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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 1914)
K VOL. LIV. NO. 16,862. PORTLAND. OBEOON. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1914. PRICE FIVE CEXTSL V V BRITONS WIN VICTORY OfJ SEA Scharnliorsf, Leipzig and Gneisenau Are Sunk, TWO OTHERS BEING PURSUED Admiral von Spee and His Of ficers Believed to Have L. Gone Down Fighting. VICTORS' LOSSES SMALL Battle Fought Off Falkland ' Islands Two German Colliers Captured. ' LONDON, Dec. 9. A British squadron under command of "Vice iAdmiral Sir Frederick Sturdee, chief cf the war staff, engaged a German 6quadron under Admiral Connt Von Spee off the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic yesterday and won a victory that ia being acclaimed . throughout England. Three Warships Destroyed. The armored cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau . and the protected cruiser Leipzig, three of the German warships which had been menacing British shipping and part of the squadron which sank the British cruisers Good Hope and Monmouth in the Pacifio on November 1, were de stroyed, while the cruisers Dresden .nd Nurnberg, the two other vessels which composed the German squadron, made off during the fight and, ac cording to latest accounts, are being pursued. t Two. colliers were captured. Victory Officially Announced.' The announcement of this engage ment and victory, which was the most Important naval engagement of the war, with the exception of that off Heligoland last August, were made tonight in a statement by the Admir alty of less than 100 words. It said: "At 7:30 A. M, on December 8, the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Nurn berg, Leipzig and Dresden were sight ed near the Falkland Islands by a British squadron under Vice-Admiral 8ir Frederick Sturdee. "An action followed, in the course cf which the Scharnhorst, flying the flag of Admiral Count Von Spee; the Gneisenau and the Leipzig were sunk. The Dresden and Nurnberg made off during the action and are being pur sued. "Two colliers also were captured. British Casualties Small. 'The Vice-Admiral reports that the British casualties are very few in number. "Some survivors have been rescued from the Gneisenau and the Leipzig." The statement makeb reference to some survivors rescued from the Gneisenau and the Leipzig, but no mention is raado of any of the crew of! the Scharnhorst, which was the flagship of the German Admiral, be ing saved, and it is thus presumed that Count Von Spee, his officers and men went down fighting. The British casualties were light, but beyond the fact that the British squadron was commanded by Vice Admiral Sturdee, no information is vouchsafed regarding the ships en gaged and the newspapers are en joined not to speculate, as "other com binations may be effected' London Expects Complete Victory. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed in London over the victorv, and the general impression is that it will be completed, as the AdmiraUv would not likely send ships that could no overtake the Dresden and Nurnberg, which are 24-knot and 23-knot ves sels;, respectively, and probably even (lower after their lone service. Thev are at a disadvantage also because 'of their Fmall eoal capacity. The British squadron which en paged the Germans left England with cut the knowledge of the general-pub- 4Coacludd oa pc 2.) TURKS ROUTED BY INDIAN TROOPS BRITISH CLEAR HEAD OF PER SIAN GULP OP ENEMY. Suclil Bey, Commander at Kurna, Surrenders After Determined At tack and Considerable Loss. I.OXDOV. Dec. 9. It is officially an nounced that Suchl Bey, late Governor of Basra, Asiatic Turkey, commander of the Turkish forces at Kurna, yester day surrendered unconditionally with his troops to the Indian expeditionary force which Is operating at the head of the Persian gulf. Kurna subsequently wu occupied by the British, who are now In cc-nplete control of the country from the Junc tion of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to the sea and of the richest part of the fertile delta. "The Indian Office. In a dispatch de scribing: the operations of the British forces on the Persian Gulf, says: "A reconnaissance of the enemy's po sition at Kurna was made December 5 by Colonel G. S. Fraser with the 110th Mahratta light infantry. The enemy was encountered on the left bank: of the Tigris, opposite Kurna. They were promptly attacked and driven across the river, losing heavily. Two guns and 70 prisoners, including three Turk ish officers, were captured. "Kurna was found to 'be strongly held by guns and infantry and the British, finding no means of crossing the Tigris, withdrew to their original bivouac "The following dar reinforcements were sent from Bazr. under Brigadier General Charles Irwin Fry and cap tured Mas era, cleared the left bank of the Tigris and took three guns and 100 prisoners. Including three officers. . "On December 8 the British crossed the river and the next day Such! Bey surrendered. "The British . asualties during the whole of these operations amounted to one British officer killed and three wounded, with 40 