NEWS NOTES OF
CURRENT WEEK
Congress Is Busy H’ifA
Issues Arising From ll’nr
Washington,* D. C.—To prepare for
an emergency arising from the Euro-
I pean war, the president and adminia-
> tration leaders are endeavoring to as-
1 sure the presence of a quorum of both
Resume of World’s Important houses of congress in Washington.
House leaders have made imperative
Events Told in Brief
demand for return of absentees and
they are flocking in on every train.
Already there is a substantial quorum.
While the conference primarily is to
Premier Asquith praises the Belgian
determine
the nature of a war revenue
heroism in the house of commons.
measure to offset losses in revenue,
Queen Elizabeth, of Belgium, with some aspects of the foreign relations
her children, has arrived in England.
of the nation with particular reference
Tacoma suffers a $160,000 fire, may be considered.
Philippine extorts are giving the
which destroyed a large packing plant.
administration concern just at thia
The Germans have imposed a fine of time, because of the conflict between
$300,000 on the Belgian town of Char Japan and Germany. A plan to place
leroi.
a ban on all extorts from the islands,
A report from Antwerp says the except to the United States, while the
French defeated 50,000 Gentians in war in Europe continues is under con
sideration. It is argued that should
battle.
the shipments from the islands to Ger
A Japanese liner was chased into many or Austria be captured by the
port at San Francisco, by a German Japanese, an embarrassing situation
gunboat.
might arise.
The same might be
A small German cruiser which ran true should exports to Japan be seized
ashore in a fog. was blown up by the by Germany.
Administration senators who have
Russians.
been studying the situation believe an
More than 4000 prisoners were taken ounce of prevention ia worth a pound
by the Russians in battle with the of cure, and they are urging action by
Austrians.
congress to avert trouble which might
The Russian army is reported crush be precipitated through Philippine Is
ing the Prussians and making headway land commerce. They recognize, how
ever, that if commerce is stopped
toward Berlin.
some provision must be made to com
About 30.000 Grand Army veterans
are holding the 48th national encamp pensate for losses that will follow.
ment at Detroit, Mich.
The conclave of cardinals to elect a
new pope was inaugurated in Rome
with imposing ceremonies.
Nearly 8000 reserves of Germany
and Austria are being held prisoners
by the British in South Africa.
Boston will have no grand opera this
winter, owing to the enlistment of
many members in the European war.
Butte, Mont., miners have threat
ened to lay the city in ashes if the
state or federal troops attempt to enter
the city.
Americans and all other foreigners
in Brussels are safe, according to a
message from American Minister
Whitlock.
Armies of the allies are battling to
save Paris from the Germans. A con
flict between millions is believed to be
in progress.
It is officially announced that the
Russians have occupied Tilsit, a town
60 miles northeast of Koenigsberg,
East Prussia.
The ballot in the California election
this fall will be four feet long and con
tain forty-eight initiative and referen
dum measures.
One of the largest liners in the
world, the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse,
was sunk by a British cruiser off the
coast of Africa.
It is said that British marines have
occupied Ostend to prevent the Ger
mans from getting a foothold on the
English Channel.
Xavier de Castelnau, the 12-year-old
son of General Castelnau, chief of staff
of the French army, was among the
killed in a recent action.
An official statement from the Brit
ish consulate in Galveston, Tex., says
three British warships have been sent
at full speed to protect cotton and oil
traffic in the Gulf of Mexico.
Home Secretary McKenna, of Lon
don, said that no spies had been shot
in England. There have been rumors
that many persons in the secret em
ploy of Germany had been executed.
Premier Asquith and Arthur J. Bal
four, one of the leaders of the opposi
tion in the house of commons, are to
speak in the historic Guild hall, in the
city of London, this week in an effort
to encourage recruiting.
The United Railways company of
San Francisco, ha3 inaugurated a plan
whereby employes may receive small
loans from the company at 5 per cent
a year.
The system is to save em
ployes from the loan sharks.
The official press bureau of London,
in an announcement says the govern
ment has gratefully 'accepted an offer
from the people of Alberta of a half
million bushels of oats for the army
and from the government of Quebec of
4,000,000 pounds of cheese.
