mm VOL.. L.VI. XO. 17,2G3. PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY. 3IARCII 21, 1916. PRICE FIVE CENTS. VILLA ESCAPES; MEXICANS AID Carranza Army Moves at Top -Speed to Border. BANDIT REACHES HIS LAIR Unexplained Action of Sup posed Allies in Chase Has Grave Portent. GAVIRA'S FORCE GROWING Hopes of Early Capture Fade When Carranzistas Re fuse to Give Battle. EL PASO, Tex., March 20. The Carranza forces have failed to hold their end of the net that was closing about Pancho Villa and the bandit chief has escaped to his mountain haunts about Guerrero, according to reliable information received here to day. The escape of the bandit is, how ever, far from being the most serious item of news which reached the bor der today. A feature of the gravest importance "was injected into the sit uation by substantial confirmation of the numerous reports received for the past week that the Mexican govern ment troops were not only failing to v co-operate with the American troops, but, in certain instances at least, were actually withdrawing from the field of operations. Carranza Forces Refuse to Fight. The Associated Press learned on un questionable authority that the troops of the de facto government jwhich had been tstationed at Casas Grandes have been withdrawn and are now in and about Juarez. From the same source it was learned that at least one detachment of Carranza troops, had refused to fight Villa and had withdrawn on the bandit's approach, leaving him free to pass into bis favorite mountain fast nesses in the great continental divide south of Namiquipa. This detachment withdrew on receipt of a message that he was warring, not on Mexicans, but the enemies of Mexicans. The extraordinary rapidity with which the American cavalry -had pushed into Mexico gave rise to high hopes yesterday iat the unexpected had happened and the notorious ban dit was cornered. This seemed in evitable if the Carranza soldiers did their part and if the account of the strength of their field forces was correct- Hopes Are Dashed. Villa, cut off from the north by the forward sweep of the American col umns, from the west by the Sierra Madre barring the approaches to the state of Sonora, was supposed to be equally barred from east and south by powerful Carranza forces. Those hopes have been completely dashed by today's developments. More than this, it now seems cer tain that Villa is moving freely in at least a large section of the country supposed to be held by the troops of the first chief. In the last few days he has been variously "reported by General Gavira, the Carranza com mander at Juarez, at points along a line reaching north and .south from Galena to Namiquipa, a distance of about 75 miles. By the same accounts he has not been moving steadily south, but roving north and east. The moun tainous, . canyon-split, roadless coun try in which he is operating adds many miles to the country he has covered as compared with its dis tance on ihe map. Movement to Border On. The reason for the Carranza troops moving to the border remains unex plained. It is impossible even to make a fair estimate of the number of men under General Gavira at Juarez. The large staff at. his headquarters and the fact that new troops are arriving daily indicates that his force is a large one. The most conservative estimate places it at 3000 and calculations range from that point upward to 8000. Every precaution had been taken to prevent the facts being known and most of the men are kept outside the town among the hills. Reports from Agua Prieta and Ojinaga tell of Mex- (Conceded oa Fagd . Column 2. j HILLLINEASKSUSER RIGHT TO ALTURAS LAKEVIEW, OK. - SACRAMENTO ROAD SURVEYED IX PART. Plan of 'Western Pacific to Extend Feeder to Reno, Nev., Also Is Revealed at Hearing. SAN FRANCISCO. March 20. Two contemplated railroad projects, one by which the Hill lines enter California and the other by which the Western Pacific would extend a feeder Into Reno, Nev, were disclosed in an argu ment before the Railroad Commission today. An attorney for the Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad said that tentative overtures had been made by the Hill lines for theuse of the Ne vada-California-Oregon rails from Lakeview. Or., to Alturas, CaL He said the Hill interests had made surveys from Alturas through the Pitt River canyon to