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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 1914)
A THE 3IORNIXG OREGOXIAN. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 36, 1914. RAISING CROPS ON GOLF LINKS URGED Proposals Also Made in Britain to Offer Clubhouses as Military Hospitals. 2000 ARE HELD SUITABLE Plan Would Provide 25,000 Beds, Says Club Official, Who Would Hare Caddies Help Farmers Do Harvesting. LONDON. Aug. 14. Proposals that golt courses, cricket and football fields be plowed for raising crops during war time have been reaching the war or fice. A. J. Sherwood, secretary of the Walton Heath Golf Club at Epsom, points out that there are at least 2000 golf courses in the country which could spare some. If not considerable, land tor cultivation. The Walton Heath Club has already started an experi ment of putting 12 acres under culti vation, and its secretary believes that If other clubs, including cricket and football organizations, would do the same, the scheme would provide em ployment for thousands of unskilled workers and add materially to the ration's supply. Link Are Deserted. In these days of self-sacrifice, no one appears to care to enjoy himself on the golf links. They are deserted, and probably will be until the close of the war. L. B. Guillen, secretary of the Golfers", Club, has suggested that the hundreds of clubhouses should be offered to the military authorities for use as hospitals. Mr. Gulllch is sending a letter to the . secretary of every club and expects that In a few weeks, if the War Office favors the scheme, practically every clubhouse In the cruntry will be equipped as a hospital. It is thought that those on the East coast might be especially useful. 2000 Clubhouses Available. "I find." said Mr. Gullich, "that golfers are anxious to do something useful and so far no one has been able to think of anything better than giv ing up the clubhouses. There must be at least 2000 which could be used as hospitals, or in any other way that military authorities see fit. The big ger ones have been made out of luxurious country bouses and could be transformed into hospitals in a few days to accommodate some hundreds, and there are well over 1000 smaller houses which could accommodate from 12 to 60. without alterations. "The clubhouse staff could be avail able for the cooking and atendance. If the various clubs respond, as I think they will, there would be no difficulty in offering the War Office 25.000 beds." Another of Mr. Guillen's proposals Is using the 20.000 caddies who are Idle to help farmers get in the harvest. HERRICK TO STAY AT POST New Ambassador Will Take Time to Study Manifold Duties. WASHINGTON", Aug. 25. Ex-Representative Sharp of Ohio received final instructions today from Secretary Bryan before departing for Paris, where he will succeed Myron T. Her rick as Ambassador to France. Although it Is customary for a re tiring diplomat to leave his post as aoon as his successor arrives the un usual situation created by the war In Europe has made necessary another ar rangement. President Wilson has asked Mr. Herrick to remain in Paris as lontr as Is necessary to acquaint his successor with the manifold duties of the post. Mr. Sharp, therefore, will be in Paris Indefinitely in an unofficial capacity, withholding the presentation of his credentials until he feels able to handle the situation. FARMERS DIGGING GRAVES (Continued From First Pas.) manship (incidentally, they despise the Germans' poor shooting), and In a very little time they forced the Ger mans to the alternative of retiring or attacking again. The invaders chose the latter course, and bame into open country by three routes one over a little bridge" ttlong"4he road, another to the left behind the road, and the third to the right in the shelter of the woods and a low-lying lane. Moned Down by Ganft. Over the bridge they came in solid column as though on parade. Sud denly the Belgian machine guns, masked in the wood, burst into life, and the solid ranks of the Germans were cut down by the hail of bullets as corn falls to the scythe. One hundred Uhlans, who were in the vanguard along one of the roads, charged forward daringly, but 17 Belgians came out of their conceal ment and held the 100 in check. Today that spot is littered with the derelict helmets and lances of the fighting men. Those Germans that survived the machine gun fire charged too, and the fields all about the Belgian position show by their covering of impedimenta that the onslaught pressed well up to the defenders' guns and to the trenches in the turnip fields where the Belgian soldiers lay. On the German left the mitrailleuses (quick fire shell guns) got to work in and behind the houses on the outskirts of the village. Five of those houses were burned to the ground. In a shed nearby I found a peasant weeping be side the bodies of his dead cows. German Sbootlns Vot Accurate. The German shooting appears not to have been accurate enough to cover the advance of the Infantry. The German lances seem to have bent in the lancers hands. One lance from which I took a black and white pennon was bent like a bow, as though its owner had been shot and in falling from his horse leaned his full weight upon the weapon as the point struck the ground. By afternoon the Germans retired out of the village and beyond, and there they are still waiting, as the Belgians on their side are waiting for the next attempt to pierce their gal lant line. It would be easy now, at the begin ning even of the war, to write of Its tragedy, the villagers have such a tale to tell of loss; besides which they re member that all the 1200 men In the long grave had wives, sweethearts and parents of their own. I picked up on the field today a let ter which I am endeavoring to have Identified and sent to the girl, some where, for whom It la intended. It