K
TOL.I.IV.-NQ. 16,874. PORTLAND, OREGON, TITTTT?STA Y DECEMBER g4, 1914. . PRICE FIVE CENTS.
Y
v
KING OF BELGIANS
LIVES UNDER FIRE
Monarch Commands in
Fact as in Name.
ARMY BEING REORGANIZED
Force Half Former Size, but
Infinitely More Efficient.
THANKS SENT AMERICANS
(Some Day, Says Albert, He Will Ride
Into Brussels at Head of His
Troops, but Three Months
He Thinks Too Soon.
GRAND HEADQUARTERS OP THE
King of the Belgians, in west
Flanders. Belgium, Sunday, Dec 20.,
via London. Dec 23. In the council
chamber of an ancient Flemish town
hall, from which he Is directing, under
German shell fire, the resistance of
his war-worn little army, blocking the
road to Dunkirk and Calais. King
Albert of the Belgians told the As
sociated Press today of the stand his
soldiers were making against the Ger
man invaders.
The King's headquarters is situated
en one of the remaining; dry areas of
that small corner of Belgium left under
his rule.
Gratltnde Felt fer American Help.
King Albert also requested The
Associated Press to convey to the peo
ple of the United States his deep grati
tude for their efforts to feed his sub
jects now' under German rule.
The monarch was alone when the
correspondent was admitted to the
council chamber, not even an aide be
ing present The King's tall, angular,
Lincoln-like form was clothed in the
simple undress uniform of a General
of artillery, which was without insig
nia, beyond braided shotrlderstrapBr to'
distinguish him from a staff officer.
Face Shows Line of Care.
Physically King Albert looks hard
ened, but lines , of care show in his
otherwise youthful face. In manner
he is decidedly shy and- he apoligized
for his English, which however, was
exceedingly fluent.
The light from a smoky oil lamp
barely penetrated the recesses of the
great beamed hall, from the walls of
which empty picture frames stared
down.
When the King saw the correspond
ent gazing at those black spaces, where
a few months ago invaluable Flemish
canvases hung, he smiled and said he
no longer expected the Germans even
to be in a position to take the frames.
Modestly he praised the courage of
his soldiers, speaking of them with
great kindliness, as though he were
talking about his own children.
People Resent Conscript Discipline.
"I believe." he said, my army Is
courageous. My people, however, are too
democratic for the same discipline that
prevails in the conscript European
armies. You will see something of the
bravery of my people when tomorrow
you shall have the 'chance to witness
the peasants working in their fields
Under shell fire, concerned only for the
losses of their homes, the destruction
f which causes them grief."
When Edgar Sengeer. Belgian at
tache to the American Commission for
the Relief of Belgium, entered and pre
sented King Albert with a report from
the commission showing that enough
food was in sight to feed his people
until February 12. the King turned
quickly to the correspondent, saying:
"Will you be kind enough to convey
to the American people my deep
ffratitude?"
Message of Thanks Sent.
He then wrote in English the follow
ing message:
"The magnificent generosity of the
American people in forwarding im
- mense quantities of foodstuffs to my
suffering people affords me intense sat
isfaction and touches me very deeply.
"In this, my country's hour of trial,
nothing has supported me more than
the sympathy and the superb gener
osity of those who have assisted in
materially lessening the same; and I
desire .to offer my deepest thanks, and
at the same time to convey a message
of good will for the new year.
"ALBERT.
"King of the Belgians."
King Albert also desired to have the
American people, as he put it. know
the facts of the story of how his troops,
demoralized and disorganized by their
disheartening retreat almost beyond
the limits of their own country, turned
at bay along the Yser and held back
the Germans there at frightful cost In
killed and wounded to their army, and
of the almost incalculable loss suffered
in the deliberate Inundation by its
owners of the most valuable agricul
tural part of the country.
700 Belgians Killed In One Day.
"In one of these terrible nine days
In the trenches along the Yser." the
King said. "I know that 700 of our
brave Belgian soldiers were killed out
right" With the modesty and shyness which
marks the whole manner of address.
King Albert continued:
"I believe I am not claiming too
much to say that our army saved Dun-
(Concluded on fags 3.)
