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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 1915)
PRICK rivi: CENTS. VOL. LV XO. 1G.930. PORTLAND, OREGOX, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 37, 1015. BRITISH CABINET DIVIDED ON ISSUE Military Party Favors Further Reprisals. SOLUTION RESTS ON LONDON Washington Encouraged by Reports of Ambassadors. GERMAN PROMISE ASSURED Submarine Warfare on Merchant Vessels to Cease if roodsturrs Consigned to Civilian Iop nlation Arc fnmolcstcd. WASHINGTON1. Feb. 26. Encourag ing reports from both Ambassadors Page and Gerard at London and Ber lin, respectively, were received by President Wilson and his Cabinet to- day concerning the attitude of Great Britain and Germany toward the latest j American proposals for the safeguard- Ins of neutral commerce from thedan I eers of submarines and mines, and the ' unrestricted shipment of foodstuffs to tho civilian population of belligerent countries. Complete replies are not expected for everal days, because the subject Is ntlll under consideration by England ; and her allies. All V.ftn Turn to I.onde. Germany's willingness to make con cession:, and negotiate for an under standing on the vexatious questions already has been made known Infor mally to the United States and a for mal acquiescence is expected in a day or two. All eyes now are turned on Iondon, where the opinion is under stood as yet to be divided on the mer its of the suggestions. Some of the leading men in the Brit ish cabinet are said to favor in prin ciple the American proposals as a means of solving the problem with as little Inconvenience to neutral .coun tries as possible. Another element, however. Is said to be impressed by the military value of further restric tion of supplies to Germany and mora reprisals and t;re is some Indication that when tho final resolution on the. American proposals is to be made the mllitarv faction will present strong opposition to them. Details Becoming Knonn. The exact nature of the proposals Is still unknown because of the rigid reticence of the officials both here and abroad, but each day adds informa tion on the subject. Briefly, this much of the contents of tho American sug gestions now has been confirmed. The United States has asked that the pre vious rules of international law with respect to the shipment by neutrals of conditional contraband destined to civilian populations and not the bellig erent forces of an enemy, remain un til tered. A system Is suggested whereby proof can be furnished that the supplies will bo used by the civilian population. Removal of Miacs Proposed. The removal of all floating mines by Germany as well as great Britain is proposed, this not to apply, however, to mln -.. used for protection of coast defenses and barbers, pilots to be -furnished to guide neutral ships through auch fields as remain. Attention is called to Germany's promise that if foodstuffs are not de tained when destined to her civilian population tho submarine warfare on merchant shipd will be abandoned. Method of Warfare TVot Criticised. The American proposals do not dwell on the attacks by German submarines on enemy merchant ships, as the posi tion of the United States, it is under stood, would not permit interference in tho mode of warfare adopted by the bel ligerents toward each other, except where the lives of neutrals are placed in jeopardy. It is assumed, however, by officials that tho promises made by Germany of an intention to abandon such warfare on merchant vessels and confino operations to those enemy ves sels carrying troops and munitions of war would be fulfilled, if foodstuffs were to be given unrestricted passage to Germany, Tho details of the proposals, it is felt here, can be readily arranged If there is a disposition on the part of both Great Britain and Germany to make concessions. Responsibility Cannot Be Fixed. Tho destruction of the American steamers Carib and Evelyn continued to be talked about in official quarters and. while inability to fix the responsi bility for the accidents has removed for the present the danger of compli cations with the belligerents, the hope of tho American Government is that dangers from mines will be eliminated by an acceptance of some, at least, of the American proposals. The State Department today received the following telegram from the Con-Ful-General at London, dated Febru ary 25: "Pilot station Dover discontinued 17th. Vessels that formerly took pilots Dover now supplied in the Downs from Deal." Globe Democrat Editor Resigns. ST. LOUIS, Feb. 2S.