13
CIRCULATION IS
OVER 4400 DAILY
i
FULL LEASED
WIRE DISPATCHES
m
n ft i
FORTIETH YEAR-NO. S3
SALLEM, OREGON, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1917
PRICE TWO CENTS
ON TRAINS AND NBW8
PTAVDH FIVB CENTS
GERMANS FIGIIIG
DESPERATELY ARE
FORCEDJ YIELD
British Advance Is Slow But
Every Day. Shows An
1 Advance
LITERS "J BLASTING
, 1TL "ay TO VICTORY
Germans
Paints
Other
to
tmuig
"Order
Chec
tye.
Loudon, April 12. Stumbling for
ward over slippery hummocks or sticky
mini lioU's in the most wintry weath
er France lias ever known, British
troops were nevertheless ramming
their linn further ami further forward
sgi.inst the Germans tenia".
The 'most desperate of all the bitter
fighting that is marking the great push
was apparently centering today north
jin. I south of the Arrns-Cambrai high
load. At Mtiichy Le Preux (to the
north) and around Bullecourt (to the
south) the British have thrust forward
Iwo formidable wedges. Today they
were bringing enormous pressure to
bear on the sides of these wedges to
sweep the foe out of the intervening
ground. It was against both these
wedges also that German troops were
being thrown in constant counter at
tacks. The Germans apparently real
i.ed the danger in the wedge and sweep
ing arm tactics now under wav bv Field
Marshal Haig's forces.
One source of great pride in England
todav in the tremendous success so far.
achieved in the drive, was the extra-'
ordinary perfection of the British coin
jni'uication and supply service. Front
dispatches agreed that despite unprece
dented snows, hlgn winds and bitter
cnlil. weather, the troops even iu the
sections of their most speedy advance,
had not outdistanced the supply trans
port. No army ir. the history of wars has
expended suiii a supply of ammunition
in its fighting as the British army has
been expending in the big offensive.
General Haig's men are literally blast
ing their way forward. Every battle
front report agrees on the utter havoc
created by the concentrated British
f i re.
Dispatches today indicated the Ger
mans were desperately draining other
sections of the line in massing reserves
to oppose further advances bv the Bri
tish. French rive Starts.
Paris, April 12. Violent fighting
a long the French front was reported in
today's official statement indicating
possibly the start of a joint French of
fensive with the British "push."
"Important points" were carried af
ter the most bitter kind of fighting
southeast of Ooucy forest," the war
office declared.
"Between tht Soiiime and the Oise
there was a violent artillery struggle
dining the night." the statement said.
"South of the Oise, French troops, fol
lowing artillery preparation, attacked a
German position east of Coucv and
(Juincy Baissee, pushing the enemy to
thi' southeast border of Ooucy forest
.Mud after violent fighting carrying im
portant points in the face of heavy re
sistanee. The Germans lost heavily.
"In the region of Nosoissons, there
was artillery firing and patrol fight
in?. North of Line French reconnnia-
sance penetrated the enemy lines at sev
era I points, imprisoning 40 of the en
(Continued on page six.)
Kc
Z ABE MARTIN
! j sfc sjc sfc 5jc sfc jc jQs sfc
Miss Fawn I.ippincut lowered her
skirts fer Lent. Mr. I.afe Bud is
wenrin' spats, but he's still in th'
prime o' young manhood.
Held Up Money for
Sectarian Institutions
Pursuant to provisions of house bill
N'o. 5.'i.), known as chapter 310 of the
1917 sessions laws. Secretary Olcott has
hetd up payment of money to sectarian
institutions receiving state money for
tare of state wards until the institu
tions are inspected by an authorized
agent of the state board of control who
is charged with checking up the inmates
and the records to ascertain whether or
not the institutions claimiug stntt mon
ey arc entitled to the money. When the
checking and inspecting is completed, a
certificate must be made to the secre
tary of stnte that the institutions are
entlt'td to the money before the claims
can be audited.
