MEW
I I ;' Oregon Historical Socle!
H J 1 Public Amlitorluni.
This Paper Has Enlisted
With the Government in
the Cause of America for
THE WEATHER
J '!
Tonight- and Tuesday, Fair;
- Heavy Frost Tonight.
Highest temp, yesterday .51
Lowest temp, lost night, 38
i ue renou 01 me vr ur i
The Only Paper in Roseburg Carrying Associated Press Dispatches
vouix. :
ROSEBURG, DOUGLAS COUNT, OREGON. MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1918.
No. 00
THE
THE TURNING POINT
German Drive Fails to Achieve
; A Decided Victory at
', Armentieres.
BRITISH FIGHTING HARD
Seven Attacks Repulsed Yesterduy
! With Extremely Heavy Loss to
i Germniis Amerlcun Troops
; " lteut the lOneiny ltuck.
- TODAY'S CASUALTY LIST.
v (By Associated PreBS.)
' WASHINGTON, April 16.
Today's casualty list contains
the names of 44 men. One was
killed in action, three died of
- . fl nnnan rAnn A
were wounded severely and one
is missing. .Colonel K. C. Rol-,
.v Una is reported captured or
missing, while there are eight
other ot fleers on the casualty
list. '
' TURNING POINT IS RKAOHKD.
YVaNhiiigtoii, April . 10. The war
department's review of the titanic
struggle between the opposing armies
on the western front states timt the
turning point has been reached, ac
cording u an announcement made
today. The Gorman have tailed to
achieve a victory In the Held' and will
........ Iu AhvmI t,t mMiimi lllf.lt fl(l I
tactics, that of seeking to gain limit-
ed objective .points on the ii-ont. The '.
- report goes oil to say that America
must remember that the enemy Is
waging a battle simply to annihilate
our nun power, recognizing the. fact
that this is the only means by which
she can accomplish and achieve a de
cided victory, thus the conquered
teiTlan amounts to but very lit
tle In this great ' struggle . against
IViisMlanlHtti. Tliouiru it. Ih admitted
by military, authorities that Germany
iuis made extensive gains, they have
practically biuught to her nothing in
the way of any notable achievement,
and that the enemy has failed to at
; tain the aim of the decisive strategic
success that had been previously
planned when the big spring drive
was launched on the 21st day of
March..
FIGHTING HEROICALLY.
Associated Press War Lead, April
10. Fighting heroically the British
troops have practically checked the
uermun drive west of Armentieres
and the great effort of the enemy to
puncture the lines and accomplish a
further advance lias been likened to
the Picardy onslaught made by them
and seems almost definitely stopped
today. Agianst the American sector
south of Verdun the Germans hurled
their men In a storming manner Sun
day against our troops with the re
sult that the Yankees beat the enemy
' hack with a strong . infantry tire,
during which some hot fighting en
sued. Tile Germans withdrew from
the tirade of bullets sent at them by
the American soldiers leaving nearly
a hundred Huns dead on the battle
Held. Neuve Egllse, an Important
' strategic point and an outpost of Mes
sines Ridge, is again in the posses
sion of the Germans.
' SEVEN ATTACKS REPULSED.
London, April 15. In yesterday's
fighting between the British and
tierman troops the former repulsed
seven ntatcks .made ly the enemy In
the Morville sector with extremely
heavy losses to the Germans, though
, the lirltlsli lost neuve jugusie, arm
southwest OI uauiuui lue uermiuw
. temporarily penetrated the British
positions, but were later driven out
- by a counter attack. According to
dispatches from Paris the French
trooTis made a successful local at
tack above Montdldier taking a iilim-
1.a I ..I, ,T..ukiu .i ii ft tlttin n .1 a
.-1 Wnn..a E-rvliulA 11-)l !..1 .111. .111 .
emy caintnred, is raging fiirlously
; today with the British pounding tho
Germans hard. Another attack from
the enemy is expected 'upon Ilallleul
at any moment, a point where murli
; sevore fighting has been in progress
'. recently. - V,
':- COUNT CZERNIN RESIGNS.