- Captain Henry King today resigned as managing ed itor f tho St. Louis Globe-Democrat Captain King has been in poor health. He is 73 years old. DARDANELLES IS STILL UNDER FIRE FRENCH CnUISEXl ENTERS AND ESCAPES UNHARMED. four Forts Silenced and One Seen to Uc On Fire Turks Say Tlicy Hit Three Britishers. PARIS. Feb. 26. Tho Athens corre spondent of the llavas Agency sends the following dispatch regarding! the bombardment of the forts at tho en trance to the Dardanelles by the French and British fleets: "News received from the Island of Tenedos last night says that the bom bardment of the Dardanelles continued with violence from 9 o'clock in tho morninsr until 6 in tho evening. The firo from the forts was intense during j . i a J i part of the day. but cimimsneu oi ceased before nightfall. j "Fort3 Erthogroil, Sedl-b;i-.Banr 41111 Orhanio -suffered a great deal, espe cially Scdd-El-Bahr. which was, on fire, the flames being seen from Tenedos. One of the allies" cruisers entered tho strait during the evening aim barded the forts for an hour. It then withdrew' safely. "The result of the fire of the Turk ish forts is not definitely known, but it appears to be established that none of tho allies' vessels has been seriously damaged." LONDON, Feb. 27. The Athens cor respondent of the Exchange Telegraph Company, in a dispatch dated Friday, says: Th. hnmhardment of the exterior forts of the Dardanelles' has resulted In the destruction of forts Sedd-El-Bahr, Kum, Kale and Orhanle. "A French cruiser penetrated the straits and remained an hour, bom barding the Interior forts. It departed undamaged." CONSTANTINOPLE, via London, Feb. 26. It is given out here that one ship of the Angameon type and two other armored vessels were damaged by the fire from the forts on tho Asiatic side of the straits. EMPLOYER ASKS BENEFITS Man Hurt in Own Mill Presses Suit for ray Cntlcr Workmen's Act. ROSEBUKG, Or, Feb. 26. (Special.) Claiming that ho is entitled to bene fits under tho workmen's compensation act, although he is the owner and op erator of the mill in which he was Injured. J. B. Lang, of Dillard, has- ap- pealed from tho decision of the State Accident Commission to the Circuit Court of Douglas County. The action will be tried here Saturday, with Attorney-General Brown representing the state. ' Mr.' Lang was injured recently while at work in Ills mill, near Dillard. He filed his claim with the State Accident Commission. The Accident Commission held that Mr. Lang, as an employer, was not entitled to benefits under the workmen's compensation act, which provides for payments only to em ployes. Mr. Lang alleges that the state accepted his premium aTid as a result he is entitled to recover as insurance a sum compatible with the premiums for the injuries he received. WRITERS TO SEE "BATTLES rtritih War orricc Co rennit Short Tours Over Fields. OTTAWA. Ont.. Feb. 26. A message from the British War Office to tho Canadian government indicates that the war corerspondent is soon to havo a limited opportunity of seeing fight ing. The cablegram received late today read: "It has been decided to permit small botches of war correspondents to pro ceed to the front in a series of toura of about six days each, beginning March 1." AUSTRIAN PUPILS TO WORK Schools May Be Closed and Children Sent to Fields. LONDON, Feb. 26. Vienna dispatches forwarded from Vienna to Reuter'3 Telegram Company say that the Aus trian Minister of Education has author ized the employment of school children in the ftcids where labor is scarce, closing schools if necessary.- II is also said that all of the schools will be closed for the Summer holidays at the end of May. a month earlier than usual. According to an official report 122. S92 families in Vienna arc receiving assistance from tho state. COUNTY MAY CHANGE NAME Senate at Oljnipia Makes It Grays Harbor Instead of Chchalls. OLYMriA.'Wash.. Feb. 26, (Special.) The Senate tonight passed the bill changing the name of Chehalis County to Grays Harbor County, the only op position coming from Senator McGuire, who complained that the new name was not sufficiently musical. The Senate also passed tho bill in creasing the salaries of County School Superintendents and giving them four year term?. PROSPERITY IS PREDICTED Inked States Affected Less by War Than Other Nations, Says Speaker. WASHINGTON, Feb. 26. Representa tive Cordell Hull, of Tennessee, author of the Income tax law, made a pros perity speech in the House today. Business or the world nau Deen op pressed, disarranged and demoralized