Payment for the following sums i
claimed bv the institutions as due for
the quarter ending March 31, is held up
as follows:
House of the Good Shepherd . .$1.24.75
Christie noni" for Orphan Girls 2.532.10
St. Mary's Home 2,77v44
Louisa Home 53504
Albertina Kerr Nursery Home 1.244.32
The Babv Home ." l.S20.3ti
Boys and Girls' Aid Society.. 1.141.(15
St." Agnes Foundling Asylum .. 2,0Sl.t(i
The Salvation Army Rescue Home
was told that it was required to send
its claim to the board of control for it
to bo passed on before u could be audit
ed. BRAZIL WILL BREAK
War Spirit Rampant and
Serious Riots Occur Jn
Cities
Rio De Janeiro, April 12. Serious
outbreaks at Sao Paulo marked the
continued public insistence on war with
Germany today. The proponents of war
attacked houses of German born resi
dents of .Sao l'aulo and reserves of
police were called out. Reports received
hero early today asserted a number of
citizens had been killed and wounded
in resisting the guards.
A breaK witu Austria was momentar
ily expected today. -German
Minister Faolis and his staff.
with all German consuls, will be trans
ported to Christiania on the steamer
Kio De Janeiro leaving here April IS,
according to formal announeament to
day. A number of high sources were
authority for the statement today that
Brazil's rupture of diplomatic relations
with, ticrnianv would be extended to in
elude Germany's foremost ullv. The
Brazilian populace is crving war with
an insistence that the government will
apparently be able to withstand only
temporarily, Intlnmntorv speakers draw
enormous crowds in the various parks
and on the city streets; patriotism is at
a high pitch.
Germans Making Desperate
Effprts to Regain Positions
Fighting Is Fiercest of War
By WiUiam Philip Sinims.
(United Press staff correspondent.)
With the British Armies Afield, April
12 Canadians earned new honors today
in a storming advance on a mile front
south of the Vimy ridge.
Dashing forward impetuously, they
stormed and took nearly a mile of Ger
man trenches running south from the
German commandant's house near the
Fnrbus wood.
It was along this line of defense that
the German forces have been clinging
desperately since the first sweep for
ward of the Canadians, cleared the top
of the Vimy ridge.
Headquarters reports today showed 11
more German guns captured between
C'rosillcs and Eocux.
It was ovjr ground inches deep in
show and slush, in cold, wet weather
that the British aiii Germans battled
man to man today with tho best man
steadily winning.
Desperate fighting was in progress to
day over the eastern slopes of Vimy
ridge. In the face of violent resistance,
British forces swarmed over a German
entrenchment between the Cojeul river
and Ncuville Vitnsse, -storming the posi
tion. The corresponding and adjoining
position of trenches to the south of the
Small Explosion In
Frankford Arsenal
Philadelphia, April 12. One nmn was
killed and one injured in on explosion
in the high explosive building of the
Frankford arsenal late last night, it was
learned today. Names of the victims
are not yet known.
Philip McNally, an employe in the
high explosives building, was the man
instantly killed. Joseph Miller, an
other employe, was so badly injured he
is dying.
"Purely accidental," was the cause
attributed for the accident by Major
Joseph II. Pelot, an officer at the aren
al. Conclusive evidence has been found,
he said, that shows the accident was
caused by the careless removal of a
timer from a shell fuse.
A number of other employes working
in the same building escaped uninjured.
BRITISH PREMIER
SMS REAL PEACE
MIL 801 ARRIVE
Not a Peace Which Means Be
ginning of Another War
He Says
KAISER'S PREDICTION
WILL PROVE CORRECT
This Was That "After the War
Prussia Would Be a
Democracy"
By Ed L. Kesri-
(United Press staff correspondent.)
London, April 12. "I can see peace j
coming now not a peace which is the
mere beginning ol another war but
real' peace," wag the salutation which
Premier Lloyd-George sent to America
today. It was part or a feeling tribute
w hiith'Knglaud 's prime minister paid to
the United States in a tumultously dem
onstrative meeting today of the Ameri
can luncheon club. Scores of British
notables were there and American Am
bassador l'age presided.
"I am the first minister in behalf
of Britain to salute America as. one of
our comrades in arms," Lloyd-George
declared. "I'm glad of it I'm proud
of it.
"I am glad merely because of the
stupendous resources that your great
nation can render to succor the alliance,
but I rejoice as a democrat that the
advent of the United States gives the
filial stamp and seal to the character of
the conflict.