Both Germany and Great Britain
have accepted the proposal of the
United States that the wireless sta
tions at Tuckerton, N. J., and Say
ville, L. I., be permitted to send code
messages to belligerent countries, sub
ject to censorship by American naval
officers.
The British steamship Holmwood has
been sunk by a German cruiser off the
coast of South America, according to
a cablegram received by the owners of
the Katherine Park, at New York,
which has the crew of the ship aboard.
The cablegram, which was from Rio
Janeiro, did not state the time or place
of the sinking, nor did it give the
name of the German cruiser.
French Capital Storing
Supplies tor Emergency
Paris — The French capital has
rushed its plans to resist a siege by
the German army. The city is being
truned into an entrenched camp.
Following the decree issued by the
military governor, ordering residents
of the district within the city's
line of defense forts to desert and
destroy their homes within four days,
enormous stacks of food were placed
within the state warehouses. The
Bois de Boulogne presents a pictur
esque aspect. It has been transformed
into a vast pasture filled with cows
and sheep. The animals have been di
vided into groups and are guarded by
reserves wearing the large shirts of
drovers. The number of sheep pas
tured in the parks exceeds 10,000.
The decree calling for the evacua
tion of the military zone around the
forts was a formal notice, although
army engineers recently made a tour
of the environs of the forts and ex
plained that the residents might be
called on to destroy their property,
which was deemed an obstruction.
Many of the houses in the line of
fire are those of poor people whose
owners are now at the front.
Many
of these families lack resources and
will be without refuge. Nevertheless,
they took the situation without com
plaint, although they addressed a pe
tition to the military governor, re
questing that he use the power vested
in him only as a last extremity.
Japanese Are Cautioned
to Avoid War Discussions
San Francisco — Japanese associa
tions in this city are circulating a note
of advice to Japanese residents in
America, which was issued by the
Japanese Association of America.
It
reads:
“Japanese should endeavor to avoid
heated talks and discussions with
Europeans and Americans on the war
situation.
“In California there is a large popu
lation of German subjects and special
care should be taken in your attitude
toward them.
“Japanese should refrain from con
versations and actions which might
tend to excite the sentiment of Euro
peans and Americans.
“As the United States declared neu
trality, Japanese in America should
recognize aryl bind themselves to the
neutrality obligations.
Outside of
the necessary and proper support of
their mother country, they should not
give any support or assistance to any
of the belligerents. ”
German Honors His Foe.
Rome — (Via Paris) — A di peat ch
from Berlin says the defense of
Longwy, department of Meurthe-et-
Moselle, France, was the most heroic
since the beginning of the war. The
town surrendered only after an extra
ordinary display of valor. Of 36 siege
guns, all except one had been disman
tled.
The Germans so admired the bril
liant resistance that Crown Prince
Frederick William begged the French
commander at the moment of surrender
to keep his sword.
10,000 to Flee Albania.
Ixmdon — The Exchange Telegraph
compnay’s correspondent at Barri,
Italy, says that the Italian government
has arranged for the transportation
of 10,000 fugitives who wish to leave
Albania as soon as Prince William, of
Wied, departs, as they fear anarchy.
An American warship has been dis Prince William has asked Italy to
patched to Turkey, presumably to leave the armored yacht Mysuratta at
his disposal, as he may be forced to
carry gold to American missionaries.
abandon the throne at any time.
Secretary Bryan cabffdldl American
embassies and legations in Europe to
Opera Singers Off to War.
urge Americans to leave Europe with
Chicago — So many singers are en
out delay.
dangering their lives and voices in the
A Boulogne dispatch to the Standard European conflict that the directors of
at London says the town of Tournai, the Chicago Grand JJpera company,
capital of the Department of Hainaut, after a^< ^pairing two days’ meeting,
Belgium, occupied by the Germans, announced that there would be no per
was compelled to pay an indemnity of formances the coming season. Ber
$400,000 within an hour, the burgol nard Ulrich, manager of the company,
master being held as a hostage unti cabled the singers notifying them their
the money was paid.
contracts had been canceled.
