use as a hospital to handle Infantile para-
I lysis   cases,   was  hailed   by   both   city and   federal   authorities   as  a  splendid arrangement.    The Ellis Island hospi¬ tal accommodates six hundred patients (Oonttanod Oa Fag* Thr©*.)
TO FIGHT PLAGUES
Science of Whole Nation En¬ gaged in Warfare on Most Mysterious of Diseases
' PUZZLES DOCTORS
BY PERRY ARNOLD
United   Press   Staff Correspondent
New York, July 8.—The bigge.st city in the world tonight was the mobiliza¬ tion center of forces of nation, state and city who are waging one of the biggest twittles to save life that has ever been fought.
New York's 1,600,000 babies were threatened with that mysterious malady, infantile paralysis. Half a dozen other states reported child vic¬ tims.
The federal government started plans to organize a great laboratory here where the nation's greatest bacteriolists are gathered to fight the scourge.
Tonight the total number of cases in New York City, since July 6. had reach¬ ed 893, the total deaths, 'JOS.
Health commissioner Emerson made a desperate measure when he obtained permission from the police depart¬ ment for calling out New York's 10,000 home gusTds,"—cltixena trained under police direction for co-operation in such crisis. From now on the ten thousand -will be on duty part of th© day, patrolling beats with uniformed policemen, but with the special duty of cleaning up. It will be their duty to see that streets are kept spotless, garbage cans tightly citysed children kept off the streets, litter removed and disinfection of infected districts done thoroughly.
Deputy surgeon general W. C. Ruck¬ er of the Public Health service spent a strenuous ten hours in New York today and hurried back to Washington to cut red tape and permit Immediate establishment here in New York of a complete laboratory and administrative force of public health surgeons not only to help the city authorities cope with the epidemic, but to study the mysterious disease.
"What makes for tear of the epi¬ demic," said Dr. Rucker, "is the mys¬ tery of the disease. The coccus, or germ, has been isolated but medical science knows nothing of how It Is transmitted, or why. It is the unknown the mysterious, which brings fear. A few years ago discovery was announc¬ ed that the stable fly transmitted the malady. An experiment in Washing¬ ton on monkeys shov/ed that a stable fly which had bitten an Infected monkey transmitted the disease to a healthy monkey. But there the ex¬ periment ended, it could not be re¬ peated.
"In one epidemic on the pacific coast it was discovered that colncidentally there was an epidemic of lame colts, but no one could connect the two. In Cincinnati I personally saw paralyzed chickens and ducks around homes in which were infantile paralysis cases. But there was no way of connecting them up. It could not be ascertained whether the children contracted the disease from the colts, chickens or ducks, or vice versa."
Noted   Scientist  to   Help.
New York, July 8. — Dr. Martin L. Carrlck, of Dallas, Tex. and connected with the United States Public Health Service tonight volunteered his ser- ¦vlce to aid in fighting the infantile paralysis epidemic. His offer was ac¬ cepted and he will assist local physic¬ ians beginning  Monday.
JOHNSON A CANDIDATE
FORTHESENATORSHIP
San Francisco, Cal. July 8.—Governor Hiram Johnson in aiiraddress to Cali¬ fornia Progressives in convention here late this afternoon -virtually announced his candidacy for the United States Senatorship.
He said: "I don't want to be a can¬ didate for the Senate, but if K is neces¬ sary to keep alive this movement, (Progressive) if it be my duty to go forward, I am ready to the best that lies in me for success."
FOR RENT
FOR RENT—EIGHT-ROOM HOUSE; all Improvements   and   fruit   trees. Apply  6  E. »Germanla St.,  Ashley,  or call Bell 'Phone 1681.
FEMALE  HELP WANTED AGENTS FOR CITY AND VICINITY; hustlers  only.    Will  pay  $18  to  $26 per  week.     Call   Monday   evening,   86 Hanover St., city.
SALESMAN WANTED WA.VTED—LOCAL AND TRAVELi- Ing salesmen everywhere. Three to ten dollars dally. Costs nothing to star:. Pay weekly. Experience un¬ necessary. Write today. Charlton Nursery ComfcjMiy, Rochester, N. Y.