Amsterdam, April ' ISc -Count
Czernin, the Austro-Hnngarian min
inter, has tendered Ids resignation!
' according to a Vienna dispatch,
which Emperor Charles has accepted
but has named no successor. The
developments which brought about
the count's resignation was the out
growtii of his recent declaration that
France was ready to talk peace. Fol
lowing Count Ozemin's resignation
the emperor entrusted him with the
conduct of foreign analrs until a
successor had been named. Efforts
to explain to Germany the publica
' tton of a letter from the Austrian
DRAFT CALLS SIX MEN.
-;-
A call has been toaued for six
more mon for the army, and the
list sent out by Chief Cleric
Raffety, of the local draft board,
includes
Harry Sellars, Seattle '
Ruel J. amy, Oakland.
' Fay Otey, Portland. .
Alvln Parks Schneider, Rose-
burg.
, Lyle B. Thurinan, Reedspqrt.
Sam Dumont, Perdue,
Alternates are: "
Alfred Hegorstad, S. Dakota.
Chris ChriBtenson, Long
Beach, Wash. .
Frank Hammond, Oakland.
The men are instructed to re-
port to tihe local draft board at
9 o'clock May 1, 1918, and will
be sent to Fort McDowell, Calif.
emperor to his brother-in-law, Prince
Slxtus, of Bourbon, saying that
Franco should have Alsace-Lorraine,
is believed to have been the reason
for tiie count's resignation. '
; LOOKING FOR LOST SHIP. '
Washington, April 15. -American
BlUps were ordered today to make
greater efforts to Hud the missing
naval collier, Cyclops, over due from
South Africa for over a month. It
is feared that German agents who
were aboard the ship have captured
her at sea which would explain the
silence of her wireless apparatus.
HONORING LATE SENATOR. :
Washington, ' April , 15. Official
Washington turned from all war
duties today to attend the funeral of
the late Senator Stone, of Missouri,
which occurred today." .
WATCHING ENEMY ALIENS.
Wasihngton, April 10.- Govern
ment agents are watching over 100
German and Austrian, women who
will be Immediately arrested and in
terned as soon as President Wilson
signs the bill making them enemy J
aliens.
FLYING INSTRUCTOR KILLED. .
- San Antonio,' April 15. Lieuten
ant K. B. Markhain, a flying Instruc
tor, was killed today when his ma
chine dropped into a tall spin and he
fell a distance . of 200 feet to the
ground. The. cadet who was with
him escaped without serious injury.
Big Timber-Shipment.- .-V"
'" WASHINGTONAprll 16-. Special
trains carrying 60,000,00 j feet of
fir timber have left the Pacific coast
for the Atlantic and gulf shipyards
which have been delayed in the man
ufacture of ships owing to tho Pa
cific coast tie up, and the trains will
be rushea across the continent in
one-fifth the time usually requlreu'in
making shipments. In another month
it is expected the southern ship yards
will have an adequate supply of
southern pine and will bo Independ
ent of Pacific coast timber.
Germans Denounced.
AMSTERDAM,' April IB. Thous
ands of people gathered in the
streets at Prague, the capital of Bo
hemia, in Austria, Saturday and de
nounced the Germans and - cheered
tho entente and President Wilson,
according to a dispatch to the Local
Anzeiger, in Berlin. :
Roosevelt Gets Souvenir.
OYSTER BAY, April 16. Colonel
Roosevelt today received! the bullet
fired from a German gun that struck
'his son, Arohie. The young man is
fast recovering from his wound and
will immediately return to the
trendies when he fully recovers.