Battle Line ot Allies
Suit to Recover 50,000
Is Moved Backward 'PARIS TO RAZE
OWN SUBURBS
Acres State Land Urged
According to the
Salem
C. B. McConnell, a lawver cattle companies.
of Burna, has conferred with Attorney lawyer, the land was obtained several
General Crawford in regard to insti years ago through the use of dummies
and other alleged settlers, who worked
tuting suits for the recovery by the : in conjunction with the company.
state of large tracts of grazing land in
The Pacific Livestock company is
Harney and Malheur counties, control fighting the suit of the state on the
of which Mr. McConnell charges was grounds that it obtained the land in a
obtained by fraud.
Suit is (tending legal way and that action by the state
against the Pacific Livestock company should have been started earlier.
for the recovery of 27,000 acres of
Circuit Judge Harris recently, in the
school land. The company has entered Hyde-Benson school land case, which
suit to prevent the adjudication of ia similar to the one against the live
water rights on the Silves river, and stock company, decided that the state
it was while making investigation of would have to show a good excuse for
its allegations that Mr. McConnell any» its delay in bringing suit. The atlor-
he found that about 50,000 other acres i noy general has appealed on the
> ground that laches do not apply to the
had been obtained through fraud.
This land, he said, is largely held by I state.
Burns, Or., Fire Destroys
Eugene Light and Power
Companies in Rate H«r
$60,000 Worth ot Property
Eugene
A long-anticipated rate
war between the municipal power plant
and the Oregon Power company was
opened here this week with the an
nouncement by the power company
that it will not only meet but will un
dercut the reduction announced by the
city plant.
The private company has filed its
new schedule of rates with the State
railroad commission, declining to an
nounce the extent of the cut.
The city’s reduction amounted to 11
per cent and before the cut was made
the maximum rate of 9 cents for light
ing and 5 cents for power was lower
than offered in any city in the Wil
lamette valley outside of the vicinity
of Portland. The new schedule of 8
cents maximum for lighting and 4 4
cents maximum for power, with a min
imum of 1.2 cents for 10,000-kilowatt
quantities, is almost half the rates in
Eugene two years and a half ago, be
fore the entrance of the city plant,
which claims the credit for the reduc
tion.
The present rate war was forecast
recently when the water board asked
the State railroad commission to curb
the activities of the private company
and the latter responded with a re
quest for unrestricted competition.
Neither was wholly granted.
Highway Condemnation
Suits Are Being Tried
St. Helens—About 100 farmers, sev
eral attorneys and State Highway En
gineer Bowlby and his assistants, ap
peared before the County court in the
condemnation proceedings for right of
way for the Columbia Highway.
Claims for back-hill places on
logged-off lands have been put in at
$500 an acre and for agricultural land
that is taken nothing less than $1000
an acre is being asked.
As there are more than 100 claflMs.
the County court will take several days
for the hearings, after which its decis
ion will be given on all claims at the
same time.
Flour Holds at $5.20.
The lowest wholesale price of flour
in the Portland market now is $5 a
barrel, the only mill that quoted less
than that figure having advanced its
price 20 cents only a day or two ago.
Other mills are asking $5.20 a barrel.
The flour market is keeping pace with
the advance in milling wheat.
Blue
stem sold at $1.03 a bushel, a gain of
a cent over a preceding day’s price.
Farmers are holding very firm and are
taking advantage of the situation to '
get all they can for their wheat.
The present price of $5 a barrel for
flour compares witfl the quotation of
$4.70 on this date last year. $5.10 on
the same date in 1912, $4.95 three
years ago, $5.35 four years ago, $6.25
five years ago, and $4.85 in 1908.
Water System for Fair.
Salem—An independent water sys
tem for the State Fair grounds has
been decided upon by the board of di
rectors, and the drilling of the first
well has been started.
According to Mr. George E. Scott,
the contractor, a large river flows un
der the grounds and Salem, and he ad
vises that the city eventually obtain
its water supply from the stream.
Secretary Meredith announced that the
cottage city district at the fair
grounds would be moved to a tract
west of the new pavilion before the
opening of the fair September 28.
Burna The worst fire in the history
of Burna began Monday at midnight
and in three hours a large num
ber of business houses were in
ruin. The blaze was started in the hay
loft of McKinnon’s livery barn, sup
posedly by someope sleeping there, and
it quickly spread to every building in
that block, including the Hotel French
and a large two-story building contain
ing a pool hall and living rooms.
Three small dwellings in the block to
the east were burned and the flames
spread to the block to the south. They
jumped the Harney County National
bank, which is of stone, and caught in
two franfe buildings, which were
quickly destroyed.