"We rejoice that America has won
the right to be at the peace conference
table when the terms r-re fixed.
. "It would have been a tragedy to
niaiikiud of America had not won the
right to be at the peace confer
ence table, with all the influence and
power she has now- obtained."
"The kaiser promised that Prussia
would be a democracy after the war,"
the prime minister observed whimsically
at auother juncture. "I think the kaiser
is right."
"The lulled States have an able
tradition that they have never been en
gaged in war except for liberty," the
prime minister continued-
"This is the greatest struggle for
liberty on which they have ever em-
(Continued on page six.)
river was today being cleared of its
Teuton defenders.
Hill 90 was firmly in British hands
despite bitterly desperate assaults from
the Germans.
Throughout yesterday the Germans
shelled Vimy ridge vigorously.
No more violent fighting has been
seen anywhere ou the western front
than that which marked repulse by the
tcr attacks on Monday-' It was hand to
hand fighting in part, with a conecn-
trated duel from both sides, artillery in-
termixed. The town was still in Kng-j
lish hands today, despite every effort
by the enemy to dislodge the defend-
crs. I
The advance continued. Stiffening!
resistance all along the line from Lens
to St. Quentia showed that the Teutons j
were desperately striving to -stop the
encroaching wave of the British ad-.
vance.
For tho first time, practically since
the German armies swept forward in
the early days of the war, it was man
to man fighting with only temporary
earthwork defenses sheltering the two
sides that is being enacted now.
Without the customary defense works
minus the elaborately constructed forti-
fications behind which they have fought
for more than two years, the Germans
appeared dazed in the new open war
fare. They were battling desperately
along the whole line today but their
fighting lacked co-ordinated efforts. It
failed to stop the British. Haig forces,
long drilled in open warfare and not
habituated in inactive trench fighting,
despite their long vigil there, were
plainly superior in this style of fight
ing. Moreover, they were backed by
perfectly organized transport -strvice
and supply trains
The British artillery superiority was
also marked today, German marksman-1
ship was bad.
Fighting in the British offensive was
apparently spreading northward this
afternoon. '
In that direction a strongly defended
hill near Givenchy known as Piople, was
taken. Boisenhacbe, a mile further
northward, also was taken.
GERMANY 1L MAKE
PEACE OFFER TO U, S.
This Story Comes From Cop
enhagen But Is Not
Confirmed
By Arthur E. Mann,
(United Tress Staff Cunespondent.)
Copenhagen, April 12. Apparently
positive reports were received here to
day that the German foreign office was
making overtures to the United States.
It was understood these negotiations
sought peace between the two nations.
No further details were available here.
Official circles manifested the most
intense interest in the report.
It is uiidersetood that Secretary of
SaofA T anoltwr l. o a a 1 a lir ,..-i lw.
overtures through (unofficial media-
iaries. The proposition as received
here is for the United States govern
ment to seud Colonel E. M. House to
The Hague for a secret "unofficial
conference."
Germany's terms were not specified
in the report here but it was hinted
there had been no change in her posi
tion as outlined by the German em
bassy in Washington early in Decem
ber. At that time Germany hinted that
the question of indemnity for Belgium
would not be an insurmountable ob
stacle to peace, but plainly insisted on
a return to the status quo before the
war including return of all her col
onies or a rearrangement of all bel
ligerents' colonial possessions.
' Several weeks ago it was reported
that another peace proposition was to
bo made by the central empires. The
report at that time said Emperor Karl
of Anstrollungary would act as spoKcs
nian for the Teutons.
Gerniauv has freqvnjly sent out un
officially "peace feelers" in the past-
The importance of the present peace
overtures if Ihcy arc in progress
would depend entirely on the conces
sions announced by Germany.
.
BULGARIA WOULD QUIT
London, April 12. An Ex
change Telegraph dispatch to
day from Lausanne asserted it
was stated on semi-official auth
ority, that Bulgarian delegates
were in Switzerland endeavor
ing to reach a basis for a sep
arate peace with representatives
or the entente.
AUSTEIA WANYS PEACE
Kome, April 12. Austria is
pressing i'ope Benedict to move
for peace among the European
belligerents, according to an au
thentic report iu Vatican circles
today.
