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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 1914)
VOL. L.IV. XO. 16,792. PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER "!, 1914. PRICE FIVE CENTS. V FIGHTING RAGES ON ENTIRE LIE Attack and Counter-Attack FoIIqy Every Hour. GERMAN ASSAULT INTREPID Resolution Approaching Des peration Displayed in Night Engagement. BAYONET IS MUCH USED Famous British Regiments Suf fer Heavily, but Perform Allotted Task. ON" THE BATTLE FRONT, Sept. 18 (by way of Paris). The gigantic battle, or more properly battles, con tinued day and night along the en fire front from Noyon to the fron tier. The fighting does not consist of one sustained and combined move ment, but in reality is several com bats proceeding incessantly at the strongest points of the Germans' de fending line along the river Aisne. Attacks Pollow Rapidly. Each encounter, however, influences the execution of the general idea of the Commander-in-Chief of the allied armies. Attacks and counter attacks follow one another in rapid succession every hour out of the 24. In the night of September 15-16 the Germans attempted a formidable movement in the Western sphere, "out Iwere met by the French and British Iwith courage that was marvelous against overwhelming odds. The Ger mans returned to the attack no fewer than 10 times with remarkable tenac ity and intrepidity, but were unable to break through the firm line pre sented by the allies' infantry. Tight Before Dawn Violent. The fight just before daybreak was the most violent of all. The Germans appeared to throw into the charge all that remained of their energy, but were rolled back with enormous losses. Before retiring behind their big guns they sacrificed many of their number, displaying resolution which ap proached desperation. A vigorous counter attack from the allies ensued, Huring which a small extent of ground Iwas gained. Last night was relatively calm along the front, but today the fighting be came more furious than ever. During the darkness operations are rendered difficult owing to the reluctance of the opposing commanders to use searchlights, which might expose their positions. Bayonet Used, Carnage Terrifying. ' After this stage of the fight was concluded, the Germans appeared to retire about seven miles. During the combat the adversaries in many in stances came to hand-to-hand clashes and the bayonet was extensively used. The carnage was terrifying, but the troops of both armies appear to have been hardened to such , scenes and fought with great coolness. The allies' aviators apparently dis covered today the placements of some big German guns, notwithstanding the cleverness with which they are hidden beneath an earthen covering strewn with the branches of trees. The allies' Artillery opened a concentrated fire on a certain portion of the line and the heavy German artillery shortly afterward lapsed into silence at that spot, although it is not known whether they were rendered impotent or were merely effecting a change of position owing to their former emplacements having become untenable. Germans Resist Obstinately. It is impossible to learn from any cne portion of the line what is oc curring at other places, but an incli- nation to recede slightly seemed evi dent on the German side, although they offered the most obstinate 're sistance and fought as though made of iron. The allies at the same time idoggedly pursued the small advantage (Concluded on Page 7.) BULLETINS PARIS, Sept. 18. The French and German governments are arranging through Washington for the exchange f prisoner of war. It la understood that James W. Gerard, the American Ambassador to Germany, has cabled Germany's adhesion to - the plan. PARIS, Sept. 18. In a dispatch from Odessa, the correspondent of the Havas Agency saya the government press bureau at Constantinople has forbidden the use of the word Petrograd, the new authoritative name for St. Petersburg, and ordered Turkish, newspapers to call the Russian capital St. Petersburg. CAPETOWN, Union of South Africa, Sept. 18. A force of 250 Germans, with three Maxim guns, attacked the British post at Nakob Thursday. The garrison consisted of seven policemen, who fought until their ammunition was ex hausted. Those' who had not been killed were taken prisoners. PARIS, Sept. 18. It fa announced at the Russian capital, according to a dispatch to the Havas News Agency from Petrograd, that the Germans who were campaigning In the Ivlelce Prov ince of Russian Poland, on learning of the Austrian, defeat from Krasnlkto Mascoff, retreated rapidly to the south ward with the intention of rallying the routed army. LONDON, Sept. 18. A Renter dis patch from Paris says M. Mlllerand, the French Minister of War. has decided to send the 1914 class of troops into camp. In order to give them the most practical and rapid instructions. LONDON, Sept. 18. The Paris corre spondent of the Exchange Telegraph Company sayai "All accounts received In Paris agree that the famous Prus sian Guards corps, the elite of the em pire and the especial pride of the Ger man Emperor, has been practically blotted out in the battles