ESTEAD LANDS TO
SOON BE OPENED UP
A schedule of all the agricultural
lands to-be opened to ontry April
29, 1918, comprising former hold
ings of the Oregon and California
grant lands. Is now ready for distri
bution, and can be had upon applica
tion to the United States land office
in this city. The lands are generally
listed Jn 40 acre units, although
there are some smaller tracts, and
also some larger ones, end gives to
pography, character of soil, how
watered, if any water at all, distance
to nearest town or settlement, num
ber of miles to wagon road, and also
how far the tract Is from railway,
states township and range and also
the amount. -of timber there is on
each piece. Complete information to
the general public Is contained in the
pamphlet relative to filing on and se
curing any of these lands. Parties
lntertested in homesteads can get In
touch with the situation by consult
ing its pages. The lands will not
only require a homestead filing, but
will cost the homesteader $2.60 per
acre as well, which sum Is payable
60 cents per acre at the time of ap
plication, and a further sum or 7)4
cents per acre, with from $5 to $10
filing fee, depending on the amount
of land applied for:
Dick Woodward left Saturday ev
ening for Ft. Stevens where he will
spend several days visiting with his
brother, Percy, who is stationed
there with the 16th Columbia com
pany. -.-,-,
T
Crown Prince's Picked Troops
Fail to Take Fort ,
Attacked.
COLONIALS UNDISMAYED
Germans Came up Under Walls Be
' fore Machine Guns Began Work
Driven Out of : Every
' Inch of Trench Occupied. '
FRENCH FRONT, Marrti 30.
(Correspondence of the Associated
Press.) Only the heroic tenacity oi
a small body of French troops in
holding the fort of La Pompelle,
southeast of Hhelms, prevented a
strong force of Germans from cap:
luring that old! and long-dismantled
work on March 1.
After pouring over fifty thousand
shells of all calibres on to the po
sition of pumping over all the sur
roundings thick clouds of the most
deadly, poisonous gases; two battal
ions of crown Prince Frederick's se
lected troops advanced to the attack,
All the barbed wire entanglements
naa been uprooted during the bom
bardment and the centers of resist-
auce in front of and around the fort
had been demolished when the as
saulting Infantry waves came for
wards The ground and the trenches
forming the only obstacles between
tne German Hues and the French po
sitions had been leveled and the few
French advanced poBts had retired
first on to their supports and then
into the casemates of -the fort itself,
where with the rest of the small
garrison they prepared to fight to
the last.
As the churning up of the ground
about the lort had obstructed the
field of fire of the machine guns,
the Germans met with only slight re
sistance until they had reached the
moat. This woe more than half 1111
6u with debris resulting from the
heavy bombardment and the attack
ing' troops were able to', advance to
the stone ' walls, There, however,
they stopped in spite of their liquid
fire macmnes.
One of these Implements was
tried on a heavy timber, door lead
ing into the sou-thorn sido of the
fort, but the door held firm. Mean
while, from behind a shelter of sondr
bags at one end of the moat, a group
of hardy spirits of the garrison op
ened fire on the Germans with a
machine gun and killed or put out of
action all who were attempting to
place cans ' of . highi explosives
against the walls of the fort.
The garrison consisted of colonial
troops of tried courage and they
fought up to the traditions of the
corps. Soon the enemy found' their
efforts were doomed to failure and
rotired to the advanced work which,
together with several bastions, they
retained for some hours.
The defenders communicated with
their, comrades in the rear, a coun
tor attacks was organized' and, al
though the fighting- which ensued
was ot the fiercest kind, the Ger
mans were driven out of every Inch
of trench they had occupied and
forced to flee in disorder .to their
own lines.
Evidences of the nature of the
struggle were still to be found when
the correspondent of the Associated
Press arrived at the fort soon after
the cessation of the bombardment.
In the barbed wire 'entanglements
fronting the.-enemy- trenches were
the bondies of dozens of Germans
shot down as they fled. The sys
tems of barbed wire entanglements
which had formerly prevented ap
proach to the fort were almost non
existent, most of them having been
burled under , heaps of earth. All
about were dead) rats killed by the
fumes of the German gas. :
The communication trenches had
crumbled under the hall of projec
tiles and to go from one spot to an
other It was necessary to cross the
open under immediate observation
from the dominating heights of
Nogent-l'Abesse and Berru where
the Germans have been installed
since 1914. - ' . -
The Germans were, evidently still
chagrined at the defeat of their care
fully planned attack and as the cor
respondent with some colleagues was
examining their lines, only a hun
dred yards or so away, they opened
fire andi swept the fort with several
salvoes of big shells. The only
metnou oi escaping rurther bom
bardment was to feign death and.
when the guns had quieted a little
to creep away In groups of two.
