K
- VOL. LIV. NO. 16,866.
PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15. 1914.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
V
SERVIA AGAIN
GETS BELGRADE
After Furious Battle Cap
ital Is Retaken.
AUSTRIA ADMITS RETREAT
Official Communication From
Vienna Tells of Rout by
Enemy Along Drina.
LOSSES REPORTED GREAT
Austrians Abandon Munitions
of War and Lose Prisoners
Estimated at 28,000.
' LONDON, Dec. 15, 1:25 A. M.
The Servians, after a fierce battle,
have reoccupied Belgrade, according
to a Nish dispatch to Reuter's Tele
gram Company.
The Austrians occupied Belgrade
December 2, after having besieged it
since July 29, bombarding from bat
teries near Semlin and from moni
tors on the Dannbe.
Much of City Destroyed.
A large portion of the city was
said to have been destroyed by the
fire of the Austrians.
When war was declared the Ser
vian government moved from Bel
grade to Kraguyevats and later went
further south to Nish, where it re
mains. LONDON, Dec". 14. Reuter's "Am
sterdam correspondent says the Aus
trians admit defeat at the hands of
the Servians, in an official commu
nication issued at Vienna today. This
communication follows: '
"Our offensive movement, directed
in a southerly direction from the
River Drina, encountered southeast of
IValjevo a greatly superior force of
the enemy.
Retreat Is Extended.
"Our advance was, not merely
stopped, but we were compelled also
to make more extended retirement of
our troops, which for many weeks
have fought obstinately and bril
liantly, but with many losses.
"Against this we may place the
occupation of Belgrade. A new de
cision and measures consequently will
be taken which will serve to repel the
enemy.
"During the days of December 10,
31 and 12 the enemy continued to re
tire along the entire front. The Ser
vian advance guards have progressed
as far as Veliki and Eosniak, in the
direction of Shabats and as far as
(Conoluded on Page S.)
THIRTY-FOOT CHANNEL
FROM PORTLAND TO
THE SEA.
One of the greatest achieve
ments for Portland has been the
effective work of the . Port of
Portland and the United States
Army Engineers in deepening
the channels of tho Willamette
and Columbia rivers and remov
ing obstacles to shipping at the
mouth of the Columbia.
The result is that there is a
30-foot channel between Port
land and the sea. The river
channel is of uniform, depth of
30 feet, while at the bar there is
a depth of between 30 and -32
feet at low tide. This has been
Portlanda supreme work for a
Kcore of years, the gaining . of
which portends great things for
the commercial future of the
city. It meaas that the largest
vessels that ply the Pacific can
dock at Portland to as great ad
vantage as at any other Pacific
Coast port.
The details of the develop
ment work that brought about
the fulfillment of the city's
great ambition will be presented
in tho forthcoming edition jf
The Oregonian Annual.
DRESDEN DAMAGED;
BRITONS FOLLOW
GERJIAJi CRUISER TO BE PER
MITTED TO MAKF, REPAIRS.
Departure or Disarming Is Chilean
Edict Japanese Await at
Outlet to Straits. (
BUENOS ATRES, Dec. 14. The Min
ister of Marine has been informed that
two British warships have entered the
Straits of Magellan in pursuit of the
German cruiser Dresden, which has
taken refuge at Punta Arenas.
The arrival of the Dresden at Punta
Arenas means that she was either endeavoring-
to reach the Pacific again or
that she contemplates interning; for the
remainder of the war. Punta Arenas is
a Chilean port. The Strait of Magel
lan is narrow. British warships doubt
less are at - its Atlantic entrance, and
Japanese cruisers are said to be either
watching: or not far from the approach
on the Pacific side.
SANTIAGO. Chile, Dec 14. It Is offi
cially announced that the German
cruiser Dresden, now at Punta Arenas,
is damaged. She will be allowed to
make repairs, but will be compelled to
sail immediately afterward or else be
interned.
CALLAO, Peru., rec. 14. The Ger
man steamer Rhakotis landed here the
crew of the British collier North Wales,
which was sunk off the coast of Chile
some time ago by the German cruiser
Dresden, after the Dresden had taken
her coal.
