&e Weather Highest tenrature yesterday..57 iMIVest temperature last night 46 ' Unsettled tonight and Thursday; probably occasional rains. ' Douglas' '' I County's - ; I Greatest ! i ! EBUKflsi in Newpapr i j TODAY'S NEWS TODAY: Consolidation .of The Evening News and The Roseburg Review DOUGLAS COUNT An Independent Newspaper. "' d for j the Best ln- S3 1tm. 7 "-rvir .-'t .. ilfllsT'l.-'' . . . 1 - ; t i i VOL. XXVII NO. 226 OF ROSEBURG REVIEW 'HOW CLUBS OF FIVE CITIES TO Inter-City Gathering Sched uled for Thursday, January 13. TRAIN IS CHARTERED Full Membership of Eugene Club Coming in Special Train Fine Program Being Planned. Mike Wllloughby and Roy Booth - of the Eugeue Rotary Club visited for a short time in Roseburg today to make arrangements for the at tendance of the Eugene club at the big inter-city meeting to be held in this city on Thursday evening, January 13. Mr. Wllloughby is president of the Eugene club and 9 Mr. Booth is chairman of the com mittee which, is arranging for the visit of the Eugene Kotarians. Arrangements have been made. they report, for a special train, which will accommodate 65 mem bers, a 100 per cent attendance of the Eugene club being anticipated. The train has been chartered espe cially for this trip. The inter-city meeting is one be ing eagerly anticipated by Rotar ians who are looking forward to a great time together. Members of the Eugene, Marsh field, North Bend, Grants Pass and Medford clubs have been invited, Hid Eugene and Marshfield have each accepted and each of these clubs have promised to attend al most 100 per cent strong. The meeting is to be held on Thursday evening, January. 13 at the Umpqua Hotel, where- the luncheon will : be served by the Roseburg club. An invitation has been sent to the district governor, James Beatty, of Victoria, B. C, and it is hoped that he will be the principal speaker of the evening. There will be brief talks by rep resentatives of each of the visiting clubs. , The program is to be in charge of Dexter Rice of the Roseburg club. The Eugene Rotarians - are bringing their quartetto which will furnish special music in addition ot the club singing. The purpose of the meeting is to bring about a closer acquaintance ship among the members of the Rotary Clubs of the southern part of the state, Roseburg being select ed as the palce of meeting, due to the central location. It is felt that these meetings will bring about a closer spirit of fellowship among the Rotary club members and will be of great' benefit to the cities represented. INJURED BOY TAKEN TO PORTLAND FOR OPERATION ON FOOT Owen Walker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Walker, who was injured a few days ago when his motor cycle collided with a car driven by W. H. Fisher, was taken to Port land today and will probably un dergo a surgical operation to cor rect the injury to his foot. His en tire right leg was badly injured, the bone being broken in the low er part of the leg, the ankle dislo cated and a bone in the foot brok en, besides bad bruises about the knee. The broken bone in the foot lias been giving considerable trouble, and it was found advisable to secure special surgical treat ment, so that the young man is to be placed under the care of a spe cialist in Portland. Mr. and Mrs. Walker and their younger son went with Owen, the trip being made by automobile. JACKSON COUNTY'S TAX REFUND CLAIM IS SLASHED $580 MEDFORD, Ore., Dec. 29. Ac cording to returns received this morning from Washington, D. C, Jackson county will receive $1, 151,962.74 from the Oregon-California tax refund bill. This is $580.48 less than the claim submitted, 'lhe department of interior would not allow claims for missing home stead entries, upon which no final entry had been made. FUGITIVE FROM TILLAMOOK TAKEN EUGENE. Ore., Dec. 29. Bert Renfro, who escaped from the Tillamook county jail a number of months ago. was arrested yester day at Florence and was brought to Eugene. Renfro had been serv ing a sentence and fine for lenuor law violation, and ran away hen employed on a road gang in Tilla mook county. He will be returned to Tillamook. MEET HERE j Jap Bogie In Oil Trial Is Being Probed (Associated Press Leased Wire.