T
TO BORDER SyPPLIES
Fear That Downpour Has Cut Off Punitive Force in In¬ terior Mexico
AIR SCOUTS CALLED
IMPORTANT GAIN FOR ALUES DRIVE
Eagle Pass., Tex. July 8.—The rainy season opened with a rush here to¬ night when three inches of rain, pre¬ ceded by a heavy wind, fell In two hours. The 9,000 regulars and militia¬ men encamped here were flooded out of their quarters. Thousands of dollars damage was done to army supplies and equipment.
The wind swooped down on the city without warnii^g shortly after night fall. Scores of tents were blown down, tarpaulings stripped from piles of sup¬ plies and equipment tumbled about the camp. In the city, signs were torn away and several store fronts caved In.
Then the rain came in a veritable cloudburst. The greater portion of the electric lighting system of the army camp was out of commission and men stumbled jibo^ut in the rain and dark, throwing protecting canvas over muni¬ tions retrieving bits of equipment and struggling tc raise fallen tents. Most of the men will sleep tn wet clothing and wet bunks tonight.
Eight troop trains bearing the Fourth and Fifth Maryland Infantry are ex¬ pected here tomorrow.
Soldiers Dread Rain,
Columbus, N. M. July 8.—The rainy season, dreaded by ail army officers as a grave menace to the punitive ex¬ pedition in Mexico, had arrived to¬ night along trhe border. With ship¬ ments over the Mexican Northwestern Railway out of Juarez virtually cut off by the Carranza government, th© authorities fear that a tie up in motor transportation hy muddy roads would cause a serious shortage in supplies at least In fodder for the American horses.
A downpour of rain along the Ameri¬ can lines in Mexico to-day resulted in an increased movement of supplies for storage to tide over the rainy season. Rush orders for large shipments were received from Genera! Pershing. Re¬ quisition for 150 additional motor trucks has been made.
Reports from the lines In Mexico state that the expeditionary forces are alert and prepared f-/r activity If bandits come within the limited sphere of the American troops.
Bandits Active.
Renewed bandit activity in nopthsrn Mexico and a reported concentration of Villistas in southern Chihuahua re¬ sulted in an aeroplane joining General Pershing'.s headquarters today to re¬ place the one put out of commission yesterday.
In response to an urgent request from Pershing for a scouting machine. Lieu- nteant Ira Raeder made the flight from Columbus carrying Lieutenant Brook as observer. A propeller of new de¬ sign was fitted to Rader's machine.
New Mexico's militia encamped here threatened to be demoralized by large numbers of the men leaving the ser¬ vice under Secretary Bales order to discharge militiamen having depend¬ ents.
"It does nnt mean our hoys lack pa¬ triotism." said Adjutant General Her¬ ring, "but that they are unable to sup¬ port their families on government pav."
Not a single member of the Massa¬ chusetts National Guard stationeft here has signified any intention of taking advantage of Baker's order.
IN JAPANESE TREATY
Washington, July 8.-—Awaiting a full report from Ambassador Guthrie at Tokio, administration officials to¬ night maintained silence regarding the new Russi-Japanese treaty and its possible effect upon American inter¬ ests in the far east. Guthrie was ex¬ pected to furnish the State Depart¬ ment with all information obtainable at Tokio. It was hoped that he would define to some extent the meaning of the phrase of "Russia and Japan's special interesLs", whose protection is guaranteed in advance summaries of the treay text.
Though oficials were exceedingly close mouthed, members of the Senator Foreign Relations committee expressed the belief that Russia has agreed to Japan's proposals that Japan become the dominant power in Manchuria and China. They believe that Russia has decided to abandon the exploitation of China and devote her time to Persia. Asia, Minor and an attempt to obtain a passage for Russian wheat through the Dardanelles.
In return for Russian support, and for the surrender of Important railway lines to Japan, it is believed Japan has agreed to aupport tho Czar's claims for recognition in the near East at the peace conference at the close of the war.