which have been waged along the Meuae, Marne and Aisne rivers." LONDON, Sept. IS. An announce ment Issued by the official press bureau tonight says i "There has been some ac tivity on the part of the allied cavalry, but without at the present time any definite results. - LONDON, Sept. 18 The war office has received from headquarters at the front, under date of September 15, the names of 12 officers killed, S4 wounded and 7 missing. ROME, via Paris, Sept. 18 Reports from Russian aourcea emphasise the magnitude of the Austrian defeat. The number . of cannon captured by the Russians is now placed at 10O0. LONDON, Sept. 1. The Daily Tele graph's Rome correspondent says he learns from authentic sonrce that eight German army . corps have left . France and Belgium for the Russian frontier. ROME, via Paris, Sept. 10. It 1 re ported here that the telegraph and telephone wires out of Pola, the great naval port and arsenal of Austria, sit uated on the Bay of Porto delle Rose, on the Istrla peninsula, have been cut and that bombs have been thrown Into the barracks. Report has It also that mines have been discovered in the canal leading to the arsenal, which were not laid by the Austrian au thorities. LONDON, Sept. 19. Renter's Antwerp correspondent saya that another Ger man aeroplane dropped a projectile in Antwerp yesterday, which severely wounded a cltlsen. The nature of the projectile was 'not ascertained, accord ing to the correspondent. , - VACATION CUT DEFEATED Question of Pay for City Employes on Holidays Being Considered. ' A proposal of Commissioner Brew ster to cut down the length of vaca tions for "city employes three -days was defeated by the Council yesterday. when the proposed Brewster vacation ordinance was indefinitely postponed. The measure had been opposed bitterly by city employes. The question of pay for employes on legal holidays will be considered by a committee comprising Commissioners Brewster and Bigelow. The committee will designate what holidays employes are to have off on full pay and those on which tHe employes must work. GERMANS RAZE TERMONDE Destruction of Another Belgian City Is Completed. LONDON, Sept. 19. Reuter'a Antwerp correspondent, telegraphing Friday, says: "The Germans today completed the destruction of the town of Termonde (Dendermonde), 16 miles southwest of Ghent. The communal offices were bombarded and are in ruins. The church still stands, though its tower is dam aged. The hospital was more or less spared, but all other public buildings and houses were destroyed." PRINCE EAGER FOR BATTLE Lord Kitchener, However. Bars King's Son From Active Service. LONDON, Sept. 18. The Prince of Wales was eager to go to the front. according to a statement issued to night by the official press. bureau, and tried to get Lord Kitchener's consent to do- so. As he had not completed his military training. Lord Kitchener submitted to the King "that for the present it is undesirable that His Royal Highness should proceed on active service." Foreign-Built Ships Coming In. WASHINGTON, Sept. 18. Twenty -four foreign built vessels, with a total tonnage of 100.820, have been admitted to American registry under the new shipping law, and. customs collectors are acting on registers for 27 additional sii$s of 106,360 aggregate tonnage. WAR'S VIVID TALE IS FULL OF THRILLS - How American Consul Saved Ghent Told. KANSAN HALTS GREAT ARMY German General Explains Charges of Cruelty. ZEPPELIN ORDERS OPEN American Correspondent, Wined and Dined by Von Boehn, Unearths "Atrocity Business" Views of Kaiser's Invading: Army. - BT E. ALEXANDER POWELL. (By Cable to the Chicago Tribune) HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD OP THE NINTH IMPERIAL. ARMT, Chateau Latere, near Renalx. Belgium, Sept. 9. (Delayed.) Three weeks ago the government of Belgium requested me to place before the American peo ple a list of specific and authentic atrocities committed by the German armies upon "Belgian non-combatants. Today Gen. von Boehn, commanding the Ninth Imperial field army, acting mouthpiece of the German general staff, has asked roe to place before the American people the German version of the incidents In question. So far as I am aware, I am the only correspondent in the present war who nas motored for an entire day through the ranks of the advancing German army, who has dined as a guest of the German army commander and his staff, and who has had the progress of the army on the march s arrested in order to obtain photographs of the German troops. ' Consul Saves Ghent. This unusual experience came about In a curious and roundabout way. After an encounter in the streets of Ghent last Tuesday between' a Ger man military automobile and a Bel gian armored car, in which two Ger man soldiers were wounded, as de scribed In dispatches, American Vice Consul Van Hee persuaded the Burg omaster to accompany him immediate ly to the headquarters of General von Boehn to explain the circumstances and ask that the city should not be held responsible for the unfortunate affair. In the course of the conversation with Mr. Van Hee, General von Boehn remarked that copies of papers con taining