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 29. The Pacific "war scare" that figured In the Fall-Doheny trial has come un der inquiry by the house naval COmmlttPa nilfl Hnnfnil.int.lMim TUn. Cllntic of Oklahoma, a democratic monioer, said today that Secretary Wilbur had refused to give the Committee nnnndnntlnl im.iv i-n. ports bearing on the subject. Specifically the Oklahoma repre sentative disclosed the committee nau requested the navy secretary to send it in confidence a report submitted by Admiral Gleaves, while he was commander of the Asiatic fleet, dealing with "the bel ligerent attitude of Japan a few years ago." The committee action was taken in secret session, during considera tion of Chairman Butler's proposal to build a new fleet of light cruis ers to bring American naval strength up to a satisfactory ratio with that of Great Britain and Japan. It was Admiral Gleaves' report that defense counsel in the Fall Doheny trial sought without suc cess to secure from 1ha nnw partment in support of the conten tion mat me rearl Harbor oil con tract was entered inrn hv tha heny oil interests under stress of a national emergency in the Pa cific. INCREASE IN MINT ACREAGE IS PREDICTED Success With 1926 Crops Encourages Extensive Plantings in County. GOOD MARKET FOUND Company Manufacturing Gum Buys Bulk of Crop New Product Now on Market. Mint growers throughout tho county are preparing to increase their acreages during 1927, and also a good many who have suit able land contemplate planting early i.thts .coming spring. The gorwers here did pretty well with the 1928 crop, and since they have gotten nicely started, can carry on the work of greater production without any added cost of part icular consequence. Probably the first mint grown here commercially was produced by A. C. Brown, of Sutherlin val ley, who distilled about 150 pounds in 1925. The oil brought a fancy price,- and the industry was so promising that many farmers in that section, as well as sortie in Camas Valley, at Dillard, and at other points in the county under took the raising of the plant, so that when the 1926 crop was all harvested the aggregate of oil to talled around 3500 pounds. The American Chicle Company bought the bulk of the crop, paying $5 a pound for the distilled product. There were one or two other buy ers in the field, so that the de mand was good and mint found a ready market. All told, Douglas County growers received close to $20,000 for their mint. Sutherlin Valley had the greatest acreage of any locality, while 80 acres were grown on the J. B. Stoble farm at Camas Valley. The latter tract was grown under the supervision of Mr. L. O. Herrold. of Salem, who is the representative of the American Chicle Co. Mr. Herrold Is credited with the statement that there is no better mint grown any where in the world than the com modity produced right here In Douglas County, and he is firm In his belief that the industry will become well established in this section of the state. Already this local mint is finding its way back into commercial channels in Ore gon in shape of mint extract and a brand of chewing gum known as "Wild Mit." This commodity is being-distributed by a local whole sale house. This gum. manufac tured by one of the big concerns of the country, is being sold all over the east and middle west But that is only one phase of the uses of mint, and demand is bound to increase. It is conceded that an acre of river land, of day soil suitable for the plant, will produce on an aver age of approximately 35 pounds of the distilled product. The price, paid for 1926 crop was $5. This may fluctuate somewhat, but while that amount- may not always be (Continued oa page six.) O STRANGLED AT IRK Iff CITIES OF TWO STATES Three Women and Baby Victims in Kansas City and Council Bluffs. CLUES ARE LACKING As in Pacific Coast Cases, "For Rent" Signs Were . Displayed on Both Homes Visited. (Associated Press Leased Wire.) KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 29. Confronted with the deaths by strangulation of two women and a baby within the last three days, Kansas City police today were at tempting to link them with similar murders in other cities recently. No clues had been found in the deaths of Mrs. Germania Harpin, 28, and her 8 mouths' old son, Rob ert, who were found dead late yes terday with pieces of knotted cloth drawn tightly around their throats, nor in the death of Mrs. Bonnie Pace, 23, Monday. At the homes of both women a "room for rent" sign was display ed and officers point out that sim ilar signs were displayed at homes In Council Bluffs, Iowa, Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Wash., where