Indians ef the "Tank and file killed and 120 wounded." CZAR'S SACRIFICE IS BIG Receipts Are About $38,000,000 Iyess First Month of Temperance. LONDON, Dec. 9. Telegraphing from Petrograd. Reuter correspondent says: "How great are the financial sacri fices Kussia is making to promote tem perance among her people at a time when money is sorely needed for war purposes Is disclosed by the latest offi cial statistics concerning: the spirit monopoly. These show that the re ceipts from this source for Sentember were about $852,000. which Is "about 138,298,215 lesa than for the same month last year. "The number of kegs of spirits sold in Eeptember was 102,714, which is 9,130,297 less than in September a year ago." "UNCLE JOE" MUST DANCE Promise of Virginia Reel at Fair to Be Exacted by Friends. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 9. In re membrance of a promise made more than four years ago. the Illinois So ciety of the Golden State will send a solid gold slipper to "Uncle Joe" Can non. On May 6, 1910, "Uncle Joe" told a group of Senators and Representatives that If he was living In 1915 he would come to the Panama-Pacific Interna tional Exposition in San Francisco, and dance the Virginia Reel In the Illinois State Building. He will be held to the promise, say members of the society. NORTH POLE RULE WANTED Resolution Before Congress Provides United States Sovereignty. WASHINGTON, Dec. 9. Extension of the dominion of the United States to the frozen lands and seas surrounding the North Pole was proposed in a joint resolution introduced in the House to day by Representative Smith, of New York. The measure would provide "that the priority of the discovery of the North Pole be established and declared by Congress so that those lands discov ered by Americans in the Far North may be designated and described as the territory of the United States." BIPLANE TO FLY 25 HOURS Italian Maclvino , Will T.trt 3300 Poo nds and Make 75 Miles Hour.. MILAN, via -Rome, Dec. 9. A new military biplane which it is estimated cin lift 3300 pounds and remain In the air 25 hours, had a successful trial here today. The machine has three motors, each independent of the others, which de velop an aggregate of 300 horsepower, and it is said the aircraft can attain a speed of 75 miles an hour. It will carry a 125-millimeter gun. -On its trial - today the machine rose to height of 6500 feet. TURIN MAY CONSERVE FOOD Government in Italian Province Is - Requestod'to Act. TURIN, via Rome. Dec 9 'With a view to preserving the reserve of wheat and disposing of a quantity of rice, tie exportation of which has been prohib ited because of the war, the govern ment has been asked to make compul sory the making of bread with from 19 to 15 per cent of rice flour. Bread witli rice flour as a constltu ent part already has been tried and is said to have been found to be light. nourishing and healthful. EDISON BURNED OUT; DAMAGE 07,000,000 Inventor, at 67,to Begin Rebuilding Today. DELICATE MACHINERY GONE Wizard Himself Directs Fire men in Their Work. LABORATORY IS SAVED Structures Supposed to Have Been Finest Examples of Fireproof . Construction 80(10 Tempor arily Thrown Out of Work. WEST. ORANGE, N. J.. Dec. 9. Fire destroyed virtually the entire main plant of the Edison Company here to night, causing damage estimated at nearly $7,000,000, with Insurance that It is estimated will reduce the loss to approximately $5.ou0.000. An entire square block of modern reinforced concrete buildings, which were supposed - to be fireproof, was burned out by the flames. The only building saved in th block "was the laboratory containing valuable scien tific machinery, under the Immediate superintendence of the Inventor, Thomas A. Edison. Especial efforts made to save this structure were suc cessful. 300O Tfcmra Out of Work. It is estimated that 3000 men and women will be thrown out of work by the fire. In all about 7000 persons were employed at the plant, but as the storage battery building across the street from the main plant was saved, with other buildings near by. It will be possible to keep something more than half the force employed. Four firemen were Injured In fight ing the blaze and were taken toa hos pital, but are not thought to be seri ously hurt. ' Inventor to Start Over Again. "Although I am more than 87 years old I'll start all over again tomorrow," said Mr. Edison. "I am pretty well burned out tonight, but tomorrow there will be a mobilization here' and the debris will be cleared away if it is cooled sufficiently and I will go right to work to reconstruct the plant." The Inventor expressed himself thus as he stood watching the flames lick up building after building of his mam moth electrical plant, started, it. is thought probable, by an explosion in the Inspection building, one ' of the smaller frame structures. This build ing was quickly a mass of flames and the spread of the fire to other struc tures nearby was rapid. The quantities of chemicals in some Concluded on Page 8.) ' - - ON HIS WAY ONCE MORE. I :: wgmz- N Nps (&&&&&&A have 7g&$&ss&: ' l l a S j INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS TODArS Probably fair; easterly wlnda. -YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, dejerees: minimum. 