beyond computation by tho war. he paid, but he predicted permanent pros perity in the United States. He de clared the American people had fared better and suffered less than nny other and assailed "prophets of evil.' BATTLEFIELD IS VAST CEMETERY Still Gray Figures Dot Ground Everywhere. YPRES REGION IS IN RUINS British Eye-Witness Tells Progress of War. of LINES STRONGLY HELD Letters Found on Bodies of Soldiers Said to , Indicate Germans, While Still Determined, Are Losing Optimism. LONDON, Feb. 26. "All the ground near the front line is plowed up with shells and furrowed with the remains of old trenches and graves. The whole place is a vast cera etery in which our trenches and those of the enemy wind in every tli rectlon." This statement is made by tho British official "eye witness" at the front in a description given out hero tonight of the recent battles southeast of Ypres ancT of the country in which the armies are fighting. Tn a sheltered spot," he continues, "there is a little graveyard where soma of our own dead have been buried. Their graves have been care fully marked and a rough square of bricks has been placed around them. In front of the trenches German bodies still He thick. Men Lie aa They Fell. "At one point of the brick fields re cently somo 30 men tried to rush our line. At their head Mas a young Ger man officer who came on gallantly, waving his sword. He almost reached the barbed wire and then fell dead, and he lies there yet, with his sword in his hand and all his 30 men about him. "It is the same all along the front in this quarter. Everywhere still, gray figures can be seen lying, sometimes several rows together and sometimes singly or in twos or threes. Ground Swept by 'Withering Blast. "This description might serve with a few minor alterations for many of the localities along our front, where the fighting has centered around some wood, a village or line of trenches. It is as if each had been swept by a withering blast before which every object, whether a work of nature or of man, has crumbled into ruins or be come twisted and deformed, and even the very ground itself looks as if it had been shaken by a violent convul sion of nature." To the south of the Yprea-Comines Canal, says tho "eyewitness," the ground, although there are some en closures, is comparatively open. To the north of it, however, there arc many woods and these have become a tangle (Concluded on Pago 9. LOOKS LIKE l IS , . - I : .......... . t. .. . J. J .'a ....... t .', t INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. TESTERDAT'S Maximum temperature, 53.2 degrees; minimum. 40.3 degrees. TODAY'S Rain southerly winds. Mar. Ypres is one Region of Page 3. vast cemetery. German artillery fire increases in intensity on western front. Fase Federal crand Iui-y .investigating charges aeainst vessels accused of carrying war supplies to Germans. Pago 2. . Viscount Bryce says it is error to suppose all Americans of German Diooa are pu German. Page 2. Two hundred thousand engage in hand-to- - hand battio in Carpathians. Page 2. Bombardment of Dardanelles forts continues, Page 1. . . Domestic. Rock Island officials jeceiva large sums to resign nositions. Page 5. Get-together Club of Exposition holds first gathering at Oregon building. Pago 11 Letter tells investigators farmer has nothing to say about price of wheat. Page 1. Sports. Federals to open season four days 1 ahead of rivals. Page 10. Portland Beavers in sad pickle with Catcher Murray out for season, probably, nun bad eye. Page 10. Seal infield is 'great success in aetlon. . Page 10. Facific Northwest. - Washington legislators practice prohibition. Page 1. One bill remains unsigned by Governor pending Investigation. Pago 12. Idaho Senate refuses to cut state officials' pay. Page 0. Business men ask Washington Legislature to cubmlt new liquor bill. Page 11. Commercial and Marine. Lack of export facilities cause of weakness in local wheat market. Page 13. Exclt3d selling causes break at Chicago fol. lawed by rallies. Page 15. Tone Is variable In Wall street stock mar ket, due to foreign conditions. Page 15. Idle schooners ordered here to load lumber. Page 12. Portland and Vicinity. Total of 2M Y. M. C A. members gained in race with Seattle. Pago 10. Jitney ordinance passed to final reading. Page 9. Shriners to have big time tonight Initiating :5 candidates. Page 9. Hose buttons to be Attributed to public rchool pupils Monday. Page 11. Weather report, data and forecast. Page 15. GIRLS FINED FOR RAGGING Pendleton Judge Then' Suspends Sen tence During