Sacramento. The Western Pacific, he is credited with saying, wants the use of the tracks of the Nevada-California-Oregon from Doyle, Cal., to Reno. The Nevada-California-Oregon asked the State Railroad Commission today for authority to Issue $519,000 in bonds to cover the cost of extensions already under way. Were the Western Pacific and the Hill lines to use the Nevada-California-Oregon rails a. new rail would have to be laid to convert the road to broad gauge. SPRING OFFICIALLY HERE Almanac Admits It and Weather Man Confirms It. Spring began officially yesterday, ac cording to the almanac man. To be exact Spring opened last night at 8:39 o'clock, the sun at that moment being directly " over the equator on its way north. The weather bore all the earmarks which Spring weather has possessed since the time of the cavemen. Heavy showers, intermixed with fleeting hours of sunlight, kept i everyone guessing, and the day possessed all the moods which that fickle maiden, Spring, is known to flaunt. The day closed in a blaze of glory in Portland. Just before sunset a heavy shower came up and a splendid rainbow marked the heavens to the east. BRYAN IN WORDY DISPUTE Lie Passed by Lincoln, Neb., Poli tician in Argument. LINCOLN. Neb., March 20. A wordy dispute between William Jennings Bryan, ex-Secretary of State, and John G. Maht r, a local politician, in which the lie was passed to Mr. Bryan in a hotel lobby, enlivened the informal meetings previous, to the prohibition mass meeting here tonight, to mark the opening of the state campaign. The dispute arose over a question of Mr. Maher as to whether one of the speakers who is on the programme for an address was getting paid for his services. FIVE LIVE ON $765 A YEAR Labor Man Testifies in Minimum Wage Hearing. WASHINGTON, March 20. The mini mum wage on which an American workingman can support a wife and three children is $765 a year, Arthur Holder, legislative representative of the American Federation of Labor, told the House labor committee today in ap pearing in. behalf of. the Nolan mini mum wage bill." ' ' The measure would provide a mini mum wage of $3 a day for Govern ment employes. TOM TAGGART IS SENATOR Governor Ralston Appoints Indiana Jioss to Succeed Senator Shively. INDIANAPOLIS, March 20. Thomas Taggart, Democratic National commit teeman, was appointed United States Senator to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Benjamin F. Shively by Governor Ralston today. Mr. Taggart expects to leave for Washing ton immediately. The new Senator has maintained the leadership of the Democratic party, in Indiana for about 25 years. STUDENT PARTY MAROONED Week-Enders Returning to Univer sity Pass Night in Coach. v f KL'GENE, Or., March 20. (Special.) A score of university students passed last night in an Oregon Electric car which was tied up by the storm about a mile south of Albany. They were returning to Eugene, after passing the week-end at their homes. Provisions were obtained from Al b a n y for two meals They were 17 hours late in arriving at Eugene, and missed early classes. RED CROSS IS RESPECTED Teuton Submarines Permit Liner Witli Wounded Britons to Pass. NEW YORK, March 20. German and Austrian submarines in the Mediter ranean respected the Mauretania and permitted her to pass untouched when she was being used as a hospital ship carrying wounded British soldiers from the Dardanelles. Stewards said today submarines ap peared on each of the trips they made on the Mauretania. but departed whe they saw the Red Cross flag. C0HITTEE LOOKS FIRST TO HUGHES Some of Old Guard Say T. R. Is Impossible. KNOX FAVORED FOR CHAIRMAN Dr. Nicholas Murray' Butler Is Latest "Keynote" Possibility. BORAH SEEMS ELIMINATED Several Committeemen Strong for Mr. Root for Presidential Nomi nation Belief Gaining That Hughes Would Not Decline, CHICAGO. March 20. (Special.) Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Columbia University, is the latest pos sibility considered for "keynoter" of the Republican ationaI Convention next June. Dr. Butler seconded the nominaton of Taft in the 1912 conven tion and, as chairman of the resolutions committee, was chief drafter of the Taft platform. It was said his name was taken up late this afternoon by the sub-committee of the Republican National organization, which is meet- ng here. . Progressive leaders, who appeared in the offing to watch developments, argued that the intimation that Dr. Butler might be the keynoter is further indication that the central fight in the conventon will revolve around Theodore Roosevelt and William Barnes, of New York. The sub-committee took no vote and its discussion of candidates was purely tentative. Five others Mentioned. Herbert S. Hadley, of Missouri, and Philander C. Knox, of Pennsylvania, are also prominently mentioned as likely temporary chairmen. Henry Cabot Lodge, Governor Chase S. Os- born. of Miphigan, and Senator Borah are also considered still in the run ning. Governor Franklin S. Murphy, of New Jersey, said attention was focassed at the morning session on a Western man, but he said it was not Senator Borah and that he would rep resent a district not as far west as Borah's. Ex-Governor Murphy is in favor of postponing the naming of a temporary chairman until the April meeting. Asked as to, his choice for a Presi dential candidate, he replied: "Senator Root, first, last and all the time. Re publican leaders will not consider Roosevelt or ' any other man who wrecked the Republican party. They do not think he can be -nominated, or elected in the event he is nominated." Willlamq Wants Showdown. Ralph Williams, who is conducting the Borah boom, wanted a showdown today.' "When there is a nasty pieo of business to be done my theory is to do it in a hurry," he said. "As time rolls on every Presidential candidate will develop a man for temporary chairman. This muss will increase as (Concluded on Pae 4,' Column 3.) JOSEPHUS tiOfif Ann ICOZ.UMBJA -zTi m&tk Cwg;s.g) 0jm4Mmwkl irl i CONFERENCE MAY RESULT IN PEACE REPRESENTATIVES OF ALLIES GATHERING IN PARIS. Galveston Has Report That War Will End at Once and Stock Mar kets Slump on Rumors. THE HAGUE, March 20. A war con ference of probable momentous impor tance is about to open in Paris, where military and political representatives of every one of the entente allies are gathering. This, taken in conjunction with ru mors of peace which have prevailed for the last 24 hours, gives rise to all sorts of conjecture, and the forthcoming con ference is being watched and awaited with extraordinary interest, especially by the advocates of peace. Reports emanating from America to day were that a cable message had been received at Galveston, Tex., from a London authority, which was said to be informed that "immediate peace is in sight." cancelling arrangements for a considerable amount of tonnage. The' peace reports are also said to have affected the stock markets at New York, London and the Bourse, where abrupt declines occurred. Lieutenant-General , Count Cadorna, the Italian comander-in-chief, arrived in Paris today to take part in the mili tary and political conference of the entente allies. Crown Prince Alexan der, of Serbia. isdue there tomorrow with Premier Pachitch. He will be the guest of the French government. Great Britain will be represented by Premier Asquith, several other mem bers of the Cabinet and General Sir Douglas Haig, commander of the Brit ish forces on the Continent Premier de Broqueville will attend the confer ence for Belgium and General Gilinsky, aide-de-camp to Emperor Nicholas, and the Russian Ambassador to France, A. P. Iswolsky for Russia. Premier Briand will preside. ALL GEORGIA FOR WILSON Executive's Name Is Only One Piled for Presidential Primary. ATLANTA, Ga.. March 20. President Wilson's name was the only one filed for Georgia's Presidential primary when the time limit expired tonight, and as a result no primary will be held. Wilson delegates will be selected at the state convention May 3. WHY NOT REGISTER TODAY f , Register soon. Because J. M. Toomey. who has served as chairman of the elec tion board in precinct No. 10 for 12 years past, was not among those who wrote their names on the registration list early, he will not serve In that capacity this year. He wrote the County Commissioners yesterday to find out why he was not selected, and "the information forthcoming was that at the time County Clerk Coffey made the selections for the board Mr. Toomey was not among the registered voters. When the books closed last night the total registration had been brought to 37,355. During the day 1054 voters registered, 400 of whom .were ol the fair sex. The total registrations by party