43. ft degree. ' . War. . British fleet sinks three German - warships In South Atlantic; two others escape and are be In pursued. Page 1. British Indian troops Trln complete victory over Turks at head oC Persian GulL Paxe 1. British court condemns former German Con sul te death for treason. Pare 2. Cold stands sentinel over prisoner ef war in Siberia. Pass 8. British seriously prepare for expected Ger man invasion. Page S. British say allies have made strategic alns in France. Pajce 3. - Russian power of offensive is spent, Berlin believes. Pace 8. , Kaiser Is reported Improvinr after Illness. Pas-e 4. , i Mextcm. " , American artillery will reply to Mexican fire if there Is further shoo tins across border. Page 1. National, Reclamation service urges speedy completion and extension ef irrigation projects, rage a. Secretary Lan says he has authority te end "almshouse" Indian policy and will use It. Page 6. Theasury Department says business has safe. Iv weathered storm. Page 13. Admiral Fletcher says United States Is pre- pared to meet any nation except Great Britain on sea. Pace - ' Secretary Garrison - advises Army, be raised to lull 'war strength. Page 4. " ' .Domestic. ". Taft says chief danger of war for . United States lies In' disregard by states of Na tion's treaty obligations. Page 1. Thomas A- Edison's great plant burned, with damage of $7,000,000. Page 1. "- - Sports. Big bouts to te staged soon at Mllwauxle. Page 12. Farrell may not sell his New Tor it. club at $400,000 figure. Page 12. Mat hew son expects Nationals to do some trading. Page 12. Padflo Northwest. Governor-elect WIthycombe will - preside to day at Commonwealth Conference. Page 7. Fred J. .Tohnson Is elected Mayor of Astoria. Pace ? . State Fair of 1013 'to, omit eugenic exhibi tion. Page 4. - Commercial and Marine. California; hott In market for northern wheat. Page 17. Chicago nheat market depressed by Kaiser's illness, page 17. Improvement in export and domestic steel situation. Page 17. Protective organization by lumbermen fav ored at preliminary meeting. Page Id. Portland and Vicinity. County problems discussed by state organi zation of court officials. Page 13. Drys may ask for emergency clause on pro - hlbltlon law. Page 13. Commissioner Blgelow changes front on bridge agreement. Page 17. - Livestock show visited by 10,000 Ha trim an Club day. Page 11. New shows at moving-picture theaters are charming. Page 9. Associated Charities Christmas fund gains 1X dally. Page 4, Jury, out five minutes, finds Tronson guilty of murdering Emma Ulrica, page 16. Weather report, data and forecast. Page 17. FIRE REVEALS GIRL'S BODY Daughter of Farmer Near Cow Creek . Burned Barn Is Missing. GLENDALE, Or., Dec. 9. (Special.) The barn on the farm of "H. A. Beamer about six miles up Cow Creek from Glendale was burned this morning about 1:30 o'clock. When 'the blaze died out the body of a young woman was .found where the haymow had stood. Edna Morgan, the 15-year-old daugh ter of R. N. Morgan, who lives, half a mile from the fire scene, has been missing since Tuesday sight and it is feared that the body found is that of the girl. Foul play Is suspected. The body was charred beyond recognition. TROOPS TO ANSWER FIRE OF MEXICANS Washington Decides to Take Drastic Action. SHARP WARNING IS GIYEN White House Explains No "Ag gression" Is Intended. BORDER TO BE RESPECTED Americans Will Not Enter Foreign Soil or Fire First, but "Will Re ply at Iong Range If Viola tions Are Repeated. WASHINGTON, Dec. 9. If the eon tending Mexican forces opposite Naco, Ariz., do not cease firing into Ameri can territory, the three batteries of field artillery sent to the International line by President Wilson and Secretary Garrison will be ordered to .return the fire. ' ' This la the determination of the United States Government, it became known tonight, after a full discussion by President Wilson with bis Cabinet yesterday. Specific Order Not Yet Given. No specif io orders have been given as yet to Brigadier-General . Tasv.er H. Bliss, who was directed to proceed to Naco with the field artillery, but while he is en route there officials expect an answer to the sharp warning which has peen given to General Maytorena, com manding the Villa troops, and General Hill, of the Carranza forces, that bul lets and shells must not fall on Ameri can soil. Similar warning has been communi cated to General Carranza and General Villa. "AckkhIoii" Bret Contemplated. No act of "aggression" is contem plated, as was explained in a statement in the White House today, but officials draw a distinction between aggressive andTdef ensive action. For the 11 troops Lof cavalry and three batteries of field artillery to cross the Mexican line or open fire first would constitute an act of aggression, but to remain on Ameri can soil and return the fire of the Mexicans Is, in the opinion of high of ficials, a measure of defense fully jus tified under the circumstances, and not an act of war or invasion. Brigadier-General