TITE MORNING OKEGONIA:, TIIURSDAT, FEBRUARY IT, 1916.
LUSITANIA
ENTERS HEW
AFFAIR
PHASE
German Policy Toward Armed
Merchantmen Causes De
, lay in Negotiations.
TERMS AGAIN STUDIED
V afhlngtoii Fears Jt May Find It
. bclf at l'oliit Mlicre It Stood
in Karly Days of Sub
marine Crisis.
VAriHIXGTON". Feb. 16. The subma
rine controversy with Germany cannot
be cloned until the United States has
fully considered the possible effect of
the declared intention of the Germanic
now? in inv nil firmed merchantmen
of their enemies without warning after
February 29.
This announcement was made by Sec
retary Lansing- today instead of the
long-expected announcement of a sat
isfactory settlement of the Lusitania
negotiations.
Perfected bv months of negotiation.
the Lusitania agreement was presented
todav bv Count von Bernstorff. the
(iprnmn Ambassador, in a form which
-would have been acceptable to the.
1'nited States had not the Germanic
powers announced their determination
.11 m r.t ufm.il merchant shins of
I their enemies as warships.
Specific Information Sought.
The Lusitania agreement now will
not be accepted as finally satisfactory
to the United States until President
TtV'ilson and Secretary Lansing have de
cided whether any of its terms would
be nullified by the principles of the
new submarine campaign.
It is practically certain that the
"United States will ask to be specifical
Jy informed that the assurance pre
viously given for the safety of neu
' trals and non-combatants at sea have
. not been and will not be altered by
' the latest declarations of the Berlin
and Vienna admiralties.
Government officials are afraid they
may find themselves at the point,
where they stood In the first days of
the submarine crisis, with the United
States contending unreservedly for the
principles of law and humanity in
naval warfare and confronted with a
long series of diplomatic exchanges,
the result of which they cannot
foresee.
Bernstorff Given Opinion.
Count von Bernstorff told Secretary
Lansing today that it was his personal
opinion that in the new submarine
campaign his government intended to
abide by its promise not to sink un
resisting liners without warning, given
in the Arabic case and rererred to in
the Lusitania agreement. Mr. Lansing
informed the Ambassador that such a
declaration from his government would
be highly desirable
The Ambassador suggested the possi
bility of postponing the effective date
of the new submarine campaign if It
would give time for negotiations to
clarify the confused situation. but
the Secretary did not commit himself.
This is the situation now. As a re
Fult of the correspondence in the Lusi
tania and Arabic cases, the United
States had rested secure in the belief
that the future conduct of submarine
warfare on humane lines and in ac
cordance with the established princi
ples of international law, modified
somewhat by the new conditions de
veloped during the war, had been as
cured. The State Department had been
proceeding lately on the theory that
all that was necessary to be done in the
Lusitania cat was to cover the past.
not the future.
Anuranre Regarded as Nullified,
Now the Austro-German notice of in
tention to sink armed merchantmen ap
parently is regarded as having de
stroyed that assurance, and It is
deemed useless to try to adjust a past
issue while the future is left open, with
the almost certain assurance of new
cidents arising which may lead to the
most serious results. .
Officials fear a closer study of the
Lusitania agreement may disclose that
it is not sufficiently comprehensive to
embody the guarantees required for
the future. They are quite certain that
it cannot qualify, amend or replace the
Austro-German notice. A specific
surance on that point would have to
he given by Germany and later, per
haps, by Austria.
The recent American circular note to
the entente powers proposing disarma
ment of merchant ships is not regarded
as in any way involving an abandon
ment by the United States of its con
tention that the belligerents should
adhere to existing principles of inter
national law in submarine warfare,
tiermaa Politics at Serious Stage.
It, was Issued In pursuance of a dp
pign to induce both sides to ameliorate
the hardships of such warfare and pre
vent the loss of innocent lives. Its
rejection would simply have the effect
to leave standing and in full force the
principles of international law. and
among others that which permits bet
ligerent merchant chips to carry de
fensive armament. American officials
contend that at no time has the United
States relinquished the claim to ex
emption from attack to unarmed ships.