Good Behavior. . PENDLETON, Or.,' Feb. 2S. (Spe cial.) The seven Pilot nock young ladies who were arrested for "ragging" at a lodge dance in that town were given a trial before Recorder Mc Reynolds this evening. Each was found guilty and sentenced to pay a fine of $5, but sentence was suspended during good behavior. The trial was behind closed doors and Judge JIc Reynolds refused to allow the names of the girls to be made public. Two of tho nine accused young men were found to be innocent. Howard Bartell and Twig Hinkle served out the full amount of 'their fines, while "Soots" Mathews, Boy Michaels and Archie McFarland paid their fines. , RUSSIA CALLS MEN HOME All Subject to 3Jilitary Duty Arts Or dered to Return by Jlarcli 1. LONDON, Feb. 27. The r.ussian Consul-General here has Issued a state ment received from Petrograd announc ing that Russians living abroad hence forth will bo liabln to military service and mus return immediately to Rus sia. Those belonging to the classes called to tho colors who remain abroad after March 1 will be liable to punishment according to the Russian law. A SPRING CLEAN-UP ON THE DARDANELLES. FARIM HEARD IN FIXING DF PRICE Wheat MaYket Control Usually in Liverpool. "INVISIBLE SUPPLY" LARGE Leiter Says Growers Are Be coming Chief SpeC ;c CROP OFTEN HELD LONG Once .Noted Operator Tells Lreutl Investigators Cash Basis Would Place AVIiolo 'Market in . Hands of Speculators. NEW YORK, Feb. 26. Joseph Leiter, long a famous wheat operator, testi fied today at the state inquiry Into tho j cost of bread, that me rarmer u nothing to say about the price at which his wheat should be sold. That, he added, was determined at the terminal market. The Liverpool exchange, which is the leading exchange of the woriu. .no said, "usually fixes the price. . Vnltod States--Now Control. Mr. Leiter said 73 per cent of the ele vators were owned, either by tho big wheat operators or the railroads, while 23er cent were owned by independent or small operators and farmers' co operative societies. Tho United States has controlled the wheat prices of tho world since September 1, 1914, and will continue to do so until another crop is raised, Mr. Leiter asserted. Mr. Leiter gavo it as his opinion that the "invisible supply" of wheat, or that which is in the hands of farmcra and not recorded in tho Government report, has been a large factor in keeping down the price. Farmcra Are Large Specula tore. "The farmers have become the largest speculators in the country; they ivill hold crop after crop, sometimes for bo long as four years,'! ho said. "In a year such as we are having we find that there is an enormous lot of wheat that isn't covered by the Government records. It It wasu't for this fact tho prices today would be much higher. "There isn't anybody left in the spec ulative market now," Mr. Leiter said. "The speculators got out after the price passed the $1.40 mark tho small trader was forced out and the big one was frightened out. The' rise would have come much sooner had it not been for speculation." "Cash Dealing Opposed. Mr. Leiter was asked if it would be a detriment to the country to place dealings In grain on a cash basis. "That would make a fine business," ho replied. "The business would bo come highly speculative Immediately. It would be taken out of the hands of I millers and elevator men and placed in (Concluded on i'aee 2.) Friday's War Moves The Pre continued progress which the rcncli are said to bo making in tho Champagno district and tho prea suro which the allies, without attempt ing any great offensive, are declared to be bringing to bear on the German line in the west have, according to news received from Holland, induced tho Germans to make another effort in the west before the allied forces reach their maximum strength. By day and by night, say the Dutch newspapers, big motor cars loaded with German soldiers are hurrying through Belgium to the western 'front, and the troops which had been sent to Northern Belgium are going back to the trenches. The fact that tome of the troops now passing through Bel gium come from the eastern front sug gests to tho military observers that the Germans have decided that tit ans able to hold the Russians in their cnt positions wlillo the Germans arrying out their new offonslve in no west. Tho silence of the German general staff, which today timply said that there had been no change of each front, is taken in London as confirmation that some big move such as that suggested is under way. It is declared that the allies are displaying no