MOTHER DEAD; BABE BORN
Caesarian Operation Saves Infant
After Parent Is Lifeless.
NEW YORK, Dec 14. For the sec
ond time in the medical annals of this
city, it Is said, a baby was born today
after the death of the mother.
The mother, a young woman 20 years
old, was walking along an uptown
street this afternoon with her father
when she collapsed.
They were in front of a hospital, and
she was taken Into the institution un
conscious. Despite the efforts of the
doctors, she died in ten minutes, as
the result of dilation of the heart.
A caesarian operation was performed
then, but it consumed 15 minutes. The
baby, a girl, was normal and weighed
seven pounds.
NURSES PROVE HEROINES
Three Young Women Save Lives of
Fivo Bedridden-Patient lot Fire. -OAKLAND,
CaL, Dec 14. Three
young women, nurses, saved the lives
of five bedridden patients in a sani
tarium, when it was discovered on fire
today. The sanitarium stood in a re
mote inlet of the hills and men were
scarce.
The three nurses rushed through
clouds of stifling smoke and carried
the helpless patients out to safety. Miss
G. Monscheln, the last to leave, was
barely clear of the burning structure
when the walls collapsed. A falling
timber wounded her scalp and shoul
der. KAISER FORCES FAIR PLAY
Escaped German Internes Compelled
to Return to Holland.
Z E VENN A AR, Holland, via London.
Dec. 14 Two German officers who had
been war prisoners here and who had
violated their parole by escaping across
the border into Germany, returned to
day under orders of their government
to do so.
The officers reported to the command
ing officer at the internment camp at
Bergen, where they will be interned
until the end of the war. Before the
violation of their parole they had the
privilege of free movement.
AMERICA AUSTRIA'S HOPE
Pre Lauds United States as Medi
ator W hen Peace Negotiations Open.
-
BERLIN, by wireless to London, Dec.
14. The official press bureau today
gave out the following:
"Austrian newspapers say that when
negotiations for peace begin America
have earned. the right to act as
intermediary. These papers print sym
pathetic articles in connection with the
opening of the American Congress.
They point out that the sending of gifts
by -American ' children to the children
of dead soldiers is proof of the high
motives In which the Nation is guided.
SEA SAFETY ACT RATIFIED
Spanish Senate Approves Conven
tion of London.
MADRID, via Paris, Dec. 13. The
Senate today ratified the London con
vention relative to safety at sea.
The International Convention for
Safety at Sea. which was framed at
London, was largely the result of the
Titanic disaster. One of its principal
clauses calls for sufficient lifeboats
aboard ships to handle all persons on
board.
OFFICIAL ACT AT 3 A. M.
President Will lie Awakened to
Start San Diego Exposition.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 To push an
electrical button to give a signal for J
opening the San Diego, Cat., exposition
on the beginning of the new year.
President Wilson will be awakened be
fore 3 o'clock New Tear's morning.
He will push the button at midnight.
Pacific Coast time, which is 3 A. M.
her. '
' 4
4,000,000 ALLIES
AWAITING SPRING
Flower of ArmiesTaken
From Trenches.
SMASHING BLOW IS PLANNED
Joffre, Kitchener and French
Agree on Strategy.
RESERVES NOW AT FRONT
Great Force, Rested and Trained, to
Be Ready in February Except
for Artillery Dnels Activ
ity Is Abating.
(By mall from a staff correspondent
of the New Tork World. Copyright. 1914. by
mf frees r uoiianing- company. fUDllsnea
by arrangement with the New Tork World.)
FURNES. Belgium, Dec. 3. (Special.)
Four million fresh allied troops
French. Belgian and British are being
made ready to strike the Germans a
smashing blow in the Spring. This is
Joffre, Kitchener and French strategy.
In the meantime both the allies and
the Germans are hibernating along
their 200-mile battle front. The picked
men of each side, who for four months
beld the trenches, have been withdrawn.
and in their stead less proficient re
serve forces have been placed on the'
firing line If firing line, By compari
son,! it still may be called. Except
the sporadic artillery duel that goes
on night and day. there is little firing.