women were strangled. Trying to Link Crimes, i Edward Catterlin, chief of police of Council Bluffs, wired local au thorities today in an effort to con nect the Kansas City deaths with that of Mrs. John Berard there. Mrs. Berard's body was found stuf fed; behind a stove W her home af ter she had been choked aud strangled to death. - No tangible evidence connecting the widely separated strangula tions has been uncovered how ever. Bloodhounds failed to pick up any trail at tho Harpin home last night and police said there were no reports of any one having visited the Harpin home lief ore the bodies were found. A stranger was reported to have visited the Pace home a short time before Mrs. Pace was found dead by her husband. - Seattle Police Aiding. SEATTLE, Dec. 29. Seattle po lice today announced that because of the similarity of three Kansas City murders the past two days and the killing of Mrs. Florence Fith iau Monks here, finger prints of the Monks slayer are being sent east. The same man is credited with the deaths of four Portland women and four California women. In Pa cific coast and Kansas City mur ders, houses bore "for rent" signs. Descriptions of the strangler are in the hands of eastern police. JUDGE GIVES BOY CHANCE TO EVADE 10-YEAR PENALTY (AsAoctatod Press Leased Wire.) PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 29. As soon R3 Verne Carmer, 19, convict ed ot assault and robbery, con vinces the warden of the state penitentiary that he realises that he "can't beat the law" and Is re pentant, he can ask the governor for release and Circuit Judge Ross man will approve It. Unless he re pents he must serve a ten year sentence. Judge Rossman made this condition in imposing sentence upon the youth. Carmer maintained his innocence, thought police said he confessed to them after his ar rest. INVESTIGATION IS BEING MADE OF . , RESIDENTIAL FIRE H. H. Pomeroy, arson investiga tor from the state fire marshal's office is in the city at the request of the Roseburg fire department to make an investigation of the fire which destroyed the Royer residence on Hamilton street. Mon day night. Fire Chief James Fletcher stated today that there were indications that the fire had been maliciously set by some 'un known person, so that an Investi gation of the case was thought justified. The house w-as unoccu pied and might have been destroy ed through the activities of a fire bug. An official Investigation is now being made to see if incen- idlarism can be definitely deter mined. The state fire marshal's of fice is to cooperate In the future with the local fire- department in the investigation of all fires where there is any question regarding the origin. ROSEBURG NEWS-REVIEW. Speaker and Cobb Shown Guiltless of Betting Charge by, Statement of . Man Who Handled Joe Wood's Money (Assoclsted Tress Leased Wire.) DETROIT, Doc. 29. Fred O. West, Navin field employe, men tioned as the man who placed al leged bets on the Detroit-Cleveland game of September 25, 1919, that resulted in charges against Ty Cobb nnd Tiis Speaker, issued a statement today denying that any money wns bet on the game. The money Involved ill the transaction, he declared, was bet on a horse race. ' The baseball bet, according to West was "Dutch" Leonard's idea. Leonard, he said, wanted to bet the money on Detroit against Cleve land but West, Instead of placing the money on the game, bet it on the race, he says. ' "When Ty Cobb, Trls Speaker and Joe Wood say they did not bet on the game of September 25, 19 19 the game between Detroit and Cleveland at Navjn Field they are speaking the truth; they did not bet a cent. But neither did "Dutch" Leonard bet on the game. "The money that figures in the case was bet on a horse and the horse won. The money that was given Joe Wood by me, and the certified check that Wood mailed to Leonard was the original bet, and the winnings. Cobb and Speak er had no money up." Leonard Showing Culprit. West declared Leonard called him to the club house on Septem ber 24 and told him he wanted to bet on the Detroit-Cleveland game the following day. "He asked me if I could get a check for $1500 cashed. I told him I didn't think I could and that I didn't want to be responsible for that amount of money over night. ' He called Leonard by telephone I List of Hospital Patients Also Grows; Government Formula Blamed by Physicians. (Associated