Hugh Scott, now chief of staff of the Army, when in command at El Paso, Tex., a year ago. placed his artillery In a position along the Rio Grande and delivered the same warning, which was heeded. ' " Artillery Can Shoot Six Miles. It was explained at the War De partment that the range of the artil lery ordered to Naco Is from live to (Concluded on Pace 4.) Wednesdays War Moves THE victory off the Falkland Islands, where the British squad ron sank the German cruisers Scharn- l horst, Gneisenau. and Leipsig. and the success of the Indian troops on the Gulf of Persia, where they compelled the surrender of a Turkish army, have for the moment overshadowed, so far as England Is concerned at any rate, the .larger events which have taken place on the Continent of Europe. The battle in the South Atlantic evens up Great Britain's score with Germany- for the sinking of her cruis ers, the Good Hope and Monmouth, off Chiie November 1. The German war ships sunk were those -which encom passed the defeat of Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock's men of war. Ac cording to the official advices, the Brit ish ships have given chase to two other German ships, the Nurnberg and Dres den, which also were engaged in the fight. An official dispatch from Chile says it Is reported there that these two vessels were badly damaged. With the sinking of the Scharnhorst. the German flagship. Admiral Connt Von Spee probably found a grave be neath the waves, as was the case with Admiral Cradock. for. although the of ficial report says some of the men In the Gneisenau and Leipzig wero saved, no mention was made of the rescue of any of the ship's company of the Scharnhorst. The sinking of the German cruisers materially lessens the menace to British shipping, while the success of the Indian forces has given Great Britain control of the Persian ; Gulf and the delta of the Tigris and Eu phrates rivers and threatens that part of Turkey on which German railway builders have had their eyes set for many years. While this good news for the allies is being received, what Is considered In London as a favorable French com munication of the operations in Flan ders and France has been given out. There is also a somewhat clearer view of what is taking place along the Russo-German frontier. The withdrawal of German troops from the west to strengthen their armies in the east has enabled the allies to resume the initiative along the front reaching from the Swiss border to the North Sea, and while they have not made any marked advance they have been able, according to official an nouncement, to organize and consoli date the positions won in the last few days. This naturally has not been done without opposition from the Germans, who say they have inflicted heavy losses on . the French, particularly in the Argonne and north of Nancy, Flanders is at present considered fairly safe from German attacks, which, when they do materialize, it is believed, will , be" directed more at the French center. The Russians have at last admitted the occupation of Lodz by the Germans, but in the offlciaj statements Issued yesterday say they evacuated the city IS hours, before the German occupation and that they changed their positions without the loss of a single man. ' It Is apparent from the various offi cial reports that there are converging German movements on Warsaw from the north and the center, combined with outflanking movements to the southeast of Cracow. The success of any of these movements would require the Russians to turn back from Cra cow, which they have not done thus far. As a matter of fact, the Russians assert that they have Inflicted a "grave de feat" on the Austro-Gorman force which tried, to get around their left wing, although a later Austrian report Indicates partial success in this region. As the result of the Sultan's procla mation of a holy war. a serious rising Is threatened against the Italians in Tripoli, and the Turkish Ambassador at Rome has hastened to assure the Italian government that the Sublime Porte is trying to avert It. The new Servian Cabinet, which is composed of all parties, at the opening of Parliament, has assured the mem bers of Its intention to carry on the war to the end, in the belief that the sacrifices the country has made will be recognized by the allies when the war is ended. The reorganized Servian army under King Peter Is now making a stubborn stand against the further advances of the Austrians', and, according to Nish reports, . has inflicted heavy losses on the invaders. The latest bulletin issued in Berlin concerning the condition of Emperor William said he had been unable to leave his bed and that his fever had not decreased. It added the Emperor was too weak to give any military In structions. Great Britain and Portugal have signed an arbitration treaty covering a period of five years. The significant statement is made In the preamble that it Is desired to confirm the "friendly alliance which happily has subsisted for so long a period between them and eliminating so far as is possible from their relations everything which might imperil or weaken that friendship." 