Then they com
municated to the roof of the stone
building occupied by the Bedell saloon
and barber shop and also to another
atone building, occupied by the Donne-
gan & Logan abstract office and Frank
Davies’ and Charles Ellis’ law offices.
The postoffice and Harney County
News office, adjoining these, were
saved. In the livery stable 27 horses
were burned to death.
The losses will reach $60,000. with
about $30,000 insurance.
Several buildings on the west side
of the street caught fire, but the
flames were extinguished.
The owners of the destroyed proper
ty will rebuild.
A heroic fight was made against the
blaze by firemen and citizens. It was
due to this and favorable wind that
the entire city wax not wiped out.
Five Fires Burn Over
Tract ot 2000 Acres
Cottage Grove Nearly 2000 acres
of the forest reserve was burned over
in the recent fires in the London coun
try. Probably 200,000 or .'loo.,.... f.-. t
of timber was destroyed.
There were five fires in progress at
one time, that on Little river, near
Black Butte, being the most serious.
I"ire Warden Frank Brumbaugh and
a crew of eight men have thia and
smaller fires under control.
Fire Warden S. P. Shortridge has
gained control of three fires in the
same territory. The blaze on Wilson
creek is still burning, required a
month’s fighting with crews ranging
from three to six men. Five hundred
acres were burned over in the three
fires handled by Mr. Shortridge and
hlxiut 100,000 feet of timber <l«-
stroyed.
He thinks that the fires
handled by Mr. Brumbaugh covered
1500 acres.
It is probable that at
least 200,000 feet of timber was lost.
Several fires occurred in the Row
river country during the past week.
Two Months' Work Needed.
Astoria — Captain Groves, su|>erin-
tendent of dredges for the Port of
Portland commission, says he expects
about two months’ work with the
dredge Multnomah will be required
to open up the Tongue Point channel.
The intention is to dig a channel 300
feet wide and 25 feet deep from No. 2
buoy down, a distance of approximate
ly 4000 feet.
The operation of the dredge entails
an expense of lietween $8000 and $9000
a month, which is being paid by the
Commission.
Hood River Relic Goes.
Hood River — The oldest structure
now standing in Hood River, built 28
years ago by Robert Rand, and occu
pied by the city’s first barber, was
destroyed by fire Wednesday. The
structure was occupied by a plumbing
company and the fire started in a pile
of tar-covered ropes. Its frame walls
were dry as tinder, and the flames
Rig Estate Is Inherited.
were pouring from doors and windows
Adjoining business
Pendleton — John Guriado and his in an instant.
sister, Mrs. Tulita Adams, wife of a blocks were saved by quick work of
the volunteer fire department.
laborer, are on their way to Ix>s An
geles with Colonel James A. Raley,
Car Line Pays $71,000.
a prominent attorney of Pendleton, to
Oregon
City- More than $100,<400
claim their shares in the estate of their
father, John Guriado, who died recent was collected Tuesday in the tax col
ly, leaving $150,000 and no will. Their lecting department. Tuesday was tne
identity has been established, attorneys last opportunity for the taxpayers to
say. The elder Guriado and his wife settle their account with the county
quarreled when the children were without paying the 10 per cent added
young, and the family became split up, penalty. The Portland Railway, Light
Power company paid more than
the children going with their mother.
$74,000, the largest amount.
Less
The mother died a few years ago.
than $50,000 will be turned oyer to the
sheriff’s office on the delinquent tax
Canadian Company Sued.
Hat.________
Salem A temporary restraining or
Ruenn Vista Clover Poor.
der against the National Mercantile
Buena Vista Clover hulling, which
company doing business in Oregon was
issued by Circuit Judge Galloway. The is in progress in this district, Is exftos-
action was started by Attorney General ing a poor yield. The midge, grass
Crawford at the instance of Corpora hoppers, and the long dry spell are
tion Commissioner Watson, who al blamed for the noted decrease. From
leged that the company had not com one bushel to two and one-half bushels
Some growers
plied with the corporation laws of the are being obtained.
state. The company is a foreign cor report even less than a bushel an acre.
poration, having headquarters in Van The Polk county acreage this year is
couver, B. C., and, according to the said to be the largest yet planted and
corporation commissioner, ia conduct estimates for its value has been at a
high mark.
ing in Portland a loan business.