Tt is true that at one place in the
Lusitania correspondence the point
was made by the United States that
the ship was unarmed. That was only
to meet the German assertion that the
Lusitania had mounted guns when she
left New York.
The internal political situation In
Germany is regarded here as making
ihe situation grave, because the Von
Tirpitz element is understood to be re
asserting itself with considerable effect
and the subject requires delicate
handling because an upset of the Von
Bethmann - Hollweg administration
would be regarded as unfavorable in its
effect.
, Berlin to Ask Question, Too.
What form the next step in the ne
gotiations will be in is not disclosed,
hut there are strong indications that
the German government will be asked
to assure the United States that mer
chant ships, armed for defensive pur
poses only, will be exempt from un
warranted attack.
From German sources tonight came
the statement that it was probable
Berlin would give such assurances, but
that in doing so it would request in
formation as to what the United States
considers to be defensive armament.
Extended negotiations may follow on
that point
State . Department officials, pressed
for statements, replied that they con
sidered the situation where it was sev
eral weeka ago,- when it was described
as grave.
Diplomatic correspondence will con
tinue with Austria as well as with Ger
many. Austria has given assurances in
the Anconi case which this Govern-
I ment has no Intention of relinquishing.
The United States will, of course,
continue ita efforts to Induce the en
tente allies to disarm their merchant
men, and in the event of their refusing,
the State Department probably will
further limit the character of arma
ment which It considers defensive.
RUSSIANS FINISH
TAKING ERZER1
Official News of Fall of Gate
way of Asia Minor Is Ac
claimed in Petrograd.
ASSAULT LASTS FIVE DAYS
NEW RESERVE OPPOSED
ROSEBIRG ATTORNEY OBJECTS TO
STATE LIEN LAND PROPOSAL.
B.
I,. Eddy Asserts Cost of Patrol
Would Be Considerable and
Loss of Revenue Factor.
ROSEBURG, Or., Feb. 16. (Special.)
Attorney B. L. Eddy, of Rosetturg.
has undertaken a propaganda by which
to fight the possible creation of a new
state forest reserve from the lands
due to Oregon for the benefit of the
irreducible school fund.
According to Mr. Eddy, the state.
by an act of Congress passed in 1859
was granted sections 16 and 36 of each
township for the use of the schools.
Some of the lands, however, had been
previously taken and in lieu of them
others were to be chosen. Action
which Mr. Eddy opposes was started
recently to exchange these scattered
lands for part of the National forest
reserve, some 60,000 acres thus to be
procured which would be in compact
form. To take care of this large body
of timber. Air. Eddy asserts, would be
to maintain a separate patrol to care
for it. while the state would lose a
large return now obtained through the
National, forests, as well as deprive
the farmers of the use of the funds
from the sales of school lands, which
have been loaned to them in the past.
Mr. Eddy today received a reply to
a letter ent to Senator Chamberlain
in which the Senator said he was con
sidering the matter presented by Mr.
Eddy and thought St was sound rea
soning.
Mr. Eddy was connected with the
local United States Land Office for a
number of years and is well versed in
land matters.
Grand Duke Nicholas Announces
Victory in Dispatch to Czar Ger
man Commander Is Said to
Have Had 80,000 Men.
$250 PAID FOR LETTER
ROBERT
LOUIS STEVENSON SALE
TOTALS $73,477
The Servant Problem who
ever heard of it in the home
where the housewife knows
Shredded Wheat? In five
minutes you can prepare a
wholesome, satisfying meal
with Shredded Wheat Biscuit
without kitchen worry or
work. For breakfast heat the
Biscuit in the oven to restore
crispness and serve with hot
milk. For lunch serve with
sliced bananas or other fruits.
Made at Niagara Falls, N. Y.
Unpublished Epistle to Author's Mother
Brings Top Price; Notes 'Written
in Samoan Language Sold.
NEW YORK. Feb. 16. (Special.)
The top price at the sale of Robert
Louis Stevenson's autograph letters was
brought by an unpublished letter to his
mother on December 13, 1881, in which
he mentions the Bmall sum he received
for "Virginibus Puerisque.