On the way the party was observ
ed again by a squadron of German
aviators who signalled to their bat
teries and once more, the mrmo.
pondents were bombarded until
they finally reached the marshes
behind the fort and comparative se
curity. '
'A. Cole, of Winchester, has leased
a 300-acro farm near Dole, and will
move there with nis family at once.
UMPO.UA LEADS LIST.
, Umpqua has walked off with
the cake In the liberty drive so
far as Douglas county Is con-
eerned. In that district there
' are 48 families.- Four of these
famlllos had previously bought
bonds and stamps. During the
drive last week 28 other fami-
lies there made purchases, and
the total Bales tor war stamps
and liberty bonds In that rural
community totals , 13,037.25.
According to reports so tar re-
ceived, Umpqua, (Considering
Kb population, is the banner
district In Douglas county. ,
WILL H.HAYS WILL VISIT
El
8 NEXT J
E. B. Hermann, or the executive
committee of the republican state
central committee- returned to Rose
burg from Portland Sunday morn
ing. While in the metropolis Mr.
Hermann met the chairman ot the
republican national committee. Will
H. Hays, of Indiana. After attend
ing the breaktost given Mr. Hays at
the Multnomah hotel, Mr. Hermann
accompanied the new chairman as
far as Salem where they were met
by Governor Wiithycombe and Attor
ney General Brown. Mr. Hays has
accepted an invitation of Mr. Her
mann to return to Douglas county
In July for a hunting and fishing trip
in Brewster valley.
With reference to the impression
mado by Mr. Hays in Portland
among . the republicans who were
there to meet him, Mr. Hermann had
this to say: "Will H. Hays Is one ot
the biggest young men in this coun
try. He is one hundred per cent
American, and has as Its leader,
dedicated the activities of -the repub
lican party to the winning of the
war. W hen that job is done It will
be time enough to talk pontics. The
new chairman 1b a personality, not a
personage. He- is big enough to be
Just himself, and looms large in a
national sense today.? . - ,',,-
ELECT HONORED
Miss Phyllis Tisdale, charming
bride-elect, whose engagement was
anonunced recently to Claire Lee, of
Junctlon'City, was honored Saturday
afternoon at the M. A. Hockett resi
dence by Mrs. Hackett and daughter.
Hatticbelle, at a Kitelightfu'l shower.
The Hackett home was tastofully
adorned in gorgeous red tullpo for
the occasion, anu other spring blos
soms and the attractiveness of the
scene could not be adequately de
scribed. Mrs. Frederick Harkness,
of Portland, a daughter of Mrs.
Hackett, who Is visiting with her
parents for -the next few weeks was
also an honored guest. Mrs. Hark
ness has visloed in Koseburg on num
erous occasions and has a host of
friends in the social circles of the
city. Knitting, music ana pleasant
social converse diversified the after
noon hours, and at an appropriate
moment - the most delicioua of re
freshments were served,-the 'hostess
being assisted in serving by Mrs.
Frank Lilburn and Miss' Gertrude
hast. Present at this pleasurable af
fair were Misses Allie Black, Viola
Willett, Bess Wharton, Grace Lloyd,
Ruth JelenicK, Irma Martens, Em
Applegato, Evea Applegoto, Ethel
Tooze, Junia Young; Lclia Lent, Ger
trude Rast, Cora Ci.mpOou, Berntce
Kinser, Anna Bryan, Mabel Bryan,
Phyllis Tlsdale, Mrs. Frederick Hark
ness and Mrs. Frank Lilburn. ; ; , '
LOCAL. MnN WAS IN
FILMIOANTHMAN"
W. D. Forsythe, a popular employ
of the Wells-Fargo Express Co., par
ticipated In- the splendid him "Joan
the Woman" which is to be shown
tonight and tomorrow at the Antlers
theatre, and when interviewed by a
News representative tbls afternoon
gave an interesting account of the
filming of the wonderful picture. Mr.