Paris An official statement issued
by the war department says: “In the
North the Franco British lines have
been moved back a short distance. In
a general way our offensive between
Nancy and Vosges makes headway.
Our right, however, has been obliged
to fall back slightly In the region of
St Die.
“In the North resistance continues.
The enemy ap|»earn to have suffered
considerable loss, more than 1500
bodies having been found in a very
small space in a trench. Some had
been stricken as they stood, in the at
titude of firing their rifles.
“A series of fiercely contested com
bats has Iwen going on during the past
throe days in the region, which wore
generally to our advantage.
“A decree will be published author
ising special promotions of officers for
the period of the war, regardless of
seniority.”
Residences in Way of Ports to
Be Destroyed.
Invading German Army Hopeful
of Penetrating Lines Refore
Russians Reach Herlin.
Paris It is officially announced that
the military governor has ordered all
residents of the zone within action of
the city’s defending forts to evacuate
and destroy their houses within four
days from August 31.
As far as can be learned, the French
troops »¡»pear to be intact, except for
those losses which were inevitable in
a week’s heavy fighting over a vast
front.
If the British and French retire on
the western flank it is explained that
they do so in order to choose their
ground for fiercer resistance.
Every
new day has seen reinforcements mov
ing up to aid the French troops engag
ed on the Belgian frontier.
The French operating along the in
terior lines arc able to shift un army
cor|»s from one part of the frontier to
another swiftly, and it is said that the
allies probably are in stronger position
than last Sunday.
The Germans, apparently owing to
the increasing pressure of Russia,
seem to la- throwing themselves
against intrenched ¡switions and arc
suffering severely. They are gaining
ground and seemingly are hopeful of
being able to break through before
Berlin is invested.
French wounded are arriving at the
provincial towns.
Ixmdon
A closer veil than ever
seems to be drawn over the progress
of the war. Little news has come to
hand concerning the operations on
either frontier. The Russians, how
ever, ap(M-ar to be continuing their ad
vance in East Prussia towards Posen,
with the Germans in retreat.
The only news from the French side
ia that the French troops were attack
ed along the Alsace-1xirraine line, but
repulsed all the attacks successfully.
There is no indication that the German
attack was in any great force, but if it
was, the French success shows that
they are now in a stronger position
along this frontier, from which they
will be driven only by great sacrifices
on the ¡»art of the Germans.
A more hopeful feeling prevails in
England an to the strength of the
French defensive position.
The re
pulse the French sustained at t’harle
roi has been partly due to the desire of
the French army to accomplish a bril
liant incursion into Alsace and Ix»r-
raine, which led them to weaken their
forces on the Belgian frontier. Hav RICHARD HARDING DAVIS,
ing recognized the danger of this
WRITER, ARRESTED AS SPY
course, they have now reverted to
what apiiears to ex|>erta to be a more
Ixmdon Only by exceptionally good
logical strategy, abandoning their in
vasion of the provinces and concen fortune was the life of Richard Hard
trating their strength in the defense ing Davis, »¡»ecial war correspondent,
spared by the Germans, who sus|iccted
of the northern frontier.
him of being a spy, according to the
story told by James R. Evans, an
Clash ot Butte, Mont.,
American engineer, who arrived from
Miners Is Renewed Brussels which ¡»lace he left Thursday
Butte, Mont. More than 1000 in night.
For hours the Germans debated
surgent miners marched to the mines
Thursday night with the announced whether to shoot Mr. Davis, who had
purpose of preventing any Western followed in the wake of the German
Federation of Miners members from advance. Hr was some distance south
of the Belgian capital when taken into
descending to work.
Arriving at the Anaconda mine, the custody by the German officers.
insurgents, who are now known as the
Butte Mine Workers’ union, massed Germany’s Naval Loss
their forces sround the collar of the
Off Heligoland Is 670
shaft and notified the shifts going off
London
—
Tweniy-iiinu killed and 38
work that unless they joined the now
union l»efore they went on shift sgain wounded was the price in men paid by
and were wearing the new union’s but the British for the naval action against
ton, they would be prevented from go the Germans in Heligoland waters
ing to work by a force of the memliers Friday.