19 LODGERS RUN TO
STREET FROM FIRE
LODGIXG-UOUSE AT 422 MORRI
SOX IS BCKXED.
Occupants, Including Four Women,
Clad In Xiglit Clothes "IVuit in
Restaurant Fireman Hurt.
Nineteen lodgers, including four wo
men were routed this morning at 2
o'clock by fire in the lodging-house at
422 Morrison street The occupants
scantily clad, found refuge in a nearby
restaurant until the flames were
quelled. A few then returned to their
rooms and others, packing their be
longings hastily, went to other quar
ters. The damage is estimated at $3000,
much of it being due to water.
Frank Meadows, a member of Truck
No. 1 Company, sustained a badly
sprained ankle by falling when) a lad
der which he was scaling slipped on
the sidewalk. He was taken to the
Yamlrill-street Fire Station for treat
ment Investigation indicated that the fire
started in a room on the second floor
and that the flames spread after the
occupant fled, his action in leaving the
door open creating a draught which
fanned the blaze
The damaged building is owned by
S. A. and E. C Brown and was leased
by Mrs. B. Rassett.
ICE FREEZES ABOUT MAN
Justice of Peace in Precarious Con
dition as Result of Accident.
DAVENPORT. Wash.. Dec 23. Spe
cial.) Joseph Guerin, long a Justice of
the Peace in this county, is in a pre
carious condition from accidental con
finement in a water tank on his place
in which he nearly froze to death.
Guerin, in attempting to break the
sheet of ice that covered the water of
the tank, which was on a scaffold,
broke through and plunged in five feet
of icy water. With the water to his
mouth he stood for nearly an hour,
the temperature hovering below zero,
before his calls for help were heard.
A farmhand finally rescued him with
a ladder.
The Ice had frozen on his head and
ears. The extreme cold and the shock
have left him In a serious condition.
RUSSIANS DEFEAT TURKS
Victory Reported Near Van; Otto-
mans Are Repnlsed in Caucasus.
.PETRO'dBAD. Dec. 2S. The follow
ing statement of the general staff- of
the Russian army in the Caucasus was
issued this evening:
"On the 22d the Turks again showed
evidence of great activity in the direc
tion of Olti (55 miles west of Kars).
They made a series of attacks in the
direction of Sary-Kamysh, but these
failed.
"The Turkish offensive in the direc
tion of Van . was turned into a de
fensive movement which, however, our
troops succeeded in breaking after
stubborn resistance. We captured
from the enemy several prisoners with
their arms."
COLD STILL TO CONTINUE
East Breeze and, Low Temperature
Show Signs of Remaining.
More of the same kind of weather is
promised Portland for today. '
East winds will prevail again, it Is
forecast, and temperature changes.' if
any, will be unimportant
The minimum temperature recorded
early yesterday was 23.2, and the mer
cury climbed by degrees to 39.2.
Yesterday provided eight hours and
37 minutes of sunshine.
The Clackamas River near the South
ern Pacific bridge is frozen. The river
boat Oregonla of the Oregon City
Transportation Company's fleet was
damaged by the Ice on the river today.
OREGON DEDICATION IS SET
Rosarlans to Conduct Ceremonies at
Panama-Pacific Fair Building.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 23. The Ore
gon State building at the Panama
Pacific International Exposition will
be officially opened next Wednesday,
according to announcement made here
today.
The dedication will be held under
the auspices of the Royal Rosarlans,
of Portland, who also conducted the
ground-breaking ceremony in 1914.
Acting with the Rosarlans will be the
Oregon Commission, of which A. o.
Clark Is president
POPE IS NOT ENCOURAGED
Exchange of Prisoners, as Request
ed. Id Not Expected.
ROME, Dec. 23. Pope Benedict. In
addition to continuing his efforts for
peace, is trying to obtain the consent of
the belligerent powers to an exchange
of war prisoners.
The answer to his proposals thus
far received and the difficulties of
various kinds that are being encoun
tered are said to Incline the Pontiff
to the belief that his initiative will
meet with no better success than his
request for a truce at Christmas,
tide.
Vegetarian Diet Crged.