articles written by Alexander Powell criticising- the German treat ment of the Belgian civil population had come to his attention and said he regretted he could not have an oppor- (Concluded on Page 6.) W'WUM WJWJU.WWUi.ljj1 ) INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 62 degrees; minimum, 5 degrees. TODAY'S Rain, southerly winds. War. Great fortitude shown by wounded In French hospitals. Page 4. Adventurers from America organizing field force to aid Britons. Page 2. Uhlans carefree in enemy's country. Page Z Vivid tale told of reasons for cruelty on part of German arcny Page 1. Austrian Ambassador says Hussian accounts of victories are mostly mythical. Page 1. Great Britain silent regarding move for - peace. Page 6. Fighting between Germans and allies fierce and general along whole line. Page 1. National. United States asks Great Britain to explain Carden Incident, page s. Talk of compromise on harbor bill heard In Senate. Page 8. Democrats In Congress concerned ever war tax bill. Page 8. Time not ripe for trade campaign In South America, says Redfleld. Page 5. Tax on brokers decided on by ways -and means Democrats. Page u. Sport. Coast League results Oakland 5, Los An. genes 4; San Francisco 2, Missions 0. Page 12. Christy Mathewson says Giants strong on Paper, but pitchers are weakening. Page 13. Princeton boy defeats National tennis cham pion in 52-tima struggle. Page 12. Judge McCredle favors cutting length of Coast League season. Page 12. . Pacific Northwest. Steamer Leg-ett reported to have sunk in gale of; Oregon coast. Page 1. R. A. Booth speaks o( early pioneer days at meeting of settlers at Morrow County Fair. Put 7. R. A. Booth delivers address atHeppner. Page 7. Commercial and Marine. Oregon prune crop Is being safely harvested. Page 17. Wheat higher at Chicago en renewed buy ing by Europe. Page 17. New Tork bankers favor organization of gold pool. Page 17. Shlo routes changed to care for early Fall rush. Page It. . . . Portland and vicinity. Court considers bid of W. H. Dean for Northwestern Telephone securities. Page 13. Women's fight on Democrats opens. Page 13. Perjury charges cn Van Brakle die. Page 17. Bar to test Judge Cleeton's status. Page 13. Candidates ready for round of fairs. Page 16. Weather report, data and forecast. Page 17. RUSSIANS CHECK ADVANCE Petrograd Reports German Advance t In East Prussia Stopped. PETROGRAD, Sept. 18. The follow ing communication was issued today by the chief of the general staff: "On the front In Eastern Prussia the armies of General Rennenkampff defi nitely stopped on September 17 the of fensive movement of the Germans. At several points the Germans are falling back and shifting to new positions. "On the Austrian front the pursuit of the enemy continues. The Russians are approaching the defensive positions of Scnawa, Jarostau and Przemysl (Ga. Ucia)." . . . . . PERCHERONS ARE WANTED France May Remove Prohibition on .Shipment for America. BORDEAUX, Sept- 18. An American horse exporting firm of Sioux Falls, S. D.. Is trying with the aid of John W. Garrett. Minister to Argentina, who is now with the French government here, to have France remove the prohibition of shipment to the United States of Percherons, for which the French army has no need. It is expected that the government will allow the shipment. SHIPWRECKED IN A SEA OF PLENTY. J iij SikU. I.. I .?J H..IMSS -. t-A-i, ' STEAMER LEGGETT IS REPORTED SUNK Japanese Cruiser Hit Vessel Is Rumor. WIRELESS MESSAGE COMES Disaster Off Oregon Coast In formation Sent. 37 PASSENGERS; 25 CREW Unidentified' Cruiser Relays Wireless to Port of Portland That Sue "Sank 60 Males South." All Reports Vague. SKATTLB, Wash., Sept. 18. In con nection with the report of the sinking of the steam schooner Francis U. Leg grett, S. Takahashl, ' Japanese Consul here, staid tonight he had been notified tsrongh the Marconi wireleaa station that a vessel had been snnk off the Columbia River, and through the same agency had heard ruwn that the sinking of the vessel had come about through a collision with the Japanese cruiser Idsumo. t Consul Takahashl has been endeav oring to get Into communication with the Idsumo, but at a late hour tonight had been unable to reach the cruiser by wireleaa. lie says he does not know Its whereabouts. "Leggett sank at 3:15 P. M 60 miles south." This message received by the Port of Portland, last night. Indicated a sea disaster off the mouth of the Columbia. The news was received by an un identified cruiser off the Columbia River and relayed to a Marconi wire less station. The steam schooner Leggett sailed from Portland September 12 for Hoquiam to load lumber for California. She left Hoquiam Thursday at 10 A. M, carrying 37 passengers. The brief word received in Portland Indicated the steamer had met disaster just off the Columbia after sailing from Hoquiam. although the reference to "60 miles south" Is vague. EX; S EG UNDO OFF TO LEX1 AID Astoria Learns Steamer Is Sunk Daring Heavy Gale. ASTORIA, Or., Sept. 18. (Special.) The steamer Francis II- Leggett, en route from Grays Harbpr for San Fran cisco, sank during the' gale at 8:15 this afternoon, 60 miles south of the Co lumbia River. That was the word that was flashed ashore this evening to the local agent (Concluded on Page 7.) 