This government is interested in knowing whether the new treatly will In any way effect the open door through which American hankers ex¬ pect to enter China with any legiti¬ mate proposals for loans. Il was stated on highest authority that though the American government at the out¬ set of the present administration dis¬ approved participation by American bankers in the big six-power loan, it would favor participating by Ameri¬ can bankers In any straight loan to China secured by a lien on customs receipts or similar security, but not based  on   the  granting  of  concessions
RUSSIAN SUBMARINE
SINKS GERMAN SHIP
Copenhagen, July 8.—A Russian sub¬ marine sank the German steamer Dorita off Dernskldeldsvik after first permitting the crew to leave.
The Dorita displaced 3.689 tons and was  registered  at   Stettin.
Jacksonville. Fla. July 8.—Gasping for breath, Laura Livingstone, a woman of the tenderloin, on her deathbed in a local hospital tonight told of the murder of Jesse Adams seven years ago and exonerated Miss Jessie Brown, prominent s.iciety girl, of tho crime.
Pictures of the suffering of Miss Brown, caused by accusation of the crime, led the dying woman lo tell her story. According to the confession of tbe woman Je.sse Adams was killed April 10. 1903, by Charles Wiggins, her sweetheart, who had confessed tne murder to her.
Wiggins was killed in a fight one year after the murder.
GIRL LURED TO DEA TH; NUDE BODY RETURNED
Atlantic City, N. J., July 8.—A police dragnet has been spread for the cap¬ ture of two men, driving a large grey touring car, who, the authorities be¬ lieve, hold the key to the mysteir sur¬ rounding a pretty 20-year-old girl, found beaten almost to death and nude in a deserted house at Somers Point.
Hope that the girl will ever be able to tell her own story has been aban¬ doned by the police. Lockjaw, in ad¬ dition to bruises, and coma, will prob¬ ably cause her death, according to phy¬ sicians.
Tonight every detective within a radius of fifty miles is -A-atching for the automobile which darhed madly up to a hospital here yesterday. The two men leaped out, turned the girl over lo nurses and raced away with the bare explanation that they had found her in the house b.v accident.
Her body was covered with bruises and scratches—mute testimony of how she fought off her assailants.
That she was lured into the auto¬ mobile in the city and taken to the vacant house is the belief of the po¬ lice.
FORD ON DRY TICKET ;120 DEATHS REPORTED
FOR NATIONAL RACE |      FROM GULF HURRICANE
Chicago, July 8.—Henry Ford, pa¬ cifist and automobile magnate, was ad¬ vocated for the Presidential nomination on the Prohibitionist party ticket to¬ night by Eugene Chafin, of Tucson, Ariz. Presidential nominee of the party in 1908 and 1912. Ford has al¬ ready been intei-viewed by members of the National committee but did not indicate whether he would run for the place.
"I am for Ford because he is the greate.^t business man in tho world," said Chapin.
V. G. Hlruihaw, chairman of the Na¬ tional committei), announced that a delegation woultl visit Ford within a week to get hisview.-? r,n the nomina¬ tion if it Should be tendered him.
Galveston, Tex.. July 8.—Reports of heavy marine losses in the Gulf hurri¬ cane Thursday night ¦ prompted inves¬ tigation tonight by representatives of Lloyd's and American marine insur¬ ance companies.
T. L. Anderson, representing Lloyds here, was asked to learn further de¬ tails of reports that a score of schoo¬ ners, carrying perhaps 180 men, were lost in th© storm. No advices assur¬ ing th© safety of these schooners had been received here late today. Ru¬ mors indicated loss of life In the hur- i ricane were greater than at first sup- j posed all along the coast near Mobile.
Dr. Silas Swallow, Prohibitionist candidate in 1904 has offered Ford his full aupport.
German Wedge Dissipated by French and British While Russians Continue to Forge Forward—Prisoners Num¬ ber Thousands On All Fronts—Two Towns Are Taken
AIRSHIPS ARE ACTIVE
London. July S.—Advancing side by side in a heavy shroud of rain and mist, French and British ,troops today battered in a dangerous German wedge in the great allied offensiv© along th© Somme front.