uneasiness. They believe that the softness of the ground must prove a great disadvant age to the Germans and although not all the new troops of tho allies are ready yet that they will be able to repel any new attack. During the last couple of days tho British havo slightly Improved their positions. In the region of Ia Bassce, while the French report further progress by their troops In the vicinity of Perthes and in tho Argonne and repeated successes by .their artillery in destroying German guns and trenches. In the east a big battio along the Russian fortress line, which folio".' rivers almost the whole way from the Baltic to the Carpathians, is still un decided. The same is true also of the battles in the Carpathians and In Buko wina. Petrograd dispatches, however, assert that the Russians are more lhati holding their own in North and Cen tral Poland and thut in the Carpathians they are making such a steady advance that not only tho Hungarian, hut the Austrian armies lighting in liukowtnu. are threatened. No further news has reached Lon don of the bombardment of tho Darda nelles forts by tho allied fleet, but It Is believed there that tho warships w ill now continue . their attacks until tho straits ore forced. Having do stroyed the outer fortifications, the entrance to tho waterway is being cleared of mines, preparatory to an attack on the inner forts. One effect of tho preliminary success of the allies In the Dardanelles wan the dropping today of tho price of wheat, which went down several points on the Liverpool exchange. A serious invasion of ticrini Southwest Africa by the Union of South Africa forces is now under way The troops, which landed In Walflsch and Ludcrltz Bay. are advancing along the railways from tho!e ports to tho main line, which runs nwrth and south through practically tho whole length of the colony, while another force 1 concentrating in Northern Cape Colony to advance from tho aouth. General Botha himself l.l leading the forces which advanced from "yalflsch Bay and Is directing their operations. In a speech to his troops General Botha said tho campaign would continue until the German colony wan conquered, and he assured them also that the rebel lion in the Union was being quelled. He said his troops would bo Joined by strong reinforcements which would make their successes certain. Premier Asquith la expected to make a statement In the House of Commons Monday outlining the steps which tho allies havo decided upon in retaliation against Germany' aea war zone. FRENCH DESTROYER LOST Daguc, ICseorting Provision hhlp?, Strikes Austrian Minv PARIS, Feb. 26. The destruction of the French torpedo'-boat destroyer Hague in the Adriatic Soa wan an nounced today by the French Ministry of Marine. The official announcement follows: 'The French torpedo-boat destroyer Dague. while escorting a convoy with provisions for .Montenegro, struck an Austrian mine oit the port of Anti varl (Montenegro) on February 24 and sank. Thirty-eight of the crew disap peared. The accident did not hinder the linlabiiig of the work of provision ing and the return of the convoy." The Dague was 2itt fect long and had a displacement of R!0 tons. She was built in 1311 and rated at a speed of 31.1 knots. Jler complement was 81 men. She was armed with two S. inch guns, four nine-pounders and four 18 inch torpedo tubes. HOOKWORM ALL TO BLAME Scientist Absolves Overwork From Responsibility In South. KANSAS CITT, Feb. 26. Hookworm and not over work or industrial condi tions is responsible for the "pitiable physical condition of tho childrou In the cotton mills of the South." Dr. rhurifB w. stiles, of the United State public Health Service and scientific secretary for tho Rockefeller Lommu- sion for tho Kradicatlon of tho Hook- worm Diseases, said In an address be- - .t. . i.rtrLr r-i..K ! fore the Knife and Fork Club here to-nierht- Likewise -it was tho hookworm, ho asserted, and not starvation or ill treatment that caused the death of 13, 000 of the 50.000 Union soldiers ' held at tho Confederate prison at Anderson ville during the Civil War. All of Evelyn's Crew Safe. WASHINGTON, Feb. 2. Minister Van Dyke, at The Hague, cabled today it was unofficially reported to him that the entiro crew of tho American tteam er Evelyn, sunk by a mine, was cafe at Bremen. The fate of Captain Smith and one boatload has been cloaked In mystery. 1 LEGISLATORS DRY N FACT AS IN THEORY Time-Honored Brew ery Excursion Omitted. OLYMPIA MEMBERS SERIOUS Washington Prohibition Legis lation Is Intricate. SPECIAL ELECTION CERTAIN Measure AMirrd of I'ltu-r on IIhIImI Xe.xt Xovrinlsr-r Not Popular ami Real Contest Mhj Be Post poned Intll lB. BT RONALD 1. C.M.l.MlIll OLYMPIA, Wash.. I1. 