The Comoro Delia Sera, in
mentioning the move today, de
clared that the holy father is
refusing to proceed now "for
diplomatic reasons."
HANDED PASSPORTS
Paris, April 12. The Amer
ican minister to Bulgaria has
been handed h is passports and
has left Bulgaria, according to a
dispatch from the Bulgarian cap
ital reaching here via Zurich,
Switzerland today.
!
GREAT BATTLE SOON
London, April 12. The great
est battle of the war is coming
soon.
Germany has her reserves
ready and is about to hurl her
full forces against the allied line
on the west front, according to
General F. P. Maurice, director
of military optrations, in an in
terview today.
WOULD DESTROY DAM
El Paso. Texas, April 12. An
attempt to dynamite Elephant
Butte dam, New Mexico's mil
lion dollar irrigation structure,
by German and Austrian plot
ters was frustrated today by
troops guarding the structure,
according to telephone advices
received here.
The reports said that the dy
namiters were arrested by the
-guards and are being held.
Today's Ball Scores Page 7
II
BUSY PREPARING
TO FEEDCOUNTRY
Poor Winter Wheat Plowed
Under and fields To Be
Planted to Corn
SPRING WHEAT ACREAGE
WILL BREAK RECORDS
North Central States Will
Plant Vast Fields With
Potatoes
Chicago, April 12. The greatest
lood drive" in the history of the
i'oun''5
is on over the middle west
loiiuy. conservation or present pup
plies and "speeding up" of produc
tion is the slogan adopted by governors
of a dozen states. With the decision
of the administration that feeding the
allies was America's first duty iu the
great world war, the energies of the
central siatcs the bread basket of the,
nation were directed from recruiting
to extracting from the soil one of the
greatest crops of all time.
Throughout the north central states
of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
and portions of Iowa and Illinois, great
est attention was being paid to the po
tato situation.
Michigan miners, in the north pen
insula district, under the direction of
conpetent agriculturists, are planning
to eacn plant at least one half acre ot
spuds this year. A hundred telegrams,
sent out by Governor Sleeper have
summoned all the leading manufactur
ers to Lansing for a conference tomor
row.
Look; After Spud Crop
1 plea for 20,0(10 more tferin of 'po
tatoes than ever beforo were planted
in Wisconsin, is the plea of Governor
Phillips. Four dollars per bushel po
tatoes are being turned from the ta
bles into seed bins of the state.
From Bismark, N. D., Governor Fra
zier today officially willed upon the
farmers to plant a record spring wheat
acreage. The state already is the pre
mier spring wheat state of the nation
Cooperating with state otticiam- in
the campaign for more potatoes are
Eugene Grubb, potato expert for the
Southern Pacific railroad, and U D
Sweet of Denver, president of the Po
tato Growers association of America.
Both aro confident that a four hund
red bushel per acre yield would put
the food question in the United States
on tho shelf for good. Germany by rais
mj forty bushels or potatoes lor each
individual, have been able to stave off
starvation through this agency alone.
The United States raises a scant two
bushels per capita.
Everybody Doing It
Throughout the wheat states of Kan
sas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and the Da
kotas comes reports of increased acre
ages. Winter wheat, to a large extent
lost, is being plowed under and the
ground is being planted to corn.
Much needed rains over the wheat
belt yesterday brought prospects of a
fifty per cent nop in Kansas and Ok
lahoma and perhaps a 55 per cent yield
in Nebraska.
In Illinois and Iowa, where the most
intensive gardening campaigns are be
ing waged, steps have been taken to
place unused land along highways, rail
road right of ways and public domains
under cultivation. With practically ev
ery family raising their own vegetables
enormous amounts will be available
for army and exort purposes.
No Evidence That Plot
Caused Explosion
Philadelphia, April 12. "There is no
'evidence of a plot," is the statement
today of G. Chal Port, state fire mar-
glial, who, with a corps of special aides,
is making an exhaustive study of the
I Eddystone ammunition plant, which was
blown up Tuesday.
An accidental "'flare up" of black
.powder in tho "shaking chamber" in
j the east end of the main building af-
ifected by the blast, started the explo-
! sion, said the marshal.