AMSTERDAM, via London. Dec 23
The Vosslsche Zeitung of Berlin prints
an appeal signed by leading German
professors of political economy which
urges. Germans to live on vegetables
and rye bread. leaving meat, white
bread and delicacies for the. sick and
wounded.
"England wants to starve us and we
must therefore, do everything possible
to economize in the use of our food,"
the appeal says.
RUSSIANS REPORT
GAINS EVERYWHERE
Successes Are Marked
in South Poland.
AUSTRIAN FORGE ANNIHILATED
Kaiser Orders Capture of
Warsaw by Christmas.
NEW BATTLE DEVELOPING
Fighting in Region of Bzura River
Is Violent, but Germans Are Held
Back, Says Enemy; Czar Sends
Force Through Carpathians.
LONDON, Dec. 24. "We were gen
erally successful on all fronts,' says
communication from the Russian
commander-in-chief, in describing the
operations of December 22, according
to a dispatch received from Petrograd
Wednesday night
The greater successes were achieved
on the Nida and Dounletz rivers, in
Southern Poland, and in the Carpathi
ans, the report says.
The Austrian official communication
denies some previous reports of Rus
sian gains and describes the situation
as favorable to the Teuton forces. The
German report gives little information.
Wanaw Christmas, Smyrn lvalaer.
Telegraphing from Petrograd, the
Morning Post's correspondent says:
"Emperor William has promised his
troopa rest and reward at Warsaw,
which he has ordered to be taken by
Christmas,"
Russian troops in theneighborhood
of Tuchow, Galicia, south of Tarnow.
on observing the advance of the Twenty-sixth
Austrian brigade today, slipped
past on . parallel roads and surprised
the Austrian rear, according to reports
received here. The Russians opened
fire with machine guns and virtually
Annihilated tbe--wbole brigade.-;-
During the last two days' fighting in
Southern Galicia, near the Carpathians,
the Russians are reported to have cap
tured more than 4000 prisoners,, in
cluding a Major of the general staff
and five other officers, besides three
heavy guns and seven machine guns.
. Russians Crossing Mountains.
In this region the Russians, it is
said, are moving small detachments
through the mountain passes. In the
recent Austrian sortie from Przemysl
the Russians captured a machine gun,
which they turned against the Aus
trlans. The Novpe Yremya's correspondent
in the Sochaczew neighborhood, Rus
sian Poland, reports that along a 12
mlle front the Russians have packed
four regiments of heavy artillery, 150
light field guns and three corps of In
fantry. The Russians allege that
Polish German sympthtzers are using
windmills in the vicinity to signal the
(Concluded on Paga 2. )
iiii
INDEX OF TODAYS NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature,
3H.2 decrees: minimum. 23.2 degrees.
TODAY'S Fair, easterly winds.
War.
Kins Albert, living under shell fire, reorgan
izes remnant ot army to high state of
efficiency. Page 1.
Russia reports successes on all battle fronts.
Paare 1.
Allies reDorted to be holding; ground al
ready xained and making; some advances.
Paje 2.
Mexico.
Peace on border believed possible, after
General Scott's conference. Page 13.
National.
Hobson forces to present prohibition amenu
ment again in next Congress. Page 2.
Withdrawal of troopa from Colorado is ar
ranged.. Page 2.
Domestic.
Floods devastate Southern Arizona. Page 1.
C M. Schwab says country is at threshold
of era of unexampled prosperity. Page 1.
Centenary of peace of English-speaking peo
ples to be celebrated In part, notwith
tandlng war in Europe. Page 3.
Alfred Henry Lewis dies. Page 2.
Arms Issued to American civilians in Phil
iPDrnes. following: discovery of- native
-plotting. Page 1.
I'aclric Northwest -
Man buried more than five days in Gov
ernment test hole at Winona, Wash., is
rescued. Page 4
Oregon State Teachers' Association will
meet in Medford next year. Page 5.
Sports.
Tigers to play Salt Lake city for opening
game. Page JO.
Tacoma Moose decide to place ban on pro
fessional bout. Page 10.
Hockey match Saturday to see fast players
in action. Page lo.
Commercial and Marine.
Spot wheat sells at new high mark, but
futures are lrregur In local market
Page IS.