PresB Leased Wire.) NEW YORK, Dec. 29. New York's Christmas alcoholic death toll rose to 26 today whilo a stream oi cases continued to pour Into the city's hospitals. Mpnnwllllf rlfV InW mlirnnnfua have rallied to the defense of the government in putting poisonous denaturants in. alcohol in an at-' temnt tn nrevpnt Hlvprainn nt in. dustrial alcohol for beverage uses, which Dr. Charles Norrls, medical examiner, held responsible for the neavy ueatn toll. In Washington, Assistant Secre tary Andrpn-s whtlo nnl at.nin.rlv. ing for the use of wood alcohol as a denaturant, has announced that the government has ordered an in ventory of all denatured alcohol preparatory to issuance of a new formula for Industrial plants which will denature alcohol along more distasteful but less polsonless lines. Fourteen flrifliftnnnl lurcnnn cof fering from alcoholic poisoning were aumittea to uellevue hospital yesterday, bringing to 137 the total cases reported In ; hosnitals In Manhattan and the Bronx. This nuniher. health ilnnnt.it.in,.t Officials said, could renrpapnt hut a nartial check, ns mnnv ntiiora un doubtedly had been taken to priv ate sanitariums or nau been treat ed at their homes. Dr. Norrls assorted ihnt Hmo fnr In 192G, 468 persons had died in Manhattan alone from poisoned li quor. The death toll for the month ho said, has reached 61. Dr. AleYlinrlpr r P.nttlar l,lf toxirnlnirfHt nt rtnllnvnn i,'nnni..i said that the alcoholic deaths in New York tills venr "htmu.iI th number who died during the days in tnw saioon. Mayor Walker Orders Theatre Men of New York to (Associated Press Leased Wire.) NEW YORK, Dec. 29. Mayor Walker, who recently Imposed a .1 a. m. curfew law on nlyht clubs, has now taken up the task of cleaning up the New York stage. In a conference with theatrical producers he told them that legal censorship would follow unless the producers cooperated In an effort to keep their theatres free from salacious plays. Promises of cooperation were made by the producers and It was generally regarded as possible that a "Czar of Broadway" might evolve i from the conference, Iftlding a position similar to that of Will Hayes in the motion picture in dustry. Lee Shubert, William A. Brady, bavld Belasco, Daniel Frohman, Arthur Hopkins, Edgard Selwyn, John Golden, Gilbert Miller and WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER that evening, West said, and was told to get the money from Joe Vood: in the morning nnd bet it on Detroit against Cleveland. "The next morning I went to llie hotel and mot Wood," the statement continues. "He told me (hat Leonard had left the money with him and that I was to make file bet Leonard mentioned. 1 was to turn the winnings over to Wood after 'the game aud Wood said he would send it to L.eouaru. "I-told Wood I had a good thing for that day, a hot tip on a horse called Panama. I also told hiin that I would like to lay the money bn the horse because I could get much better odds. Wood said (that would be a good bet.' ! "I was prepared to make good piirt of the bet If the horse lost. I told Wood that I could not make good all of it. Wood said he would niake good the balauce in case of the horse losing. I Wood Handled Money. "Wood gave me an envelope that held the money," West con tinued. He then paced oue bet of $200 on Panama with one hand book, he said, aud two others of $100 ach with other bookmakers. "I tried to get $200 more on the horse but failed," he added. "All the money that was laid was $400. Panama won." By accepting the lowest odds quoted on Panama, West. said, he effected immediate collection on the bookmakers. "I got $080 in cash, hustled to the railroad sta tion and met Wood and 'handed him the money," West went on. "I also passed him the two $100 bets and the winnings on them. (Continued on page S.) IT! Conditions Little Better i and Nashville Due for , Highest Water in Many Years. '(Associated Press . Leased Wire.) NASHVILLE, Teun., Dec. 29. The most disastrous flood in the history of Nashville was predicted today by the weather bureuu. The Cumberland river now at a 64.4 foot stage and already spread out over a large portion of tho lower part of town, is expected to reach 55.5 or 56 feet, breaking all rec ords. The total flooded area in Nash ville was stated at . police head quarters late today to be 250 blocks with about five thousand persons made homeless. MEMPHIS, Tcnn., Dec. 29. A forecast of generally