Despite th.j statement of the state
official, federal officers are working to
day on tho various clews that have been
offered from many sources-
Nearly 60 of the unidentified dead,
still at the Chester morgue, will receive
public burial today.
TO PLANT MORE GROUND
Portland, Ore., April 12. A state
wide campaign to increase the food su-
ply of Oregon is well organized to
!lay. The Oregon Agricultural college,
the Portland Chamber of Commerce, the
grange and other organizations are
back of the move.
The purpose is to get moTe land plant
sic ed in crops, not only in the country but
in the city as well. By distribution of
seeds the organizations are encourag-
ing the cultivation of vacant lots and
, back yards,
The O-W. B. & X. "food prepared
ness" train operating under trie onec
tion of the agriculture college, will be
made an aid in the campaign.
MIDDLE VEST GETS
Moose Gather for Organ
ization of Independents
of All Parties
St. Louis, April 12 National Progres
sive party leaders gathered here to
day to unite under the Moose banner
the liberal elements of all political
parties to organize a party and a cam
paign for 192U.
Neither Theodore Roosevelt nor
George W. Perkins was invited. Albert
D. Nortoni, who has been-a member of
nearly all panics and an ardent Moose r
since 1912, is the leading -spirit of the
convention.
The plan is to weld the liberal ele
ments of the. democratic, republican.
socialist, labor, prohibition and wo
men s parties in a National Liberal
party.
Among those interested in the partv
are Matthews Hale of Boston, formerly
a member of the Moose nationul com
mittee; J. A. II. Hopkins of New Jer
sey, John M. Parker of Louisiana, and
others. It is hoped Bainbridge Colby.
Victor Murdock and other middle west
ern leaders will take an active part in
the convention.
Nortoni and other leaders said to
day the "Solid South" would yield
only to a third party that embraced
the ideals or all parties now iu tue
field.
Permanent working plans for the fu
ture will be formulated and it was
learned that nationwide prohibition
and a declaration for universal mili
tary training will be added to the
platform of 1912, which, it is expected
will be endorsed.
A committee of the socialist party
which has been in session here for near
ly a week will meet with the execu
tive committee of the Bull Moosers.
Fl
Were Expert Lip Readers and
Came Near rooting the
ergeant
Vancouver. Wash.. April 12. Four
teen' bovs-who ran tway from the
Washington state Bchool for the deaf
are not members of the United iStatcs
army today Only because a recruiting
serceant. in conducting the examina
tion, happened to walk into a darli
corner of tho room when asking a ques
tion. The lunaVaf's, 'members of the
school 'b various athletic teams, are all
expert lit) renders.
Peter Coic. 18 years old, of Aberdeen
answered all questions in a loud clear
voice. When almost ready to take the
oath, the sergeant asked him a ques
tion with his mouth veiled in dcrise
shadow.
"Sirt" ouericd Coic.
The sersreant straightened up with
a icrk. "Hard of bearing, sonny T"
he growled.
"A little that is I mean no."
"And you," asked the sergeant from
tho room's dark corner turning to ii
venr-old Dewev Beer. 195 pound helf
back, a boy able to make the 100 yard
flash in 10 4-5 Becouds.
"Ycass sirr, I wannta enlist," re-
plied Deer in the peculiar nazal drawl
of the deaf, misguessing the sergeant's
yesterday.
The boys were sent back to school
"It's an" outrage," said one of the
boys today, " 'your country needs you'
stared at us from every billbonrd, and
danui it, if my country needs me, why
don't she take met"
When the superintendent of the school
heard why H boys ran away he refused
to punish them.
Denounce America
for Entering the War
St. Louis, Mo., April 12. The entry
of the United States into the world war
is bitterly denounced as "dishonor
able" and "a crime aguinst the peo-
plo of the United States aud against
. I, ,,.,ti,,,,u i.f tho u-nrlil " ill the lllll-
lioritv report of the socialist commit
j tee on war and militarism read here
j this afternoon.
Tho report, signed by 11 of the 15
members of the committee, recommends
"continuous, active and public opposi
tion to the war."
A siunificant paragraph recommends
"unyielding opposition to all proposed
legislation for military or industrial
conscription. "
The report calls upon workers of aft
countries to refuse to support their gov
ernment in their views.