Wheat declines at Chicago on rumors of
larger Argentine surplus. Page 15.
Jetty rock tied up by ice at St Helena.
Page 12
Portland and Vicinity.
Sorority girls entertain 40 youngsters of less
prosperous class. Page 16.
Proposed bill would give all registered voters
voice In setting school tax. Page 12.
Babes and aged at institutions enjoy Christ
mas trees. Page 18.
Boy crossing heart and shaking hands to
seal promise to be good. Judge McGinn
paroles him. Page 7.
Christmas relief fund of Associated Chari
ties, is greater than ever. Page 9.
Employes of Bridal Veil Lumbering Com
pany send to fund for Belgium,
Page 11.
Christmas shopping rush In stores of city
is great Page 11.
Churches will celebrate anniversary ot
Christ's birth. Page 11.
Portland, now embraced by Christmas spirit,
to be scene of many festivities Page 16.
Wiier skirts to be fashion, says Parisian
expert. Page 4.
Fire routs 10 lodgers from sleep. Page 1.
Weather report data and forecast. Page 15.
KAISER URGES SON AS KING
Prince Eitel Frederick Suggested for
- J. Proposed Hungarian Throne.
LONDON, Dec; 24. The Morning
Post's Petrograd correspondent says:
"Germany, is energetically pushing
the candidature of Prince Eitel Fred
erick for the throne of Hunzarv h
independence of which is expected to
bo one result of the war."
Prince Eitel Frederick In 111 A - Rfra-an A
son of Emperor William,.
NEW WAR LEVY WAIVED
Protest "of American Minister Said
to Have Benefited Brussels.
LONDON, Dec. 24 A dispatch to the
Daily Express from Amsterdam says:
"The Germans at Brussels have" with
drawn their demand for a new war
contribution of $100,000,000 presumably
owing to the protest of the American
Minister, who asserted that the levy
violated The Hague convention."
TWAS XMAS EVE. AND ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE," ETC., ETC.
SCHWAB PREDICTS
GREAT PROSPERITY
Steel Mqm Says United
States Gains by War.
ENORMOUS ORDERS PLACED
Contracts for $300,000,000 in
Supplies Already Made.
EVERY LINE IS AFFECTED
z
Next Big National Problem Declared
to Be Development of Trans
portation to Handle Grow
ing Commerce.
NEW YORK, Dec 23. The nations
of Europe have placed contracts In the
United States for more than $300,000,
000 worth of supplies since the begin
ning of the war, according to Charles
M Schwab, president of the Bethle
hem Steel Corporation, who returned
here today from England aboard the
steamship Lusitanla.
Mr. Schwab predicted that for this
reason the United States was now at
the threshold of the "greatest period
of prosperity it has an in many
years."
Submarine Contritcts Canceled.
Mr. Schwab, who sailed for England
less than a month ago, admitted that
the object of his trip was to cancel
provisional contracts he had made with
the British government for the build
ing of submarines. This he had done,
he said, after having been advised by
Secretary of State Bryan that for an
American concern to supply subma
rines to any of the belligerent nations
would be a violation both in letter and
in spirit of the neutrality of the United
States.
The contracts which he had given up,
he said, were worth more than $15,000,
000, but he had been able to secure,
while abroad, contracts for 'the- supply
of various munitions of war, although
he declined to say with what nation
they had been negotiated.
Transportation Next Problem.
"The next big problem that the
United States will have to face," said
Mr. Schwab, , "will be the development
of transportation facilities in order to
handle the tremendous increase in man
ufacturing and commercial enterprises.
"The period of prosperity that I pre
dieted on my last return from Europe
is about on us. The contracts placed
with the American manufacturing con
cerns by Europe are for delivery within
the year and I look to see a big revival
of business in every line."
Mr. Schwab, on his previous trip, was
a passenger on the steamship Olympic
when that ship went to the rescue of
the dreadnought Audacious. On his re
turn he declined to confirm or defi
nitely deny the incident, pleading that
he was bound as a matter of honor not
(Concluded on Page 2. t
AMERICANS ARM
IN PHILIPPINES
RIOT GUXS ISSUED TO CIVII
IAXS OX BAY ISLANDS.