The French War Office tonight an¬ nounced the capture of the villages of Hardecourt and Mamel.an east of Al¬ bert and north of the Somme. Gen¬ eral Halg, British commander in chief, reported the capture of Trones wood, north of Hardecourt and gave full credit to his French allies for valuabl© assistance. The French War Office also announced the. capture of. tha Trones wood and the farm to th© southeast in thirty five minutes of hot fighting. South     o f   the     Somme,
where the French made further slight progress In last night's fight, there were no important actions today. Neither the British nor ih© French War Office claimed any important gains in last night's fighting and th* German War Office on Friday nlght't operations reported the repulse of all allied attacks with heavy- losses.
"North of theSomme." said th« French War office statement tonight, "despite rain and heavy fog, our troops this morning stormed and cap¬ tured the villages of Hardecourt and Mameian.
"Northward of these position, ths French in conjunction with the Brit¬ ish attacked the Trones wood and the farm to the southeast. Within 35 minutes our Infantry gained both ob- jecti\"f s. Two German counter at¬ tacks from the north and south against Mameian this afternoon broke down under our fire. The Germans suffered heavy losses in these actions. We took 260 prisoners.
General Haig reporting on the same fighting north of the Somme an¬ nounced the capture of 130 Germans and reported that the Germans re¬ tired in disorder after a fruitless coun¬ ter attack.
Russians   Biggest   Gain.
The right wing of ijcneral Brusi- loff's Russian army score'd its great¬ est victory since the re-capture of Lutzk fortress In a smashing blow against the .Austrian front in \'olhy- nit  Thursday  and   Frld^ny.
Tho Slavs drove wes;tward toward the important railway center of Kovel, capturinp eight villages. breaking -Austrian lines on a wide front and taking  several   thousand   prisoners.
An oflirial statement from the Aus¬ trian War Office today admits Ihat th© Austri.-ins were compelled to abandon all their advanced lines in Ihe bend of the river Styr. The withdrawn! was made necessary hy the appearance of great bodies of Russian infantry on both Austrian flanks.
Each fresh dispatch from the head¬ quarters of the Russian army tonight emphasized the strikln? character of the Russian successes. The fighting is continuing on a great scale with the Slavs apparently continuing their ad¬ vance on Kovel, the principal objec¬ tive of the Russian offensive In \'ol- l.ynia.
An official statement issued at Pet- rograd tonight reported the capture Of the Grodok-Manevitchi station and Austrian positions on the Okonsk- Zagorovka-Gruziatyn line, with the capture of 7.=> officers and 2.000 men. More than six hundred Austrians were captured in the region of Optevo. where Russian t'avalry. breaking through the Austrian line put many of the fleeing Austrians to the sabre.
Another Russian forve participating in the advance on Kovel captured the village of Letchlnevka and Grlva. north of Grodok. An earlier War of¬ fice statement announced the capture of the villages of Grady, Dolycza and Gruziatyn   in   hot   bayonet   encounters.
While General Brusiloff's right wing was smashing In the Austrian front In Volhyna, his left wing resumed its drivs westward in southeastern Galicia. Cap¬ ture of the village of Gregorov, east of Monasterzyska, with the taking of 1,000 prisoners was officially an¬ nounced at Petrograd to-night. In this theatre of war. the Russians are press¬ ing steadily westward toward the railway station of Delatyn, in which region between 20,000 and 30,000 Aus¬ trians arc reported cut off.
Only in the north have the Slavs been unable to continue their progress. The Russian war office to-day ad¬ mitted that the Germans hav© re-cap¬ tured the positions taken in the Lak© Naronz region where a fierce battle ia going on BRITISH  AND  FRENCH   VICTORY.
London,- July 8.—Assisted by th« French, British troops to-day captured the Trones wood, east of the Bernafay forest, capturing 180 prisoners. General Haig reported to-night. A counter at¬ tack failed, the enemy retiring In dis¬ order.
British kites, balloons and aeroplanM played important roles In to-day's op¬ erations, the British commander in chief reported photographing the Ger¬ man positions, directing artillery fire and blowing up an enemy munitions ''»poi.
(Co«tiatied <Ms Pafe 71r- i