clear skies to day brought hope to the areas in the south affected by floods. The situation is most tense along the Tennessee, Cumberland and Ohio rivers, where more than 6,000 have been driven from their homes. The death list remained at 16 today, though reports from Iso lated sections indicated that this toll might be increased when full communication was established. Railroad officials would not pre dict any immediate relief for traf fic. Some sections have no rail service. Engineers In Memphis announc ed that the Mississippi was little more than five feet below flood stage and expressed fears that floods when the snows begin to melt in the headlands, would cause much destruction in the lowor ba sin. Several cities have Issued nn- pcals for funds with which to car ry on relief. Nashville, the most severely af fected of any city In the flooded area, had mre than 4,000 homeless, with the crest on the Cumberland river not reached yet. The flood mere Is the worst since 1882. Halt Filthy Shows Thomas Broadhurst were among those attending the conference. Florence Ziegfeld, George White and Earl Carroll- received Invita tions, but did not attend. The mayor told the producers that nrnhUiitlnn hail nnnm al,n..t largely through the refusal of the saioon Keepers to give In to senti ment for reform and that censor ship had been thrust upon the mo tion picture industry after It had refused to voluntarily act-opt It. He suggested an organization of producers to act as their own censors. The mayor said that un less the producers took steps to clean un the stage he would ask for legSlatlon to give the com missioner of licenses power to re voke legitimate theatre licenses, which power he now has over the motion picture theatres, . ; 29. 1926. FREE TEXTS ARE F CERTAIN RULES Teachers Would Let First : Class Districts Choose Their Own Books. ASSOCIATION ELECTS Roseburg Teacher Named on Executive Committee; Music Board and Turner Clash. (Associated Press Leuscd Wire.) PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 29. Complete reorganization of the state board of education by legisla tive enactment; provision for free textbooks, with permission for dis tricts of the first class to select their text books indepnedent of tbe state textbook commission; and text book commission composed only of residents in the districts over which tbe commission Is to have text book authority these are the principal resolutions adopt ed by the representative council of the Oregon state teachers' I sociatlon in annual session here. H. E. Inlow, superintendent of Pendleton schoolB, was elected vice president and Mrs. Susanno Homes Carter, superintendent of Jackson county schools, was advanced from tho vice presidency to the presi dency, succeeding J. S. Sanders, president of the Monmouth normal school. Maybelle Wilson Church, a Robo- burg high school teacher, was elected to the executive committee from District 3; C. W. Boetticher, superintendent in The Dalles, for District 4. and R. R. Turner, super intendent of schools in Dallas and acting state school superintendent, was nnraed member at large. Dr. E. S. Evenden of the Teach ers' College, Columbia Unverslty, New York, who addressed the convention, said that in fixing sal aries of teachers emphasis should be put on the quality of work, rather than on years of service. The automatic system of increas ing snlarlcs on the basis ot years of service does not stimulate the best effort. "While I am In favor of tenure laws, salary schedules and retire ment laws, they represent only a means toward an end, and the sooner the teaching profession reaches the point where it will handle its problems itself and dls- pense with these devices, the bet ter It will be for the teaching pro fesslon." R. R. Turner Laughed At EUGENE, Ore., Dec. 29. Trouble reported to have arisen In the ranks of the state music commit tee, when R. R. Turner, state sup erintendent of public instruction, was said to have expressed dissat isfaction with the present commit tee and a desire for its reorganiza tion, was laughed at here by Dr. John J. Landsbury, chairman of the state music committee and dean of the University ot Oregon school of music, and Rex Under wood, member of the string sec tion of the committee and profes sor of violin nt the university. "1 have had no intimation of the trouble," Dean Landsbury said. and he added: "It Isn't worth men tioning, and I'm not