21. '.:. T Correspondence.) Public neutlnicnt Inn had a noticeable effect ou one phae oT Icglslatlvo life in Oljmpla. Time was when tho hennlon meant harvest for the saloons. Not tnut to.. average member was h booar, but the collective thirnt, added to that of tlia third house, and augmented l'.v fro- dom from homo restraint, meant busi ness anil profits for tlio li'iuor Jelr-. Last Novemher Washington voted ! put t?io saloon out of huslnes J. inu.tr.. 1. 1 D16. Jlltt now it IS not i-otltldu! c! good form for a legislator to he i.eeu frequenting a saloon. Liquor laihhy I.Ira l.ft. Minrov.'r. the liquor lobby, villi morn at stako than ever before, lo nl si strongly i'i evidence' ms In former year. . A lobby Is maintained nuii liraluuirtei j are open, but InvliHttun . to frequent the room arc lasii to I" extremely rare. The member who vis its Iivudqiiartera voluntarily Is wri romc. but he Is not uiijeU or so:l'-itel to come. Once upon a time tho fir.-t uencral curslou taken by tlio wrmbei was to the brewery at Tumwater. nearby. This year the streetcar company will no realiao extra prollts from operating H line to Cie lilllo villawe Hi the extreme upper ctnj of J'ugct Sound. A erou who exiimined t tie roster of visitor ti the brewery tlio other day found the names of only three mcmbcia. I.eaialalur Men of Srrloaa Mlra. Still It may bo admitted that t .ic fart that tho stale hnn voted to no do a few months henee l "t the only fj' -tor in the cite. V ashing l"n has fleet ed an unusually serious and business like body of men to the Lt n I. la t urr TossiVly a difference would h.vj been noted anyway. Thci o preliminary remarks lead up to the statement thnl tho prohibition Issue Is not settled in Washington fi It will bo voted on n.ain In Novinilvi. 1!1S. Al' details on which tlio people will vote aro unsettled as yet. although a told In previous ciipnlili.i fiom Olympla. one bill overturning the pro hibitory law and ruhstlt ut ing a restric tive, measure Is assured a plaec on the ballot. I.lqanr latrrrnla l.oar laaaee. Tho Initiative and referendum Uw In Washington differ from that of .'re gon. Here an Initiative petition ma b presented to the Lrgli latu. On with tho required number of nair'. has been offered and ha been rrjeetod That mcana that It til bo mibititlteo to the people at tho next regular c-lov-tion. The bill ploascs scarcely anybody. It was originally tho handiwork of ono man. The liotclmen and others Interested In bars failed to recognlto tho oppor tunities offered by the lnltlniue until too late-to present to tho L gUU'ure an initiative bill likely t- receive tho united support of those opposed to right prohibition. They did rcetitfnlx 'he opportunity In time to help get tlm names for tho onc-nmii bill prcscnii and they did so bccau.io presentation of one initiative measure open tlio way for tho Legislature to, ubmtt an al ternative measure In tho event it le- Jects tho original proposal. Wrta' taw t Too tlrUM. The autl-prohlbitioiilsta first touiiut to Induce tho Legislature to call a spe cial election In November, l i n way they havo failed, although they ha not given tip hope. A resolution de claring against the apecial election Idea haa been adopted, but It la am biguous In that it may bo construed to relate wholly to Inltiutlvo measure No. 18. as tho unpopular measure now as sured a place on tho next election bs.1 lot Is known. The bill that now has th baekiiij; e-f the liquor Interests and a certain aub Ktantlal business clement Is ingenious in form. It provides for lovylng Im mediately an excise tax on atcoliolU beverages ranging from ono cent to do cents per quart. The revenues raised by th!s method up to November S next aro to be used to pay the expense! of tt apeclul election at which on altrrna- tlve liquor measure is to bo lubmliuu Re.o 1-r.Odrd. . .. y . Ti.. ttltf mutivfl mfHjuiTO ooutlni- The alternative meaauro the excise tnx prescribed In the fiist measure and direct that the rvnnuts ahall bo applied to road co:ittrucllt,n. The tax. It la estimated, weuld produce $1. 000.000 a year. Th bill prniit manufacture and also th sale by whole sale liquor trre. and tl.o servlea ef liquors by hotel and rcalauranla, bu'. prohibit bars. The assertion ef friel.da and op-j-nent of these bill nro contradictor'. About three weeks ago when tlio reso lution concerning Initiative measure No. IS wu adopted th effort to obtaia tC&tluieil vn 1'h . j