"I got only 20 pounds for "Virgini
bus Puerisque.' I could take Paul by
the beard and knock his head against
the wall," he wrote. He refers to the
publisher, Kegan Paul. The letter
which was signed "Robert Louis Stev
enson, his autograph price 2d colored
and Id plain," was bought by George
D. Smith, for $250.
The sale today consisted of autograph
letters to his mother and father, which
Mrs. Salisbury Field, of Santa Barbara,
inherited from her mother, Mrs. R. L.
Stevenson. It included letters from
his earliest scrawl to a letter written by
him in Samoa, in the native language,
July 4. 1894. The letter was written to
"Malietoa. Old Tupu O Samoa," King of
the Province of Malie and signed "Tu
sitala," Stevenson's Samoan name,
which means "writer of tales." It was
bought by T. W. Bickerton for $195.
The total for today's sale was $8983.
The grand total for the sale to date is
$75,477.95.
GALE MENACES HOLLAND
GIANT WAVES DEFEAT EFFORTS
TO STRENGTHEN' DIKES.
PETROGRAD via London, Feb. 16.
Official announcement Is made that the
Russians have captured Erzerum.
Grand Duke Nicholas has telegraphed
the Emperor as follows:
"God has granted the brave troops of
the army of the Caucasus such great
help that Erzerum has been taken after
five days of unprecedented assault. 1
am inexpressibly happy to announce
this victory to your Imperial Majesty."
The fall of Erzerum. which had been
confidently awaited since the news of
the taking by the Russian forces of
nine of the 18 forts guarding the gate
way to Asia Minor, is the cause of
great elation tonight in Petrograd.
Controlling the roads through A
menia, with access to Trebizond. Tabriz
and MesoDotamia. the capture of
Erzerum is calculated to have immens
strategic importance in the Russian
camDaicn in the Caucasus. It will in
directly affect the Balkan campaign
by relieving the pressure on the allies
at Salomki.
Plan of Defense Destroyed.
The conviction entertained by all
Russian military observers that
Erzerum ultimately would be force
to canitulate was based on the fact
that the. remaining nine forts were of
considerably less , importance than
those already in Russian hands and
could be readily flanked, or eve
ignored, in forcing the evacuation
the Turkish stronghold.
The taking of the first fort is be
lieved to have destroyed the plan
defense, since the impregnability of
Erzerum rested on the assumption
the German engineers who constructed
the fortifications that the position was
safe against assault from the south
In spite of the intense cold and deep
snow, the Russian troops took Kop
Mountain and dealt the Turks the first
staggering blow. Having driven them
from this position, the Russian artil
lery broke through and flanked th
other positions, which went like
house of cards, the result of the Rus
slan onslaught exceeding all expecta
tlons.
Russians Well Supplied.
The Caucasian campaign derived
great benefit from the Russian domina
tion of the Black Sea, which enabled
the army to receive a plentiful supply
of provisions and munitions. Th
number of men garrisoning: the Turk
ish position before the recent retreat o
the Turkish army was estimated at
80,000.
' LONDON. Feb. 16. Reuter's Petro
grad correspondent telegraphs that
Erzerum has been captured by tn
Russians.
Possession of Erzerum is of consid
erable strategic importance, as it
the chief city of Turkish Armenia and
the center of a system of roads.
Press dispatches from Petrograd re
cently said German Field Marshal
Baron von der Goltz was in comman
at Erzerum with 80,000 men; that their
escape had been cut off and that they
had provisions for only a lortnignt.
A relief expedition was sent by th
Turks, but It was reported these forces
had been defeated by the Russians,
with heavy losses.
Erzerum is about 60 miles west of
the Russian border. Its capture.
accomplished, as reported, represents
one of the few definite accomplish
ment 3 of the Caucasian campaign.
MERCHANT BODY FORMS
WILLAMETTE VALLEY ASSOCIATION
ORGANIZED AT WOODBIRV.
Objects Stated Are to Advance Mer
cantile Cause, Social Interests
and to Benefit Patrons.
Hundreds of Laborers W ork Feverishly,
but It Is Feared Large Part
of Tons Will Be Destroyed.
AMSTERDAM, via London, Feb. 16.