r'orsytho, before moving to Rose
burg, was a resident of Hollywoodi,
Calif., and palyed In a number of not
able pictures nt that placo. - In "Joan
the Woman" Mr. Forsythe had the
part of a monk and In one of the big
parade scenes he is seen facing the
camera at the right of the picture
and in a numbe.-. of other scenes is
clearly shown. - "Joan the Woman"
was filmed on the same grounds as
the "Birth of a Nation" In & beautiful
valley near Universal City, facing the
Luther Buroank residence, -according
to Mr. Forsythe, and it required1 22
days of constant work of finish 'the
picture. In speaking of Gerahflne
Farrar, the star, Mr. Forsythe pro
claims her-one-of the most demo
cratic and altogether frlenuly actress
at Universal City, stating that every
one admires her.
JAS. GRIEF MEETS
Engaged in Flushing Pit When
He Was Caught In Outlet
And Drawn Under.
CRIES BROUGHT HELP
Fellow Laborer Discovered His Com
panion, and Jumping In Attempt
ed Rescue Drowned Man
,-v Hole. Support of Mother.
" At' 10:21? o'clock this forenoon,
James Grief, an employe of the
Douglas County Light & Water Co.,
while engaged- in flushing the water
reservoir on the hill Just south of
lane street, waa caught in the suc
tion created by the outlet and drawn
down Into the water and drowned,
"Acting under Instructions' of the
company management Mr. Grief and
Sam McDowell went to the reservoir
for the purpose of cleaning It out.
Wtthi big brooms they had swept
uown the north section of the reser
voir,, and then It was intended to let
the water out and when It had suf
ficiently lowered were going to get
down Into the big cement pit and fin
ish up the work. . It was agreed that
McDowell would go down to the shut-
off at Main street mind open It up
tor release of the water, and the sig
nal for his return was to be when
the water ceased to come. He would
then understand that tho reservoir
was flushed so that they coum go
down Into It, and would return to
help in washing down the walls. The
plan was carried out,, the stop cock
opened, and when the rushing water
.i practically subsided McDowell
went back. ; As . he stepped on the
wall he was'- horrified to see Grief
lying In the water, his head partially
above the surface, but motionless.
Hushing to the ladder by which Grief
had descended, McDowell Jumped
onto It so suddenly that it skidded
from Its moorings, landing the man
on bis back ilV Jthe 18 or 20 Inohes of
wafer; "Scrambling to 'his feet Mc-
'Dowell was soon at the side of his
unfortunate friend, aud .when he ait
tempted to lift him up discovered
that the suction was so great that he
was powerless to render any aid In
that manner. Grief was unconscious
at the time he was discovered. Hold
ing the hood ot the apparently life
less man above the water, McDowell
began calling for help. His cries
soon attracted the attention of Sam
Evans, whose reslidence Is but a hun
dred yards or so from the reservoir.
Mr. Evans nastened over, and as soon
as he saw the predicament of the two
men ran back home and called help
from The News office. Just before
taking a car to the scene a repre
sentative of this paper looked into
Harry Pearce s saddelry, hastily ask
ing tbe men there to come to assist
ance of the party In the reservoir.
H. E. Burchfield, superintendent of
the Winchester inumping plant of the
company, who happened to be pres
ent, J. A. Wbrley, and several others',
responded, and together all hastened
to the scene; Dr. Seely had been
Humomnedi by Mrs. fcivans, and also
quickly arrived. Al Bradley and
Marshal Shambrook came up at
about the same time, bringing with
them a long rope.
Finding that it was Impossible to
extricate the drowned man by the
united efforts of two or three men, a
A-inch rope was passed around the
body, and while five men on the wall
pulled with all their strength, three
others in the pit assisted, and the
body was finally pulled away from
the opening, through which the wa
ter again began rushing with a roar.
it appears that Grief must have
ueen working near the outlet, not
realizing the Immense power and
weight of the water, andi getting too
near either slipped or was caught
unaware and his right leg drawn
Into the main, which is probably 14
Inches In diameter. At the time of
the accident, which was probably a
.ew minutes after ten, there was
doubtless enough water- In the reser
voir to submerge the man. His watch
stopped at exactly 10:21, and from
the story told by McDowell relative
to the time he left for the shut-off
and until he got back, this would In
dicate a period of approximately 36
or 40 minutes that Grief was in tho
water. The body lay partially on
the back and partially on one side.