1 7 - aaaaole Friday's War Moves For Ave days the -British and French armies have been trying to dislodge the Germans from the strong line of defenses which they have constructed on the battle front Btretching from the Oise to the Meuse rivers. There have been attacks and counter attacks, but in the words of the official communi cation "there has been no change In the situation." The allies say they have made slight progress at some points against the German right wing north of the River Aisne and to have repulsed counter at tacks there and between Oraonne and Rhelms, while tney say in the center and on the right the Germans are acting purely on the defensive, having "dug themselves Into entrenchments." The German official reports are almost Identical with those of the allies. They say no decision has yet been reached but that the allies' power of resistance is weakening, that a French attempt to- break their right has failed, that in the center the Ger mans are gaining ground slowly and that sallies on Verdun have been re pulsed. It would seem from all this that the commanding generals have not yet found the weak points In their oppo nents dispositions, and that each Is withholding his determined blow for the right moment. The Germans, having reached selected positions, which they have strongly for tified, would appear to have the advan tage, according to military critics, but for the fact that they must defend the whole of their front to make good their retirement, should an attack by them fall or a smashing blow from the allies break their line, while the Anglo French forces are declared to be free to mass at any point. It Is not certain where General JoiTre will direct his assault. While the armies forming his left are pressing the Ger man right It is believed probable Gen eral Joffre Is making arrangements for an attempt to cut through the German front somewhere north of Verdun and thus drive the armies of the German Crown Prince, the Duke of Wuerttem burg. General Von Ilausen, General Von Buelow and General Von Kluck west ward, sever their communications with the Rhine through Luxemburg and com pel them to rely on lines running into Belgium, which are menaced by an Anglo-French force operating on the border, as well as by a Belgian army. The Germans are reported to be prepared, however, " to offer tremen dous resistance to such a move. They are not only In strong positions where reinforcements of men, munitions and provisions can reach them easily, but they have additional defended posi tions to fall back on if necessary. Fur thermore, they are said to be strength, ening their positions along the River Sambre from Maubeuge to Naraur and along the Meuse from Glvet to Namur, so that nothing, evidently. Is being left to chance. It Is even reported that the Ger mans are concentrating transport trains on the Luxemberg frontier to enable them to move troops eastward should they so desire. This leads some of the military observers to believe the Germans have decided to remain on the defensive in the west, while, they are sending their main army east to confront the Russians. Apparently they are concentrating their western armies for, with the exception of occa sional Uhlan troops. Northwestern France seems nearly clear of Germans. The Calais and Boulogne routes to Paris have been reopened. Reports recelvea from Petrograd say that the Russian pursuit of the Aus trian! continues and that the Russians have gained Important successes over the Austrian rearguard. Convoys of two army corps, with 30 guns and am munition and &000 prisoners, are said to have been captured. The whole1 of the Austro-Russlan border between YusevofT and Annapol Is reported to be overrun by Cossacks, who are lead ing the Russian advance. The Russian army now in Gallcia will be left there to complete its work, for, according to a Rome dispatch, an army of 900,000 Russians Is marching into Central Poland, followed by an other army of 2,000.000, while a third army, also aggregating ' 2,000.000, is coming from more distant regions and will reach the front In October. There already are said to be 1,000.000 Russians in Galicia and 600,000 in Bast Prussia. While these numbers are enormous, they are considered proba bly a fair estimate of what Russia soon will have available for her war. It Is said she will soon have 7,000,000 men on the move. While continuing the offensive In Gallcia, Russia is standing on the de fensive on the East Prussian frontier, her army having been driven back by the Germans. This army, however. Is said to be intact. No progress was made yesterday to ward peace. President Wilson has not pursued the informal suggestion of the German Imperial Chancellor that the United States obtain a statement of the terms of peace of tbe allies. Meanwhile Great Britain rather put a damper on the movement in a state ment to the effect that no direct pro posals had been received from either Germany or Austria, consequently there was nothing to be said on the subject. The statement