The storm now raging over Holland is
causing great anxiety of further
floods and disasters. Day and night
hundreds of "laborers are working fe
verishly to prevent fresh ruptures of
the dikes. The force of the storm is
such that all kinds of strengthening
material are speedily rushed away by
the giant waves breaking across the
dikes.
Should the storm continue it is
feared that two-thirds of the town of
Monnikendam. in the province of North
Holland, a few miles from Amsterdam,
will be flooded. In several other towns
the waters have washed through the
sluices and have reached many houses,
the occupants of which have been
obliged to evacuate.
LONDON. Feb. 16. Dispatches from
Amsterdam say a violent storm is rag
ing in the Zuider Zee districts and
threatens fresh inundations, particu
larly at Monnikendam. seven miles
northeast of Amsterdam.
There. despite a precautionary
strengthening of the dikes, it is feared
the water will burst through.
AVater Permit Allowed Yoncalla.
SALEM. Or.. Feb. 16. (Special.)
State Engineer Lewis today approved
a permit for the city of Yoncalla to
appropriate water from Adams Creek
for purposes of a municipal water sup
ply. The cost is estimated at $20,000,
it being necessary to build a six-inch
pipeline from the creek to town, a dis
tance of 5.4 miles.
Lincoln Candidate Known Here.
NEWPORT. Or., Feb. 16. (Special.)
J. H. Anderson, candidate for Sher
iff on the Lincoln County Republican
ticket, is well known in Portland, for
a number of years having been in busi
ness in that city. Five years ago he
erected the Hotel Nicolai, .overlooking
Nye Beach.
TVOODBURN, Or., Feb. 16. (Special.)
The Willamette Valley Merchants'
Association was organized at Wood-
burn today by merchants from Hub
bard. Aurora, Barlow, Canby, Gervais,
Silverton, Scotts Mills, Molalla and
this city.
Officers elected were J. W. Sadler,
Aurora, president; A. W. Krause
Aurora, vice-president; F. W. Haskell,
Woodburn, secretary; A. E. Austin,
Woodburn. treasurer; George Fletcher,
Canby, and George Cusiter, Silverton,
advisory board.
Objects of the association, according
to the preamble to the constitution and
bylaws, are to better conditions of
merchants locally in a social and busi
ness way, taking up matters of general
Interest and working in behalf of the
interests of North Marion and South
Clackamas counties. The association
proposes to advance the mercantile
cause of this section, and to benefit
the patrons of the houses represented.
The charter members are: Messrs.
Nibler and De Jardin. of Gervais;
Rosenkrans & Fletcher, of Canby; Tait,
of Scotts Mills; Mays. of Donald;
Knight & Painter, of Hubbard; Wurfel
& Erickson, of Barlow: Cusiter,
Aim, Benson & Wolford, of Silverton;
Bobbins, of Molalla; Sadler & Kraus, of
Aurora; A. E. Austin, F. W. Haskell
and H. M. Austin, of Woodburn.
The regular meetings of the asso
ciation will be monthly.
STUDENT IS CALLED HOME
Clifton Dorris, of Eugene, Learns of
Father's Death in Butte Disaster.
EUGENE, Or., Feb. 16. (Special.)
Clifton Dorris, a student at the Eugene
Bible University, this morning received
a telegram from his mother announcing
that his fatherhad been killed in the
Pennsylvania mine disaster at Butte.
Dorris. who is a freshman at the
Bible University, studying for the min
istry, left at once for home.
The first news he received was that
his father was among the missing. This
was in an Associated Press dispatch.
Play Is Given at Clackamas.
CLACKAMAS Or., Feb. 16. (Special.)
The play, "The Old Maids' Conven
tion," was given here Monday night
The Christian Endeavor and the women
of the Congregational Church, who
gave the play cleared more than $22.
Miss Win S. Osborn won the prize as
the best character representation.
DXD
The women of America are not
spending two million and six hundred
thousand dollars every year buying a
magazine that doesn't satisfy them.
They are too careful spenders for that
That's a good deal of money for women
to hand over to one magazine. But they
doit.
Why?
Because of the very simple fact that
they want this particular magazine and
are willing to give up their money for it.