Plot to Make Night Attack on Cor
regidor Frustrated by Discovery
of Bolos Hidden in Barrels.
MANILA, Dec. 23. (Special.) A Gov
ernment vessel today distributed riot
guns and ammunition to the American
civilians on Caragao and Fralle Islands
in the bay. One hundred rounds of am
munition and the necessary field equip
ment have been Issued to the soldiers
In the Cuartel Espana In Manila.
Several barrels shipped to Corregidor
Island supposed to contain cement were
found to be full of bolos. Trie native
scout officers disarmed their com
panies and confined them at Corregidor.
The plan was to free the prisoners by
a sudden night attack, to overpower
the scant guard, man the guns and
capture the island. The date had been
fixed between Christmas and New Years.
If nipped, the uprising was to be post
poned until March.
In the last few months there has
been an enormous increase in the so
called Boy Scout organizations, com
posed in greater part of full grown
men. They have been noticed drilling
throughout the Manila provinces. The
authorities remain silent.
5 MEN FOR 1 KAISER ASKS
London Paper Heports Negotiations
Over Exchange of Prisoners.
LONDON. Dec. 24. Efforts recently
were made officially, says the Daily
Telegraph, to ascertain whether Ger
many would consent to an exchange of
civilian prisoners interned in England
and Germany. The newspaper adds
that Germany's reply, just received, de
mands the exchange be on a basis of
the release of five Germans to one
Englishman.
"Germany maintains." the newspaper
declares, Vthat this is the only equitable
basis, as there are many more German
prisoners in England than there are
Englishmen In . Germany. It is need
less to say that Great Britain declined
the proposal."
Wednesdays War Moves
TT'HIS allies in the west, the Ger-
A mans in Poland and the Russians
lit East Prussia and Galicia continue
their offensive operations, but the ad
vances have been so slight as to be
almost imperceptible. In the long run.
however, the ground which is being
taken may prove vital and the various
armies are fighting with an intensity
which has not been exceeded since the
war began.
In Poland the center of interest has
shifted slightly" to the south. Finding
the direct rbad to Warsaw blocked by
Russian reinforcements, the Germans
made an attack from the southwest
and have reacheu Sklerniewice, which
is some 40 miles from the Polish capi
tal. They have thus far failed to pierce
the Russian lines, but have forced
Grand Duke Nicholas to withdraw his
forces from before Cracow. " In this,
one of the chief aims ot their offensive
against Russia, the Germans have been
successful.
In Galicia Russia ha, resumed the
offensive against the Austro-German
forces which have poured In from the
west and across the Carpathians. Ac
cording to the latest Petrograd report.
the Russians Inflicted heavy losses on
these forces, while in the north they
have pursued into the interior of East
Prussia a small German army which
made a feint at Warsaw from the
northwest.
Although the allies have scored some
successes in the battles in the west,
they are meeting with stubborn resist
ance and military men In London warn
the British public that heavy casualty
lists must be expected before any seri
ous Impression can . be made on the
German entrenchments. Activity seems
to have been resumed along the Bel
gian coast, for it is announced that
slight progress has been made by the
allies between the sea and the road
from Nieuport to Westenae. At other
points similar fighting is proceeding,
with here success and tnere reverse
or failure of attach.
The airmen on both sides have been
extremely busy and aeroplanes have
been swarming over Belgium, the avi
ators reconnoitering movements of the
opposing troops and occasionally drop
ping bombs. Bruges and Brussels have
been visited by a viators from the
ranks of the allies, while Bethune and
other towns in Northern France have
received attention from tne Germans.
France, through her Parliament, ap
parently has given evidence of her de
termination to prosecute the war to the
end. Both branches of Parliament have
passed unanimously the government's
bill appropriating the sum of $1,700,
000,000 to meet the expenses of the next
six months, including the cost of the
war.
King Albert, of the Belgians, in an
interview in which he thanked the
American people for the aid they have
given his stricken people, asserted that
he again some day would ride into
Brussels at the head of the Belgian
army. The King praised highly his
army and declared he felt he was not
claiming too much to say that the Bel
gians saved Dunkirk and Calais at the
battle of the Tser.