lacked nothing of of ficial authenticity. It was made by the British Ambassador, sir Edward Grey, in a cable to Sir Cecil-Spring-Rlce, the British Ambassador to the United States. This virtual demand that preliminary peace overtures should come. If at all. dlreotly from the nations Involved, was taken to indicate that Great Britain does not now seriously contemplate a peace move. Insistence that Germany or Austria should assume an attitude tantamount to "suing for peace" la recognized as putting an end for tbe Immediate present at least to all possi bilities In-that direction. AUSTRIANSAYSFOE'S VIGTQR1ESAREMYTHS Ambassador Belittles Russian Versions. BIG LOSS DECLARED FALSE End Sought From Defensive Campaign Attained. COSSACKS NOT DREADED Dr. Dumba Tells Americans Only Result of Russian Attack Is Oc cupation of Flat Area of Xo Strategic Value. KEW TORK. Sept. 18. Dr. Konstan tln Dumba, 'Austrian Ambassador to the United States, today Issued the follow ing statement: "I am compelled to protest most em phatically against tbe falsa reports sent via London from Rome, Milan, Geneva, Copenhagen and St. Petersburg about the Austrian campaign In Rus sian Poland and Gallcia. To quote some of these reports purport. ng to come from official sources: " 'The Austrlans lost since the battles of Lemberg 350,000 dead and wounded and 100.000 prisoners.' I read this in credible Ho at least 20 times in big headlines, repeated even In the same paper several times. Stories Declares! Ali-. "But we hear that immediately after wards 'the Austrian Generals Dankl and Auffenberg. who had to retreat from Russian Poland, succeded In uniting and rallying for a new fight.' I do not think that anybody endowed with a little common -sense can for one moment believe that an army of 1.000. 000, having Jost 450,000 men, should be able immediately to rally for a new fight "According to 'official' St. Petersburg news, 'the Austrlans. while receding and hotly pursued to Lemberg, had already lost about 200,000 men. There was hardly anybody "left to tell the tale. The steel forts of the first-class fortresses of Nlchallowsk had beeu silenced and stormed wtlh Incredible bravery by the Russians.' (In reality Nlchailowsk Is a small village with 807 inhabitants where the Austrian troops had erected provisional field trenches.) Heavy Guns Mythical. "The reports spoke of COO Austrian field guns and 1000 heavy guns cap tured. (Nobody knows the where abouts of these mythical 1000 heavy guns, as no Austrian fortress had been taken.) Then again, 'the backbone of the Austrian army in Gallcia was utter ly broken after the fall of Lemberg: It practically no longer existed, so that the dreaded Cossacks had the choice between a rush to Budapest to Join hands with the Serbs and the an nounced onslaught on Berlin via Bres lau.' "Some days later we hear from Vienna that the Austrian troops made a firm stand In Grodsk. southwest of Lemberg. and. after a five days' battle, took 10,000 Russian prisoners and cap tured many guns. "St Petersburg cables that vho two Austrian Generals, Dankl and A-iffen-berg. are entrapped between the fortress of Przemysl and Cracow, and that their surrender is shortly oxpe.:te.l (evidently by the reporter alone) Austrlans on Defensive. "What In reality happened Is this: The Austro-Hungarlan troops had from the beginning to wage In East ern Galicia a defensive war against great odds. After repeated engage ments they fell back on their strong line of defense under the protection of the first-class fortress of PrzemysL The advance of our northern and cen tral army to Lublin and to the River Bug, although finally checked and re pulsed, achieved Its end to arrest the progress of a huge Russian army in the direction of Thorn and Breslau and to relieve the enormous pressure brought' to bear by Rennenkampffs army on two or three German army corps left to defend Eastern Prussia. Here the Russian invasion recently resulted in defeat and disaster. "As to the central Russian army, with the fortress of Brest Lltowsk to lean on. its onslaught on the Prus sian provinces of Silesia and Posen is far from Imminent, as the Polish territory on the left bank of the Vis tula occupied by German troops must -be first conquered. Russians Hold Gallcia Only. "The only tangible result of the Russian victories announced to CX world with the eloquence of mounte banks Is the occupation of Eastera Galicia, a flat, open country without any strgetical positions which had to be given up to the enemy, as every body knew in Austria. "The general staff of the dual mon archy, on the other hand, announced, as a. result of four weeks' fighting, the capture of 41.000 Russian prisoners and 400 guns, figures which prima facie bear the color of truth. "The news coming, especially from Rome (often In the shape of ficticious cables from St Petersburg), insists on the outbreak of panic and prevalence of famine in Vienna. Both tales are absolutely false and of pure fiction. As to the panic, there is not the slight est reason for It, and nobody is fright ened by the Cossacks, notwithstand ing the picturesque and melodramatic .Concluded on Page . ft