Armies Waiting: for Spring:.
The Winter campaign I (won and these
men of arms are resting on their guns.
They are waiting for Spring. Then this
great new allied army of 4,000,000 will
hurl itself on the Germans in the hope
of winning a sweeping decisive victory.
This army is to be ready by the end
of February. Of the French trenches
I have seen since it turned cold and
raw, most have been occupied by the
older reservists and the territorial regi
ments, which spent the Summer guard
ing railroads throughout France and
keeping freight on the move. They
have taken the place of the excellent
fighting men in France's first line of
defense, who are now being re-formed
and rested, preparatory to the new
training they are to get before being
put into the field in the Spring.
New Men Being Added.
They make an army of nearly 1,000,
000 picked troops as they stand, and
to them 800,000 are now being added,
after three months' training. This does
not take into consideration the class of
1915, the boys Just taking up military
service.
Speaking broadly. General Joffre ob
viously is using as few of his best
men in the trenches now as possible.
Where the German troops opposite are
picked men, naturally he must face
(Concluded on cage 2.)
SHE KEEPS
: ' 1 !
. -
-. A. 'tijm ...... . . ........ .... ........... . . . , .. mjL
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
Tba Weather. I
Y ESTER DAT 6 Maximum temperature, S&
decrees; minimum temperature. 24-8
degrees.
TODAY'S Fair; not so cold; easterly winds.
War.
Servla again occupies Belgrade, wltn Aus
trians In great retreat. Pace 1.
British cruisers follow German warship
I tread ezi Into b trait ot Maselian.
face 1. 1
Servians rain shells on Austrian monitor in
river with Little result. Pass 2.
French troops push forward in Bel alum and
Alsace. Pace 3.
Allies will put 4,000,000 fresh troops Into
Yield In Spring. Page 1.
Turkish battleship sunk by British sub
marine. Page 2. .
Russians sweep Germans over slg-zac route
from north of Vistula. Page 3.
Mexico.
O posing chiefs say firing Into Naco Is
ordered stopped, but shots continue.
Page 6.
Rational.
Colonel Goethals must wale for nla re
quested destroyers to enforce neutrality
at canal. Page 1.
Real war scare of last year Is re-real ed at
Naval hearing. Page 1. -
Tomeettea
Mine union denies responsibility for arming
of strikers. . Page 6.
East suffers cold snap, with mercury far
below aero. Page 1.
Sports. -
Jacob Ruppert buys Yankees. Page 12.
McCredle laughs at stories Dillon and How
ard are to lose jobs. Page 12.
Pacific Northwest.
State banks In Oregon reported In excellent
condition. Page 7.
Vancouver brewery to test local option law
in Federal Court. Page 0. .
Commercial and Marine.
Weakness of freights has favorable effect
on local wheat market. Page IT.
Advance In wheat at Chicago Is checked by
Increase In visible supply. Page 17.
Trading In full let of stocks will be re
sumed in Wall Street today. Page 17
Channel depths disclosed by December sur
vey of Columbia River bar announcea
Page 14.
Portland and Vicinity.
Winter winds chill poor and appeal for
aid is voiced, page il
New show at Empress Is all first-class.
Page 14.
Bells rlns- and whistles blow to remind
all to buy Oregon-made goods. Page .13.
Mercury drops to 25 above, but (rip of
cam seems nroKen. Page is.
Alice Lloyd, Orpheum star, sells Red Croi
seals at Imperial Hotel. Page 11.
Tacoma Tenlno cut-off completed. Unking
Portland ana Seattle by double track.
Page 7.
Ex-police captain fells wild man amuck
- with club by executing flying tackle.
rage o.
"The Beaux and Belles of Dixie Land.1
presented by Multnomah Amateur Ath
letic Club at Hellig Theater, so good it
amazes critic page 4.
State officials tell how to cut expenses.
page A.-
Bridge bond Issue brings premium of 331,900.
Page '4.
Weather report, data and forecast. Page 14.