The loft leg was Jammeu up against
the wall of the reservoir, the out
let being In the wall and on a level
with the floor, and the force of. tho
water was so great that the body was
crowded Into It sufficiently to stop
the flow of water. - The main below
was partially emptied, thus creating
a sort of vacuum.
As soon as the body was removed
from the water Dr. Seely used every
possible means to start respiration,
but It was Impossible.- Death had
ensued and the work was hopeless
from the start. ' The leg that was
drawn Into the reservoir outlet was
swollen and hard from the fearful
CHECKING UP BOARDS.
Judge Marsters and Coinmls-
sloner Nichols are busy today
going over the names mention-
ed tor Judges and clerks of the
various preolnet election boards
tor the primary election to be
Iheld May 17. A good mitny of
the persons appointed for the
work have signified their In-
ability to serve and this fact
necessitates new appointments.
The revised llBts will be pub-
llshadi as soon as they have been 4
completed!
-
pressure sustained for the half hour
or more.
. The uody was placed on a stretch
ed and carried! to the service car ot
the water company, which hod mean
time come up with Mr. Frank, local
manager, and Chas. McElhlnny,
bookkeeper, and removed to the lo
cal undertaking parlors. -
- Mr. Grief was unmahied, about
40 years old, and was the sols sup
port of nis aged mother, who is In
frail health. He was considered
faithful employe and was a good citi
zen. . He had only recently purchased
liberty Donas witn an tne available
money he coukli command.
SEGT. ALLEN IN TOWN
Any man between the ages of 18
andi 40 who wants to enlist In the
army can do so by applying to Ser
geant J. B. Allen, U. S. A who ar
rived In Roseburg last night. Ser
geant Allen will remain Indefinitely,
and hopes to recruit a good number
from this soctlon. He will accept men
tor most any branch ot the service.
Of course, It Is understood that men
who are registered under the draft
cannot be enlisted only through the
regular channels ot the selective ser
vice regulations. But men who have
reached the age of 21 since registra
tion was required can enlist at their
pleasure, and also men above the age
or 31 are eligible u;n. to 40 years.
There are doubtless a good' many
men, throughout the country genor
ally who will be glad of the oppor
tunity of enrolling, and Sergeant Al
len Is here for the purpose of get
ting in touch with all such. His
headquarters will be at the postoffice
during his stay here, and he will be
glad to give any one such Informa
tion, as they . dieslre of the various
branches of the service.
Little Willie Carsten, son ot Mr.
and Mrs. Wm. Carsten, of North
Koseburg, who was so frightfully
burned early last fall while at
tempting to extinguish a grass-fire
In the vicinity of the Carsten home,
succumbed to his dnijuries yester
day morning shortly after seven o'
clock after several months of In
tense suffering. Although everything
known to medical science was done
to alleviate the little fellow's suf
ferings during the months of his
confinement, his wounds failed to
heal, and during the past week he
has been in a critical condition,
death .relieving his sufferings . yes
terday morning. The funeral ser
vices were held this afternoon at S
o'clock from the Roseburg Under
taking Parlors, with Rev. JS. W.
Warrington officiating. Interment
will be in the Odd! Fellows' cemetory.
The bereaved family has the sincere
sympathy of the entire community.
TWO INJURED WHEN CAR
Tl
Win. Voorhles and small son, of
Looking Glass, the former a promin
ent farmer of that section were
painfully injured Sunday afternoon
near the Cloaks school house when
their machine, driven by Mr.. Voor
hles plunged through the railing ot a
bridge and fell 15 feet to the creek
bed below, resulting In several bad
bruises and scratches to the unfor
tunate, occupants. Because of tho
fact that the top of the heavy ma
chine was up more serious injury
was averted and It Is considered
miraculous by those who viewed the
scene ot the accident immediately
following the untimely plunge that
the rather and son were not kineu.
The Injured were hurried to this city
where -they were given medical at
tention in the offices of Dr. K, L.