0'NEIL MAY GET PARDON Idalio Banker Likely to Receive Freedom as Christmas Gift. BOISE. Idaho. Dec 9. (Special.) B. F. (Barney) CNeil, convicted Wallace banker, charged with wrecking the State Bank of Commerce of that city, and serving an indeterminate sentence of from two to 10 years in the state penitentiary here, may receive a pardon as a Christmas present. It Is reliably reported. Members of the pardon board refuse to discuss the report. The State Board of Parole was In session hero today. Warden Snook was asked if the parole board considered O'Nell's case. He replied that O'Nell was not eligible to parole, as he has not served the minimum time of hia sen tence. This will not make any differ ence in the event of pardon. PEACE RESTS Willi STATES, SAYS TAFT Local Treaty Violations Declared Menace. OTHER PERILS MINIMIZED Ex-President Mentions Names in Address. No CONGRESS ADVISED TO ACT Xo Necessity for Great Excitement Seen, and Nation's Defense Is Declared to Be Reason ably Adequate. SOMERVILLE. Mass., Dec . As sumption by Congress of authority to prevent states from violating, by lawd or lawless violence, United States treaties would do more to prevent the possibility of war between this Nation and another than Increasing the Army and Navy. ex-President Taft declared tonight in an address before the Hp torean Club. "The only real possibility of a war that I can foresee is the wanton, reck less, wicked willingness on the part of a narrow section of the country to gratify racial prejudice and class ha tred by flagrant breach of treaty right.- in the form of state law. or by lawless violence." he said. Congress TTrged te Take Control. "Congress should at once assume au thority for the National Government to see to it that it cannot be dragged into International difficulties througU such blind selfishness, and this steu would be quite as effective as improv ing our military defenses. Indeed, I think it would be more effective to pre vent the possibility of war." Congress could delegate power to the National Government, to the President and Federal courts, Mr. Taft aairl. which would insure aliens - peaceful residence and the right to do business in this country. Mr." 'Taft did not name any state in this connection. Excitement Held I7nwarraated. While deprecating the "mild hys teria" regarding this country's defenses, Mr. Taft admitted that parts of the Army and Navy should be strengthened. He would increase the Army from 25 to 60 per cent; insure the Navy enough men to man the reserve vessels, and provide new artillery, chiefly for coast defenses. "There is no necessity for great ex citement." he said. "What should be done can be done in a short time and with no excessive expenditure. "It is said that our coast defenses have no artillery with a range long enough to resist the attacks of some of the naval artillery that could be brought against them. This Is true,' but I venture to think that an attack on our coast fortifications out of range of the guns we have in them would not be likely to result either in their destruction ' or surrender, but that is no reason why, with the development of runs of longer range, we cannot have enough of them (not many are needed) and have them within a rea sonable time and at a reasonable cost. Coast Defense Otherwise Complete. "Our coast defenses are otherwise quite complete for resistance to naval attack and. with Congressional provis ions for the new guns in one appropria tion bill, can make a successful naval attack upon them entirely out of the question. Were we to be called into a war in an emergency we would not have a standing Army of the size of the standing armies of the nations of Europe or Japan. "We do not need it to resist their attack if we have a good Navy and good coast defenses, because the diffi culties of transportation of a large army, with a modern navy of the size Concluled oa Pas 4.) INCREASED BUSINESS I. LIVESTOCK TANGIBLES' EVIDENCE Of PROG RESS. To date the Portland Union Stockyards have handled about 6400 cars of livestock since the first of the year, or 400 car loads in excess of the showing for the corresponding period of last year. The increased move ment has been most marked in the hog market, while the cattle have just about held their own. "The livestock market is more nearly a barometer of general business conditions than any other Industry in this Western state," said O. M. Plummer, secretary-treasurer of the stock yards yesterday. "For ' if the farmers and livestock men are prosperous it bodes well for the remainder of the state's popula tion. "Furthermore prices are good as a rule and we know that tliey will never again be low on any character of livestock. The main feature of livestock trade is the active condition of the bog market. This is because the Or egon farmers are awaking to the great possibilities of the hog trade. The hog is perhaps the best vehicle for marketing grains and the Oregon farmer, coming to realize this, is outgrowing the habit . of shipping his grain stuffs. "Our business is better than ever before and we are more than optimistic of the future."