3 MORSE KINGS TO MEET
Scandinavian Rulers to Discuss Ef
ects of European--War.
Copenhagen, via L&ndpn,ec. is.
By invitation of King- Guafav, of Swe
den; King- Haakon, of Norway, and King
Frederick, of Denmark, will visit him
at Malmo, Southern Sweden, Friday and
Saturday.
The three Kings will be accompanied
by their Ministers of Foreign Affairs
and secretaries, and will discuss affairs
of common interest which have arisen
as a result of the war.
LONDON, Dec. 15. A Petrograd dls
patch to the Daily News says that l-e
systematic attempts m the part of
Germany to force Sweden into the Ger
man camp has led the Stockholm Cabi
net to consult with Denmark and Nor
way regurdlng a joint formula for
guaranteeing their positions and inde
pendence.
THE OLD GLUTTON WELL FED
REAL WAR SCARE IN
1813 IS DISCLOSED
Philippine Garrison In
State of Siege.
MEN AT GUNS NIGHT AND DAY
Representative Hobson Tells
v Naval Committee of Affair.
DANIELS ENDS TESTIMONY
Secretary Announces " Success ' of
Tests of Alaskan Coal for "War
. and Makes Recommendations.
Shell Shortage Admitted.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 14. Captain
Winterhalter. aide to Secretary Daniels,
of the Navy Department, and Repre
sentative Hobson, of Alabama, today
had quite an argument over war scares
while the Captain was being questioned
about submarines by the naval commit
tee of the House.
Captain Winterhalter said he was un
able to see international dangers ahead
pictured by Mr. Hobson. Then the Con.
gressman told the committee of
"scare", last year that put the Ameri
can garrison in the Philippines in a
state of slef.e.
Preparations Are Related.
"In May, and for some months of last
year, 1913," said Mr. Hobson, "our gun
ners at Corregidor Island stood at the
guns night and day with plans for a
two-years' siege. The harbors were
mined. Troops from all over the is
lands were brought in Corregidor and
everything prepared for a siege, except
that there, was no transfer of the Gov
ernment from Manila, It didn't take
any vision to see that."
Mr. Hobson did not go into details as
to the cause of thes'e preparations and
Captain Winterhalter apparently was
not inclined to discuss the subject.
Alaskan Coal Is Good.
Formal announcement of successful
naval tests of coal from Government
owned Matanuska. fields in Alaska was
made today by Secretary Daniels before
the committee. Trials by the cruiser
Maryland, about 10 days ago, Mr Dan
iels said, had demonstrated that the
Matanuska coal was as good as any to
be found, and pointed the way to an
adequate supply of fuel on the Pacific
Coast as soon as transportation facill
ties are available.
The results of this test, over which
Navy officials have been exulting quiet
ly for nearly two weeks, were particu
larly gratifying because disappointing
experiments with coal from the Bering
fields a year ago had dimmed hopes
that the rich deposits in Alaska ulti
mately would meet all of the' Govern
merit's demands for fuel on the West
Coast.
"The firing was easy and steam
(Concluded on Page 3.)
THESE DAYS.
Monday's War Moves
THE most striking feature ot yester
day's official news is the candid
admission by the Austrian government
of the defeat of the Austrian army in
Servla and apparently of the abandon
ment of its third attempt to invade the.
territory of Its small Slav neighbor.
The Servians announce tho recapture
of Belgrade.
While attributing the falluro to the
enemy's superior force, as all govern
ment bulletins explain failures, the
Austrian War Office announces plainly
an extended retirement and heavy
losses.
"New decisions and measures conse
quently will be taken to repel the
enemy." says the Austrian statement.
Apparently, that means that the Aus
trian army directed against Servla will
assume a defensive line.
The Servians claim to be pressing
home their victory with more captures
of prisoners and to have driven part
of the invading army across the Drma
River. Moreover, they express confi
dence that they are about to expel the
invaders from Servian territory.
The progress of the war in Northern
Hungary is less definite. Sunday's Ger
man wireless report, with candor equal
to that of the Austrian bulletin, spoke
of the "severe resistance" which the
German and Austrian arms are encoun
tering In South Poland and in Galicia,
adding that it was evident the Austrian
forces in the Carpathians are not nu
merically strong enough to clear the
Russians out of Hungarian territory.