waa apparently written o tbo eve of battle and carried by a soldier who hoped 'that it would perhaps reach Its destination after his death. The trans- latlon runs: A Last Love Letter. "Sweetheart: Fate in this present war has treated us more cruelly than it has many others if I have not lived to create for you the happiness of which both our hearts dreamed. Re member, my sole wish now is that you should be happy. "Forget me and create for yourself a happy home that may restore to you some of the greater pleasures of life. For myself. I shall have died happy in the thought of your love. My last thought has been for you and for those I leave at home. Accept this last kiss from him who loved you." The signature to this letter, which was stained and soiled, was, so far as I could decipher It, "Betienn." On the back Is a postscript, saying: "If my photographs should cause you unhap piness of memory, send them to my parents." Postcards from fathers and mothers, with blessings upon their gallant sons of both armies, I found, too, upon the field, as well as little mementoes of people and places, apparently carried by the men as mascots. Everywhere! were broken lances, German and Bel- gian side by side, scabbards and helmets, saddles and guns. These the peasants were collecting In piles to be removed later by the sol diers. High up over the graves of the 1200 as we stood there a German biplane came and went. In the village itself death is still busy. A wounded German gunner died as we stood by his side, and a Belgian soldier laid a handkerchief across his face. As I write, back here in Brus sels, the soldiers who filled the little market-place may now be fighting for their lives. When I left to return here the Germans were in force, not a mile awav from them. It is significant that all the German prisoners I saw said they believed tney were in France, not Belgium. By courtesy of the authorities I was permitted yesterday to visit the place of confinement In Brussels where 400 of the German prisoners were quartered. I never saw men sleep as did these sol diers of the Eighth, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Corps of the Germany army. They lay like logs, poor fellows. Prisoners Needed Sleep. Their custodians told me the prison ers said when they were brought in that they had scarcely been allowed to sleep at all for seven days and nights. They are being splendidly treated. Bel gium is setting an example in humanity as well as in fighting. Most of these prisoners came from Liege. Those who had finished their sleep talked with me and were eager to get news and to say what they thought about It all. Only a few would de scribe their capture, because of the humiliation, but I am sure they were all men of courage. Their surrender was no fault of their own, but the fault of the German sys tem. From what I could gather they had been "goose-step" drilled for years. They were trained soldiers, most of them third-year men. But they had been drilled out of all Independence. At DIest 400 surrendered the moment they lost their officers. Many caught in a cross-fire, immediately cast away their rifles and threw their hands up in the air. They did not know what else to do. I gathered that none of them had ever been trained In the art of taking cover unless they are fighting in trenches, while the Belgian soldiers are cleverly making the best of their hedges and ditches. I believe 500 marksmen across a line of defense could demolish a German army corps by picking off the officers. The prisoners in the "caserne" had little comment to make along those lines. One old colonial veteran, a jolly fellow with four medals, whose life long trade has been war, was ready to pronounce the Belgians superior fight ers without a murmur. "Their fighting opened our eyes," he said, and there was a suggestion of a chuckle in his voice when he added: "Our War Office will never learn." GERMANY TAKES UP GENSOREDWIRELESS Ambassador Seeks First-Hand Information Before Protest ing to Washington. CRUELTY IS DISCUSSED Count von Bernstorff Says Belgian Citizens Mutilated German Sold iers on Field 800,000 Men on Russian Border. NEW YORK. Aug. 25. Count Johann von Bernstorff, the German Ambas sador, who arrived here yesterday from Europe, said today he planned to remain In New York until Thursday before proceeding to Washington. The Ambassador declared he wanted to get first-hand information concerning the censorship the United States Govern ment is exercising over the German owned wireless station at Sayvllle, N. Y., and its refusal to grant the one at Tuckerton, N. J., a license. He pointed out that with the cables to England uncensored the representa tives of Great Britain in this country were at liberty to forward to their gov ernment information concerning the movements of German warships, or any other information that might be deemed advisable. s Counter Charge Against Belgians. Count von Bernstorff said he had formed no opinion yet on the subject and wanted to be fully Informed be fore even contemplating taking up the censorship question with the State De partment. The attention of the Ambassador was called to tho published statements enamating from Belgian sources that German soldiers had been using dum dum, or expanding bullets. "I refrained from discussing the so- called cases of cruelties on my arrival yesterday," he said, "for the reason that I did not care to be an Instrument in creating any ill-feeling. Since, how ever, the Belgian government has seen fit to have published additional accu sations, I cannot help saying that of ficial reports from Liege to Berlin In formed us that the citizens there had fired at German troops from windows and had shot at doctors and nurses wearing Red Cross arm bands and under the Red Cross flag. Furthermore, the citizens mutilated wounded Ger man soldiers." 