An official statement issued here
of the'new union.
says
that of 1000 men cum|>oaing the
Following
their
ultimatum to
the meml»ern of the Western Federa crews of the warship sunk off Heligo
tion ot Miners, the insurgents again land, only 330 were saved.
The British losses are described as
paraded the streets, ending at the Au
ditorium, where a meeting was held, follows:
“The light cruiser Arethusa lost
no one being admitted except those
wearing the buttons of the new union. Lieutenant Eric Weetmacott and nine
men killed, four seriously wounded,
and Lieutenant Robinson and 11 men
wounded, but not seriously.
ABSENTEE MEMBERS OE
"The tor| as Io-boat destroyer Liberty
CONGRESS ARE RETl RNING lost commander Bcrtcllot and six men
killed, one man has since died from
Washington, D. C. — Prospects of wounds, one dangerously wounded, five
losing a day’s pay for each day’s ab seriously wounded and five slightly
sence brought Representatives troop wounded.
ing back to the house and the rollcall
“The destroyer Laurel suffered ten
showed 267 of the 435 in their seats men killed, one has since died of ,hix
in the house - the greatest number in wounds, two men dangerously wound
weeks.
ed, seven seriously wounded and two
“This is the second line of reserves slightly wounded.”
arriving," announced the leader of one
returning party, “the third line is on London Paper Holds Up
the way.”
America as Good Example
“Who is that man?” demanded
Speaker Clark, ¡»ointing with his gavel
Ixmdon The Daily News, in an ed
at a strange face. A clerk explained itorial denouncing secret diplomacy
that it was a returned member.
says:
A deluge of applications for leave
"Can Europe ever again tolerate the
“on account of illness*’ came down on appalling peril of secret diplomacy?
the clerk.
Majority Leader Under Can we ever again play about on the
wood announced that the sergeant-at- deck with sails and compasses, making
arms would have to be satisfied of the our little laws and imagining that we
validity of every such application.
are self-governing, while down in the
hold of our ship of state there is a
Jews Pray for Peace.
powder magazine, the existence of
Brooklyn — A prayer for ¡»eace l>e- which we are not permitted to know?.
“Secret diplomacy belongs to the
tween the warring nations of Europe
traditions of autocratic and personal
has been prepared by members of the government. It has no place in a
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congrega democratic world, and the example of
tions of America, of which Bernard the United States must become the
It is being model of the civilized world on thia
Drachman is president.
sent to all congregations affiliated with vital matter, if Euro|»e is to be free
the union, with the request to use it from menace in the future.”
in the services during the war. The
trend of the prayer is a bitter denun
Czar Lauds Scots Greys.
ciation of the men who are now ruling
Ixmdon — The official press bureau
the destinies of their soldiers and asks
for a quick ending of the slaughter and has issued the following notice:
massacre taking place in Euro|»e.
“Hix Majesty the Emperor of Rus
sia, who is colonel in chief of the
"All~ Water" Voyage Made.
Scots Greys, has sent the following
New York—The first all-water voy gracious message to his regiment: *1
age from San Francisco to New York am happy to think that my gallant
by way of the Panama canal was com regiment, the Royal Scots Greys, is
pleted here Thursday on the arrival of fighting with Russia against the com
Convinced that they
the Pleiades, of the Luckenbach mon enemy.
Steamship company.
The Pleiades, will uphold the gracious traditions
which flies the American flag, sailed of the past, I send them my warm
from San Francisco on July 24 and greetings and Wish them victory in
the battle.' ”
passed through the canal August 16.
Prince, Surrounded, Dies.
King Mingles With Troops.
Rome — How Prince Frederick Wil
liam of Lippe died in the fighting be
fore Liege is described tersely in a
dispatch received here from the head
quarters of the German army. The
Prince’s regiment was surrounded by
the Belgians under the walla of Liege
an<l he wax struck by two bullets while
standing among his men. Ha died in
stantly.
London -According to the Antwerp
correspondent of the Daily News, King
Albert constantly mingles with his
troops, and was in the trenches in the
fighting around Malines.
He was al
ways nt the ¡mints of the greatest
«langer, assisting the encouraging the
men. He went among them attired
simply as a soldier, and his sympathe
tic conduct had a remarkable effect.