But the Austrians claim that they are
driving down the northern slopes of
the Carpathians the Russian Invaders
who last week were in occupation of
several towns south of that mountain
range.
Poland is fast becoming another Bel
gium in point of suffering, while the
opposing armies derive each other back
and forth, occupy and reoccupy cities
and villages, and Inflict upon the in
habitants bombardments similar to
those suffered In Belgium and Northern
France. -
More than 400 Polish towns have been
ruined, according to various accounts
of the correspondents. Each army ac
cuses the other of looting and cruelty.
The flight of the civilians from Lodz
was one of the most tragic episodes of
the war, while one correspondent pic
tures the fate of Kaliss as a repetition
of Louvain, with the slaughter of 400
civilians and the sacking of the city.
A distressing feature of the fighting
In Poland lies in the fact that the blood
kindred are pitted against each other.
There are several hundred thousand
Poles in the Russian ranks, and several
hundred thousand more in the ranks of
the Germans and Austrians.
The Germans assert a distinct gain
has been made in their position in
Northern Poland, although they are not
believed to be as near Warsaw as the
report last week indicated.
(On the other hand, the Russians an
nounce a strategic realignment of
their forces In that field which strength
ens their position.
In a late report last night the Aus
trians announced that they have reoc
cupied the important point of Dukla,
to the north of Przemysl and Cracow,
but nearer to the former, with the cap
ture of 9000 prisoners.
The main Issue in the Eastern theater
of the war whether the German and
Austrian armies by the German opera
tion in Northern and Central Poland
and the Austrian advance across the
Carpathians, will shake the Russian
grip from the Przemysl and Cracow for
tresses remains unchanged.
, Progress along the Ypres Canal is
noted in the latest French official war
bulletin, although the climatic condi
tions are unfavorable to any extensive
movement by the opposing forces on
the battle front in Belgium and France.
The Germans have replied to the at
tacks of the allies and violent fighting
is reported during the past 24 hours.
An Interesting feature of the French
official communication is the statement
that the railway station at Commeroy,
In the Department of the Meuse, has
been bombarded by the German batter
ies from a great distance. Commeroy
lies about seven miles to the south of
St, Mlhiel.
The troops In France and Belgium
are suffering from a plague of mud and
damp, which causes them greater dis
comfort than did the cold wave at the
end of November, with its positive hard
ships of frozen feet and hands, and
effectually vetoes any movements on a
big scale.
In some ways, however, life in the
trenches of the allies is easier than
before, since they have been reinforced,
as they do not have to spend more than
two days continuously on the firing line,
whereas last month they were without
rest or an opportunity to remove their
clothing for a week or more at a time.
The Turkish army has not asserted
itself, nor has It engaged in any great
battle. Enver Pasha has taken com
mand of the Caucasian army and Talaat
Bey has succeeded him as Minister of
War. A report comes from Turkey of
growing hostility to both foreign and
native Christians in that country which
may lead to attacks upon them.
The Kings of Norway. Sweden and
Denmark are to have" a meeting at the
end of the week at Malmo, Southern
Sweden, to discuss the situation cre
ated in their kingdoms by the Euro
pean war. .
A Berlin wireless dispatch says the
Austrian newspapers declare that
when peace negotiations begin the
United States will have a right to act
as Intermediary.
Karl Kitchener, British Secretary for
War. has ordered an investigation
Into a chargo by the English Na
tional Council of Trained Nurses that
incompetent nurses are serving' at the
front and in hospitals.
The German armed merchantman
Oxford has been captured by British
warships In the Indian Ocean, accord
ing to a dispatch from Toklo. which
adds that the German converted
cruiser Cormorant has entered the
harbor of Guam, Laarone Islands.
COLD STRIKES EAST;
DEATHS IH WAKE
Mercury Drops Far and
Suffering Is. Great
BRITISH STEAMER STRANDED
Middle West, Too, Is Hit by
First Bitter Wave.