No other reason could exist.
That is the answer and back of the
answer lies American womanhood's
over two million and a half of dollars.
It is a convincing answer and it. lies
in any issue you may buy of
atiLtes'
URNAL
Its only 1$ cent
BROOKLYN WATERFROXT FIR
LAID TO DEFECTIVE WIRING.
construction crew which completed the
line between Eugene and the coast.
The line to Marshfleld will be com
pleted by the time train service on the
railroad is inaugurated, he says. .
MINING. ACTIVITY LOOMS
Loss of Probably M,UOO,(MK Includes
Three Steamers, Many Small Craft
"and Pier One Man Missing-.
NEW YORK, Feb. 16. No evidence of
ncendiarism has been found, it was
announced tonight, in connection . with
the fire on the Brooklyn waterfront
early today which caused the destruc
tion of three British steamships. 37
lighters and barges, a new 900-foot
pier belonging to the New York Dock
Company, and Jl.000.000 worth or mer
chandise consigned to the entente
allies. The total loss is estimated at
between 3. 000,000 and $4,000,000.
Although nearly 300 persons were
mperilled by the flames, which raged
for several hours, only one man, a
member of the crew of one of the
steamers, was unaccounted for tonight.
Several persons were injured, however,
and there were many sensational
rescues.
There were reports throughout the
day that the fire was started by anin
cendlary, but they probably were based,
on the fact that the immense quantity
of merchandise on board the vessels
and on the pier was destined for
European governments now engaged in
war, A rigid investigation conauctea
by officials of the fire department has
convinced them that defective electric
wiring was responsible for the flames.
Coast Telegraph Line to Be Started.
EUGENE, Or.. Feb. 16. (Special.)
onstruction work on the estern
Union telegraph line from Gardiner
own the coast to Marshfleld, parallel
ing the Willamette Pacific Railroad,
will begin within the next few days.
according to J. W. Buis, foreman of the
Kc-Opeiting of Cinnabar Property
Near Cottage Grove Expected.
COTTAGE GROVE, Or., Feb. 16.
(Special.) Developments of the past
week presage mining activity that will
greatly benefit this city. Reopening of
the Cinnabar mines at London, which
have been Inactive for a number of
years, is likely, as a result of the ad
vanced price of quicksilver, caused by
the war. W. B. Dennis, who formerly
managed the property, has made hiB
first visit since the property was closed
down and has taken in a small crew
and provisions. The property has been
kept up during its inactivity, and op
erations could be resumed on short
notice.
Another strike, said to be the richest
ever made in the district, is reported
from the West Coast properties in the
Bohemia distrjet.
20 Join Coast Artillery Corps.
EUGENE, Or., Feb. 16. (Special.)
Twenty new members have been added
to the second company of the Coast1
Artillery Corps. Oregon National i
Guard, as a result of a recent recruit
ing campaiern. A banquet was given In
honor of the new member
armory Monday night.
it Uu
Monmouth Creamery May OjucriiU-.
MON.M'H'Tlf. r.. Feb. 16. (Spe cial )
It seems highly probable the. Mon
mouth creamery will be re-organized
and operated 'us a co-operative con
cern. A meeting of the stockholders
has been called to consider the change.
The co-operative people held a meet
ing yesterday and reported progress in
procuring pledges, but will do nothing
toward forming a new company until
tho stockholders of the old organiza
tion have reached a deelsion.
MARLEY 1VZ IN.
DEVON 2Vi IN.
ARROW
COLLARS
of the smart cut away type
2 for 25c
Cli'ett, Pea body & Co., inc.
Analyze the Advantages
THE desirability of banking with the
Northwestern National Bank is di
rectly in proportion to its location, fa
cilities and service.
The location is conveniently ac
cessible from any home in Port
land and within a stone's throw
of the majority of business
houses. Facilities incorporate
every department of banking
under one roof, as well as the
most modern equipment. Serv
ice based upon the personnel
of Directorate, Management anil
Staff insures careful handlinR
of funds and accommodations to
patrons.
oranmiiRNilMri(ML'BMK
Northwestern I!!!:! Bank Building