That socialists must be loyal to the
fundamental American institutions and
that indifference on the part of the
socialists to the outcome of . the war
"will be sure party suicide" was the
plea of the minority report signed by
John Spargo, of Vermont, and three
others.
California Coast
Artillery Called Out
Washington, April 12. The war de
partment this afternoon called out the
Fifth, Eighth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth,
Fifteenth and Eighteenth California
coast artillery companies and the First
New Hampshire coast artillery com
pany. The Fifth and Eighth companies,
California coast artillery, are stationed
at. Han Diego and tha
Thirteenth,
Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Eighteenth
at Los Angeies.
WILL BUILD BOATS
FASTER THAU THEY
CAN DETORPEDOEO
Plan to Launch Three a Day
of 6m Tons Each After
November . . V
GENERAL GOETHALS TO r
SUPERINTEND THE WORK
V,. .
"St
ieven Hundred of
Thousand To Be B?
Pacific CoasF
By Robert J. Bender
(United Press staff correspondent)
Washington. April 12. To smash
Germany 'b U-boat blockade the Unit
ed States wilt virtually bridge the At
lantic. - ; .
Plans for the construction of thri
thousand small wooden boats the, most
tremendous merchant shipbuilding pro
gram ever undertaken have been com
pleted and approved by the iiresideiir.
The boats will be used to transimrt
food and supplies to entente ports.
This is America's answer to Lloyd
George 's appeal:
I he ultimate success of the- allied
cause depends, in my judgment, on,
our solving the- tonnage difficulties
with which we are confronted."
The government shipping board haa
sent out a call for 150,000 lumbermen
and wood workers to begin tho task at
once. .-
Congress has authorized '0.00O.OOO ,
to start the program and will be asked
tor ;tUO,OOO,UU0 more.
The first thousand shinB are to be
completed within eighteen months and
immediately thereafter two thousand
more will be ordered.- Em h vesSel will
he of three thousand toa with a nwd
of ten knots. -
To Pontoon Atlantic
It is the purpose to run them in Bitch,
fashion, that they will constitute a ver
itable pontoon bridgo across the sea .
one boat every three miles. Tho tremen
dous number is expected to exhaust
tho most, valiant efforts of U-boat com
manders to cut off supplies from Eng
land and France.
Work on w-ays for the ships has al
ready begun at Jaclosonvillc, Kla.,
Beaumont, Texas, and a half dozen,
other points.
President GompcrB of the American
Federation of Labor has promised all
cooperation in supplying labor. Com
plete mobilization of industry in put
ting tho scheiuo through has been an
nounced. Each ship is to be manned by ft
trained gun crew and equipped with
anti-subiiinrine guns and wireless.
Commencing November I, threo ship
a day will sail into service.
The plan which President Wilson
and the shipping board believe will
overwhelm Prussia's scavenger . busi
ness and break the back of the block
ade provides the following:
iuuo oin iirst xear
One thousand 3000 ton wooden shin
to be turned out within one year be
ginning November 1, 191.
Standardization of design so far a
practicable, to expedite construction. .
Construction of two thousand mor
in the second year of the war, if tb
submarine blockade still remains ef
fective. This would place a ship ev
ery mile from the United States to
England. .
Tho ships to cost about $.'100,000 each
complete one half the cost of a steel
ship of the same tonnage.
Ships to have a normal speed of ten
knots, with extra size engines to de
velop sixteen knots on emergency t
escape attack.
The board may then either resell tho
shins, charter them, or operate them.
At least seventy per cent of tho
first year's program to be built on tha
Pacific const. The new vessels will bo
then brought through canal with lum
ber cargoes, for which service- at pres
ent freight rates, they will earn -t-0.-
(KH) apiece more than enough to pay
for th
trip,
General Goethals, who directed tho
construction of the Panama canal, wirl
superintends the construction of tha
''.jitney fleet," it was stated today.
Sir Ernest Shacltleford arrived 5r
Portland today and will lecture tonight,
telling the story of his explorations k
the Antarctic.
THE WEATHER i
-
;
( I MUST CEf
BU5y VVITff
i ,
Oregon:' Tn
nifrht and Fridajr
fair, wbibh
west portion Fri
day, light frost
t ouight; south t
west wind's ,