paying any nttentlon to it. It is nothing new, petition after petition coming up tills way in the past. I have had no request at all from Mr. Turner to resign." Hie present d fficultv neemn to have come up over the annllcatlon of Mrs. Alvina (E. Druce) Knowl- ton of Portland for certificate. Mrs. Knowlton applied for a certificate In 1924 and was given a temporary one. She did not ask for one again until this year. According to Fred erick Goodrich, secretary of tho committee, the committee stated It could not recommend the issu ance of a certificate until Mrs. Knowlton had given further evi dence of her ability as a teacher. Mr. turner charged that there were "petty Jealousies and nre. Judlccs" motivating the work of tho committee, and that the group has used unbusinesslike methods In handling applications which have come to it. Ho is said to have suggested that the committee mem bers submit their resignations. Mr. Underwood said that he had heard nothing about the case un til press notices were bronchi to his attention. 'I think It Is merely a local case coming up In Portland," he said. "I have not heard a thing about resigning." o Returns From Eugene Miss Velma Purkenson, .who has been in Kugene .visiting with re latives over the holidays and at tended the marriage of her sister. Miss orma Purkenson, and Tobias J.i$ohson of Scatte, which was an event of the holidays, has return ed to Roseburg, AVORED VOL. XVII Monster Auto Designed For Speed Record (Assoclavrid Press Leased Wire.) LONDON, Deo. 29. A big red mystery automobile costing $100, 000 to construct and believed cap able of developing a speed of 200 miles an hour, will be sent to tho United States In February for a speed test on some Florida beaoti yet to bo selected. The car, which Is shaped like a sea sled and has enclosed tires to cut down wiud pressure, is 32 feet long and six feet wide. It repre sents a sorlous attempt on the part ot British manufacturers to capture speed records now held in the United States. The car weighs 7,056 pounds, consumes 41 gallons of gasoline a minute and is capable of develop ing 1,000 horsepower. The power Is divided over two motors, one be ing slung over each axle. It con tains a secret transmission and control Bystem recently invented. The manufacturers ot the car, which was constructed secretly at Wolverhampton, claim that it is the largest ever built. The speed tost in the United States will be held under the aus pices of the contest board of the American Automobile association. In the test It will be driven by Ma jor H. O. Seagrave, noted British speed driver. NEW- GLUE- MAY HELP SOLUTION OF PEPER CASE Police Inspector Says He Can Identify Gun Used by the Murderer. NEW ANGLES APPEAR Fortune Teller Considered Tool of Williams, Who Coveted Wife of . Slain Man. (Associated Press Leased Wire.) HOOD RIVER, Dec. 29. A def inite clue which officers believe will aid In solution of the myster ious murder of Ray F. Peper de veloped today in a report by In spector Craddock, of the Portland police, that he could Identify the revolver with which Peper was slain through the bullet which kill od tho Mount Hood woodchopper. The bullet, which had penetrat ed Peper s heart and body, was found on the floor of tho cabin where Peper wns shot Tuesday night of last week by a man who knocked at the door. Craddock said the bullet was a Remington 80 grain and had been fired from a 32-20 Colt revolver. This has given officers a now trail to fol low. Couple Sought. An effort was being mndo today to find a "Joe" and a "Maggie" who were said to have accompan ied Mrs. Etta Wooster, of Goblo, Ore., on a trip to Mount Hood, In tho course of which Mrs. Wooster told the fortune of Mrs. Peper. This episode was considered Im portant by officers, because Mrs. Wooster told Mrs. Peper of a man who was "coming Into her life" to give her love and happiness. Her description of this man fitted James P. Williams, who was infat uated with Mrs. Peper. Officers charge that Mrs. Wooster was used as a tool by Williams to promote his lovo affair with Mrs. Peper. Mrs.. Woostor said she stopped cas ually at the Peper cabin while her companions, on a camping trip. whom she named as "Joe" and "Maggie," continued on up tho mountain to Raid Butte. Officers now want to get the versions of thoso individuals. Investigators have been unable to find any ono of whom the camp ing party Inquired its way to the vicinity of