CHICAGO POLICE KEPT BUSY
Illy-Clad Sufferers In Windy City
Pall Unconscious From Cold and
Authorities Rush First Aid.
Gale Again Hits Atlantic.
CHICAGO. Dec 14. (Special.) Win
ter, nearly two months overdue, got
down to business today when the tem
perature here dropped to 2 degrees' be
low zero, accompanied by howling
blasts. The only redeeming feature of
the day was the bright sunshine after
two weeks of darkness and fitful snow
and rain storms.
- One -expatriated Californlan, lone
some for the balmy atmosphere of Ful
ton, Cal.. wrote a farewell note to his
mother, wrapped his head in 4 towel
saturated w'.th chloroform and was
later found dead. He registered at the
Westminster Hotel last night as "Rich
ard S. Niemann."
Two other men were so badly frozen
that amputation of their legs was nec
essary. Morris Kettlescn, a watchman,
was found nearly dead today where he
had fallen during the night. His hands
and feet must be amputated and ho
probably will die. Thomas Slot, the
other victim, was found frozen in a
ditch, where he had fallen from ex
haustion. Cold Wave Area Wide.
The area of the cold wave is wide
and is penetrating far Into the South.
Alabama has been swept by blizzards
and freezing temperatures are reported -from
Texas, across the Gulf Coast coun
try to and Including Florida. The cold
wave struck Kansas. Northern Mis-'
souri, the Dakotas and Iowa yesterday '
and became more Intense today. Two
deaths are reported at Kansas City and
there are many cases of frozen hands
and feet. ;
The Northwest tonight ranges from
four to 21 below zero, but the weather -is
clear. In the East conditions ap
proaching blizzards prevail, interfering
with railway and streetcar transpor
tation and crippling wire service.
Official forecasters say the cold
weather will continue Indefinitely and
is likely to become worse. .
, California Is Hit Hard.
There seems to be no hope of a shift
in the wind bringing in warmer '
weather. The frigidity even has spread -beyond
the Rocky Mountains. Califor
nia, usually immune when the rest of
the country is freezing, reporting the
coldest weather of the season.
Navigation on the Great Lakes was
brought to a sudden stop by stiff gales
and blizzards and blinding snow. Some
big boats are still out, but probably
will tie up for the Winter when they
reach port.
As showing the scope and nature of
the cold wave, following- are some rep
resentative hich and low temperature
for the day; '
Temperatures Riuc Far.
Boston. 42-2S above; Buffalo, 2J-10
above; Pittsburg, 22 to 8 above; Chi
cago, 4 above to 3 below; Fort Worth,
4 above to 2 below; Madison, Wis.. 2
to 6 below; Charles City. Ia., 2 to 14
below; Devils' Lake. N. D., 2 to 18 be
low; Duluth. Minn., 0 to 18 below; Sioux
City, la., 4 to 14 below; Western Can
ada, 16 above to 24 below; Kansas City.
4 below last night, rising to 8 above
today; Texas points -reported a maxi
mum of 38 and a minimum of 12; Mont
gomery. Ala., had a maximum of 38
and minimum of 30; Jacksonville, Fla,
got down to 44 and New Orleans to 40;
Los Angeles had a maximum of 0 and
minimum of 40, which Is considered a
(Concluded on Fag. .
HEAVY SEBKR CONSTRUCTION
TAxtirBLB evidence;
OF PROGRESS.
New sewer construction and
street improvements have been
completed in Portland this year
at a total cost of 8420.000. Fifty
one miles of streets have been
Improved and 28 miles of sewers
laid. There is an immense amount
of public improvement work un
der consideration, which was held
up pending the adoption of new
paving specifications. The great
er part of the mileage of . pave
ment this year waa completed be
tween July 1 and December 1.
While this class of public im
provement work was less than
last year, the showing is greater
than In the majority of the cities
in the United States, according
to. statistics compiled by City
Commissioner Dleck.
Figures taken from reports
from the departments of public
works of 13 cities In the United
States show that Portland is the
best paved city for Its size in the
country. -