A newspaper dispatch from Athens
says that Austria has twice attempted
to make peace with Servia, but that
each time Servia declined the proposal.
Rome has received a rumor that Em
peror Francis Joseph, of Austria-Hungary,
is dying.
FLOODS DEVASTATE
SOUTHERN ARIZONA
Known Dead Are 3 and
Property Losses Big.
MANY HOMES SWEPT AWAY
Ranch Folk Marooned in Trees
and Towns Inundated.
RESCUERS SAVE HUNDREDS
Passengers on Train Surrounded
and Kivers Are Killed With Fur
niture and Wreckage More
Damage Is Threatened.
TUCSON, Ariz.. Dec. 23. Floods, the
result of a week of practically un
broken rainfall. Inflicted severe danf
age on nearly the entire area of the
state lying between Phoenix and the
Mexican border. Three persons, so far
as known tonight, have lost their lives;
livestock by hundreds of head has been
drowned; ranch-houses and city resi
dences wrecked or washed away by
torrents roaring through what are nor
mally dry arroyos, and traffic by rail,
highway and wire either has been bad- ,
ly crippled or completely suspended.
A Southern Pacific train loaded with
passengers still is marooned some
where near Nogales. Floods complete
ly surround it
More Destruction Threatened.
The most serious damage seems to
have been suffered in that part of the
Santa Cruz Valley lying 30 miles south
of here. The Santa Cruz River, swol
len by the almost continuous rain of
the past seven days, attained a width
of more than IVi mileB today and the
crest of the flood, after sweeping
through Am ado and the farming re
gion round about, reached Tucson to
night, wiping out bridges and. houses
and threatening to work further de
struction. Dozens of ranch dwellings were de
stroyed in the vicinity of Amado. Two
Mexicans were drowned there after
they had hung in the branches of
trees for hours awaiting rescue. A
United States soldier was reported to
have been drowned in a big wash at
Naco.
$500,000 Plant Submerse.
An open cut a mile long, containing
19 centrifugal pumps and other ma
chinery costing $500,000, which served
the Tucson Farms Company project,
went under water this afternoon. Pules
coming down the river a little later in
dicated that the power lines had been
destroyed.
At Bisbee floods tore through the
deep canyons between the mountains
and Inundated portions of the busi
ness section. Gangs of city workmen
were engaged there tonight digging
and scraping away a three-foot layer
of sand, deposited on the main streets
by the flood, which receded almost
as rapidly as It came.
Sogslrs Is Isolated.
Nogales remained isolated tonight,
as well as lluachuca, Florence and
Ray, the two latter being near Phoenix,
where the Salt River Valley Irrigation
project, with its extensive andj costly
canal system, suffered severely.
The full extent of loss, both in lives
and property, could not be ascertained
tonight, owing to continued rains and
to the fact that many of the ranching
communities in the path of the floods
could not be reached.
A relief train was sent out late to
day to the Southern Pacific train ma
rooned between Tucson and Nogales '
by washouts.
Volunteers Rescue Ranchers.
Superintendent Williams, : of the
Tucson division, brought the first
news of the serious aspect of the floods
when he called for volunteers to aid in
(Concluded on Pace 2.
KIGHT-AND-DAY OPERATION
OF SPOIvAJNK FLOUR MILLS
IS PROSPERITY' SIG.V,
SPOKANE, Wash, Dec 23.
(Special.) As a flour manufac
turing center this year Spokane
has exceeded all previous rec
ords in the value of its product,
and will equal in volume the out
put of any former season. More
than 2,000,000 bushels of wheat
have been consumed and 450,000
barrels of flour, or 2500 cars, is
the total production for 1914.
Running night and day since
the opening of the Fall milling
season, the three flouring mills of
the city have been grinding out
from 1200 to 1500 barrels dally.
In number of days of operation
the year will exceed the 1913 run
by a slight margin.
The Centennial Mill Company
has been producing 20,000 bar
rels a month and Is closing th
year with a record of having op
erated for 11 months.
The Echo mill has produced
37,000 barrels since June 30, and
the Spokane Flouring Mills have
been shipping an average of
about 60,000 barrels of flour to
the Orient since the opening of
Fall. The mill produces 500
barrels dally.