tho Peper home, which is in a remote section. Williams Fibbed. Williams, who has been hold pending the Investigation, was to be given a final grilling by District Attorney Baker and Sheriff Edlck this aftornoon. They said they had found he had told them some lies and they plan- nod to confront him with the in formation they had developed In he hope that ho would tell more about tho case. o Raffety Spends Niflht Here T. A. Raffety, chief of the state motor vehicle department, ' spent last night In Roseburg on offlclnl business. He was accompanied by Mrs. Raffety. They returned this morning by auto to their home in Salem. ; NO. 298 OF THE EVENING NEW3 TlPSlCKED. IKS Modern Artillery Enable sf Rebels to- Rout Force of President Diaz. - j U. S. IS LOOKING ON Fleeing Soldiers Disarmed in Neutral Zone; Head of Insurgents Not . : I Recognized. . (Associated Press Leased Wire.) MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Doc. 29. Victorious in a three-day battle as Las Perlas on the oast coaat of) Nicaragua, tbe liberal forces ot Dr. Jauu Sacasa are now threatening) several strategic points loading tuj the interior. The troops of the conservative government of President Diaz, who has been recognized by the Unlti ed States, were forced to retread before the liberals. The latter's gov-i ernment under Dr. Sacasa Is recogi nized by Mexico. Advices from; the fighting zonoj Bay 1,000 conservative troops werej opposed by 1500 liberals, of whom 300 were alleged to be Mexican soldiers or officers. j-, Artillery Wins Day. . The conservatives ran out , of! ammunition and found their ma chine gun fire no match for thoi 12 pieces of light artillery in tha possession ot the liberals. Tha retreat was ordered, 400 men be Ing told oft to cover the rear while? the main body retired to the neu tral zone of El Bluft. Of the 400 rear ' guard, many were killed while the others worn surrounded and oaptured. Tha main body reached. El Bluff where they will be disarmed by the American naval forces who are maintaining the neutrality of the zone. : . By their victory the liberals gained access to the Escondlda river, ' captured Fruta Depan anrti began an attack on Monkey Ridge. If this strategic point is taken, ill will give control of the river, along, which American fruit companies operate. Other liberal forces are proceeding to Rama, where thero is a small conservative garrison. Diaz Worried. The Diaz (conservative) gov ernment is said to be extremely short of ammunition and funda with which to pay the 6,000 men under arms. Goneral Dinz display ed great anxiety over the situation when news of the defeat at La Perlas was received; rpeated his assertion that he could not hold out much longer "against the liberals if they continue to receive, as ha' charged, military support from Mexico. "Another Mexican gun runner, named Temporal, loft Mexico sev eral days ago with more ammuni tion than this government has, nmt also some light and heavy artil lery," he said. "We have a few, old cannons, but they cannot com pare with modern guns." - Landing ot American naval forces In Nicaragua for the an nounced purpose of protecting; American interests by tho estab lishment of neutral zones has! drawn a sharp editorial attack from! the newspaper El Universal oS Mexico City, which charged tho United States with a "policy ofi ruthless Imperialism in Latin America." Watchful Waltlnfj. WASHINGTON, Dec. 29. Hav ing answered critics of its policy with regard to Nicaragua, offi cials of the Washington govern (Continued on page 8.) BOOTLEG BOOZE EATS WAY THROUGH RADIATOR OF AUTO (Aiwoolfttod Prera Lcatavf Wire.) SEATTLE, Doc. 29. If you must drink New Year's ovc, drink lea or coffoe, Federal P ro h i b itton Admlnlfltrntor Lylc of lhe Pacific northwest urged here today. A widespread impression that liquor is petting cheaper is fallacious, Lyte declared. "From the standpoint of quality, liquor prices are hlfrh- er now than ever before be cause people did Ret real whiskey when they were pay- ing $15 a bottle. Now it is Vir- tually impossible to buy tho genuine article for nny price. "Believe it or not, in Spo- kane several deputy sheriffs tried the experiment of put- ting confiscated liquor into their auto radiators to keep them from freezing. They'll never do it again. The booze ate right through the ratliat- ors. And that's what a lot of people are going to pour Into their systems New Year's eve." ' -1