800,000 Germans on Russian Border. Count von Bernstorff said he believed there were about 12 German army corps and eight Austrian army corps along the Vistula River. Germany's first line of defense against Russia. There are about 800,000 men in these corps. The Ambassador said he wished to reiterate for the benefit of the people of the United States that Germany was not to blame for going to war. "As a matter of fact," he said, "the German government told Austria to go as easy as she could with Servia and that in the meanwhile Germany would try to see what she could do toward quieting Russia. While these peace negotiations were in progress Russia mobilized her army. , "What right has Russia to stand up SUNSET THEATER Washington and Broadway Portland's Most Popular Photo play Theater PROGRAMME Wednesday and Balance of Week THE WINNING OF DENISE 2-Part Kay Bee Drama A Beautiful Story of the Canadian Woods. An Extremely Funny Comedy, Keystone "THE KIDLETS." Mable Normand and "Fatty Arbuckle'' A DOG'S GOOD DEED 2-Part Thanhauser Drama THE PATHE WEEKLY, With Latest War Jiews AND THE ALL STAR TRIO SOME SINGERS for Servia? The reason she has done so is that she seeks the destruction of Austria. Every man in Germany feels the same as I do about this matter. The attitude of the Socialists proves this, and the truth is bound to come out in time. The reason the English went to such lengths to cut the cables between America and Germany was that they did not want the truth to be known." GERMANS SEEK FRIENDS BRITISH NEWSPAPER DISCUSSES TREATMENT OF AMERICANS. Effort Is Seen to Give Parting Guests as Favorable an Impression of Teuton Empire as Possible. LONDON, Aug. 25. The Times today, discussing at length the German treat ment of Americans who were stranded in Germany at the opening of the war, says: "There are many indications that Germany still hopes to find friends among neutral nations. The most stren uous efforts in this direction were re served for the United States as repre sented by Americans stranded within Germany's borders. "As soon as the panic that followed the outbreak of the war had subsided elaborate orders were Issued that every courtesy bo shown Americans. All this week special trains have been running for their beenftt from Munich, Frank fort and other centers to Rotterdam Ladies' and Misses' Tailored Suits and Coats An exhibit pre-eminent in exclusiveness of fabric, originality of design and superiority of workmanship. Suits $19.50 to $84.50 Coats $10 to $50 BTTM QTTT T TMP MORRISON ST. ih IN O th Lj -Lrf 1 I N VJ AT FOURTH A Shop for Gentlewomen THE ENTIRE THIRD FLOOR ELEVATOR and Flushing. Nothing was left un done which could give the parting guests a favorable impression of Ger many. At certain stations along the route these parties were met by Ger mans bringing hot coffee and other re freshments and by others waving the Stars and Stripes. "The travelers were plentifully sup plied with German papers and received copies of a pamphlet printed in English and issued by the Foreign Office of Ger many entitled 'Germany's Reasons for War.' " MRS. CHASE IS DEFIED Oregon City to Start "Work Upon Elevator Approaches Monday. OREGON CITY, Or., Aug. 25. (Spe cial.) Street Commissioner Habcock has been Instructed by Mayor Jones to begin work Monday on the approaches for the munlclpa lelevator. There now Is no Injunction restrain ing the city from building the ap proach across the property of Mrs. Sarah A. Chase. The last case filed by Attorneys Latourette and Hedges was non-suited two weeks ago by Jttdjre Campbell. Another actio nls pending before the Supreme Court, but City At torney Schuebel sal dtoday that the decision o fthe higher court could not affect the completion o fthe work. SHIP BILL HEARINGS SET Opinions on Government Organizing Line to Be Heard Thursday. WASHINGTON. Aug. 25. Arrange ments were made today for hearings on the Administration bill to author ize the orR'inliattnn of i government controlled shipping company to eng. iff in the foreign trade. Chairman Alexander, of the House merchant marine committee, announced that the committee would meet Thurs day und a general invtt.itlon had been Mtttnde 1 t .ill Interested t' at pear and discus the hill. Senat r Clarke. rliHlrnmn of the Sen ate commerce committee, is preparing to Introduce the measure In the Sen at" without waiting for action In the House. Kusslan IViisiints' Drink. London Standard. A popular drink union the peasants Of Russia Is railed uuass. It is made by pouring warm water over rye or barley meal. It Is a fermented liquor and is very sour, but has been used for years by these poverty-stricken people. It's easy to dances with the Victrola. learn the new music Victrola VI, $25 Oak The Hesitation, MaxLxe, One Step, Tango, and other dances all played loud and clear and in perfect time. There are Victors and Victrolas in great variety of styles from $10 to $200 at all Victor dealers. Victor Talking Machine Co. Camden, N. J. I Dancing to the music of the Victrola is the favorite pastime. Every one enjoys dancing tomusic of such splendid volume, such clearness and perfect rhythm. We have all the best dance records the Maxixe, Hesitation, Tango, One-Step, Castle Walk. The ideal place for these new dances is in the home, and there the Victrola is indispensable, as it has made dancing a real home diversion. q If you only knew what pleasure the Victrola brings into your home you wouldn't be without one for a single day. q Victrolas $15 to $200 on the easiest terms. Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle, teachers and greatest expo nents of the modern dances, use the Victor exclusively and superintend the making of their Victor Dance Records. Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle dancing the Maxixe Steiirway Weber and Other Pianos Sherman Morrison at Sixth Opposite Post Office Pianola