Miller, and uccording to the doctor
they will soon be fully recovered
from their injuries, ine macnine
was badly wrecked and was towed to
a local garage this morning where
it is undergoing repairs.
LABOR SHORTAGE IS
Conditions in Douglas County
Farming Districts Alleged
To be Excellent.
PLENTY. MEN TO BE HAD
W. L. Cobb KxphUns Situation ot
the Farms and Slllls IteUoveH
: Big Crop hi Prospect
. ! .Farmers Optimistic.
That the labor situation in Doug
las coua.y Is much better than i
generally believed, was the state
ment made by W. L. Cobb, who was
In tbe city Saturday night from his
saw mill near Wilbur.. In speaking
to a New -representative regariiuc
me existing conditions, Mr. Cobb,
who has lived most of his Hie In
this country, and who is largely In
terested in farming and manufactur
ing industries, and . has probably
sold more Douglas county real estate
than any man In southern Oregon,
Is qualified to speak intelligently,
"Since the saw mill was established
a few weeks ago, them has hardly
a day passed but what some one,
and frequently more than one, ap-
plies at the office) foH employment," I
said Mr, Cobb. Continuing, the gen
tleman Bald: "There Is no shortage .
o. labor In Douglas county, as muuy
would have us believe. As a matter
of fact, the farmers are practically
through with their spring work, aud
crops never looked better than right
now. Besides this, there 1b doubt
less a larger acreage of winter grain
here than ever before, and spring
sowing has been hastened along un
til it is about all done. Of course
corn planting is just beginning. In
some few Instances this work has
already been done. Generally speak
ing, the land is now plowed and
the farmer Is Just waiting an aus- '
plclous time .for . starting his corn -.
planter. .
1 is true that many of the young
hion from'the -"farms' havoigdno rhia-''
the army and navy, but this fact
appears to have Inspired! greater el
fort on- the part of farmers, who.
doubtless reallzo that It' was up to
them to supply the needs of not
only tills country, hut - tho army
abroad and then feed the allies with
the surplus. Another feature ot this
alleged labor shortage is that so
much talk about lack, of help gives
the transient laborer an - excuse of
taxing on an extra dollar for his as
sistance, and more frequently than .
not his demand holds good. Farm
ers all over the county have worked
shoulder to shoulder In order to ex
pedite matters, and. this has result
ed advantageously to all concerned."
Mr. Cobb was optimistic in re- -gard
to the labor situation in the
county, and Is sura that farmer and
mill men will do the best business
this year in the history of the
county.
From observations throughout the
farming communities and reports
reaching this office directly from the
farms. It is believed that Mr. Cobb,
has gotten the situation sized up
pretty closely. County Agricultural
Agent C. J. Hurd and Fruit Inspec
tor Earl Pearcy both state that work .
on the farms , and In orchard dis
tricts is well In hand, and! ithore Is
every reason for believing thrifty
farmers are equal to the emergency.
Farm and mill hands are gottlng
better wages than ever before, but
the employers are also on the top
wave of prosperity, products of ev
ery sort bringing highest prices, and
so there Is no objection to dividing
with the other fellow. With no un
forseen weather disasters overtaking
the growing prospects, Douglas r
county will probably harvest the
banner crops In Its history, and sines
there has never yet been any very -serious
climatic conditions here, ni
one is worrying over the prospect of
Buch an event this year. -
LYLE MARSTERS WRITES
Lyle Marsters, writing to . home
folks from Toronto, Canada flays
that the flying corps, to which ho
belongs, ; has been equipped with
rifles, and It Is apparent that they
will be soon transferred to the In
fantry branch ot the British army
and sent overseas to France at an
early date. It will be remembered
that Lyle Marsters attempted to get
Into the aviation service here at the
beginning of the war, but his weight
was objected to, it being alleged that
he was too heavy. The young man
then went to British oolumbla and
enlisted In the Canadian service, and
has since that time been in training
In Canada, Front the tenor of his
lette- ' ii evident -ta it the British
government is using every available
means of getting men to 'the front
as rapidly as possible. ;
FROM TORONTO. CANADA
I