affiliations are as follows: Republican, 26,747; Democrat, 7811; Independent, 1299; Prohibi tionist, 675; Socialist, 443; Pro gressive, 380. DANIELS, SKIPPER OF THE GOOD PUICT Tfl lilHtlG 01 NT I 1U MIGHTY FLANKDASH Liquid Verdu .renders. PARIS "ADMITS SOME LOSSES French Rush 250,000 Re serves and Ask British Aid. GRAVE DANGER REALIZED Heights Protecting Fortress Men aced English Troops May Go to Front Teutons Gain in Move ment on Le Mort Homme. BY ARTHUR S. DRAPER. LONDON, March 20. (Special.) The German attack has again shifted, to the west bank of the Meuse. Their ranks replenished after the failure of five night assaults on Vaux, like alternate blows on the Verdun anvil, the Ger mans have once more turned their at tention to Le Mort Homme. This time, however, instead of at tacking from the Corbeaux wood, the Generals of the Crown Prince are at tempting to flank the hill. Today vio lent attacks, accompanied by the use of liquid fire, were delivered in the Malan-court-Avancourt sector to the south and east instead of to the north of the hill. In the Malancourt wood, Paris admits a partial success, but does not detail the extent of the German gain. Fresh. Forces Employed. A fresh division of Germans, brought up from a distant point, was used in today's operation. s Like other moves on the "Verdun chessboard, the flanking attack west of the Meuse was anticipated by the French and found them completely prepared. More than 250,000 French reserves have been brought up and massed west of the river, with every available piece of artillery. Even the British have rushed some of their heavy guns for what, it is felt, will be a re petition of the desperate struggles at Douaumont and Vaux. There is no attempt to belittle the danger of the flanking movement for the French. In case it can be pushed home, the Germans will gain much more than they could have by direct assault on Le Mort Homme. If they are able to wrest the Montfaucon wood and the village of Avoncourt from the French, the latter would be forced to withdraw from both Le Mort Homme and the Cote l'Oie. Danger to Verdnn Realized. Witb. the two heights in German possession, military experts realize that Verdun itself would be put in jeopardy."" That the French have appealed for British aid, in the climax of the battle for the mastery of Verdun, when the issue is not yet clear, was the in ference drawn tonight from the publi cation of telegrams exchanged be tween Sir Douglas Haig and General (Concluded on Page 3. Column 2.) SHIP.PIFFLE. nrrjMRi p 10 ORDERS EXCEED OUTPUT OF MILLS GRAYS HARBOR BTJSINKSS REC ORD FOR REfCENT YEARS. Railroads and Middle West Lum ber Yards In Market Transpor tation Prevents Night Shifts. ABERDEEN, Wash., March 20. (Spe cial.) Grays Harbor "millmen report ..the receipt of more orders now than during any time In recent years. They say that more orders are available than they can fill and that water and rail tonnage alone is keeping some of the mills from operating day and night shifts. No predictions are being made as to how soon this shortage of ton nage will be relieved. Buyers of all kinds of lumber are in the market. Railroad demands are heavy, one big inquiry which local mills may partly fill is from the North ern Pacific Railroad and probably will total upwards of 3,000,000 feet. It is mostly for construction timber. In quiries from many other railroads also are being received almost every week. The O.-W. R. & N. is said to be a con sistent and heavy buyer. The demand from Middle West yards is said to be exceptionally heavy. A. L. "Davenport, of the Pacific Lum ber Agency, said today that this firm has more orders on its books than at any time in recent years. , FEVER FIGHTER LOSES LIFE Illinois Doctor Succumbs to Typhus Contracted in Mexico. LAREDO. Tex., March 20. D Carlos Husk, of Aurora, 111., died here late today of typhus, contracted in Mexico, where he -had gone with Dr. Peter Oliszky to combat with fever. Dr. Olitzky, physicians say. will re cover. Dr. Husk has been connected with the Guggenheim interests in Mexico for many years. Both physicians were brought here recently from Durango State suffering from typhus. GERMANS USE SMOKE BOMB Aviators Aid Artillery in IMndinsr Marks in French Lines. PARIS. March 20. A German avia tor has dropped several smoke bombs near a French battery, it is reported from the front. This is the first time since the war began that such "bombs have been used. Not in themselves dangerous th bombs give forth .an intense smoke which persists for a long time and serves as a guide for the hostile artil lery. EPIRUS DECREE WORRIES Annexation by Greece Said to Be in Violation of London Decision. ROME, via London, March 20. Ad vices' received here from Athens that a royal decree has been issued, proclaim ing the annexation of Northern Epirus, Albania, to Greece is causing some con cern. The annexation is regarded in offi cial circles as a violation of the deci sion of the London conference concern ing Albania. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS Th Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 34 degrees; minimum, 47 degrees. TODAY'S Occasional rain ; southwesterly winds. Mexico. Scouts lead new cavalry force from Colum bus, Page 2. Villa leads his forces in battle against Colonel Cano's cavalry. Page 2. Mexico proposes protocol to govern pursuit. Page 2. Villa escapes with aid of Carranza forces. Page 1. War. Numerical superiority safd to have given Germans early advantage at Verdun Page 3. Entente allies conference today may lead to peace. Page 1.- National. Armor plate bill bitterly fought in Senate. Page 3. Hous refuses lo increase provision for size of army In Hay bill. Page 5. Seven sections of land grant bill are agreed on by committee. Page &. ' Iomp8tlr. Republican Xational committee looks first of all to Hughes. Page 1. Sport; Guisto aids Beaver yans in defeating regu lars. Page 12. Fortland wins horkey game at Montreal, 2 to 0. Pago 12. Vauphn decides to sign Beaver contract. Page 12. Pacific Ts'orthwest. Portland interests in big timber deal with Simpson heirs. Page 1. Orders exceed output of mills at Grays Harbor. Page 1. Hill line seeks to enter California via Lake, t view and Altmas. Page 1. Houses and trees felled by storm in Clack ? amas County. Page t. Noted gathering at Seattle to install uni versity president. Page 3, Interstate bridge street railway franchise is debated. Page G. Commercial and Marine, Sugar refiners seek to curb speculation by dealers. Page 17. Cattle and hogs higher at Portland stock yards. Page 17. Peace- rumors lead to reaction in Chicago wheat market. Page IT. War stocks decline with heavy selling. Page 17. Navy not posted on correct Columbia chan nel measurements. Page lo. Fortland and Vicinity. Proposed taxicab law to be stringent. Page IS. "Lucky Jack" Peterson to be married to nurse. Page 9. Methodist ministers indorse preparedness. Page 7. Federal experts explain fruit plans to Chamber members. Page 1ft. Fred R. Sal way fined on charge brought by ex-wife. Page 18. Judge Morrow threatens to abandon parole privilege. Page 18. Mr. Lancaster finds travel wave forming In Kast. Page 13. Christian Science lecturer defines faith. Pago 7. Oregon Congress -or Mothers votes to sup port Pennsylvania woman. Page 16. Weather report, data ami forecast Page IT. SIMPSON HEIRS SELL . IMMENSE HOLDINGS Buehners and Sailor, of Portland, Buyers, PRICE BELIEYED NEAR -MILLION Big Timber Holdings of Lat Coos Pioneer Are Included. MILL AND SCHOONER GO North Bend Business Property Iiisted in Transfer Which Will Take Effect April 10 Lum bering to Be Continued. NORTH BEND, Or.. March 20. tSpe cial.) Charles S. Winsor, manager of the Simpson Lumber Company, today announced the sale of a large portion of the company's holdings in Coos County to a syndicate comprising Phil lip and Henry Buehner and George B. Sailor, of Portland. The deal was con summated, it was stated, in San Fran cisco by Phillip Buehner, who met the Simpson heirs, including Louis J.. Edgar. Mrs. Harry Simpson and a daughter of Captain A. MSimpson. Louis J. Simpson today telegraphed. Manager Winsor that the deal had been consummated, and ordered preparations for the transfer of the property. The scheduled property lists 12,000 acres of timber on the divide between the North Coquille and Stuth Coos rivers, SS00 acres of timber in the Ten Mile region, 1640 acres of timber ou South Inlet, comprising 22,440 acres, with a stumpage of more than 1.000, 000.000 feet of spruce, hemlock, white and red cedar, and fir. Porter 51111 Included. The Porter sawmill in the city limits of North Bend, which has a capacity of 100.000 feet daily, is"included, with 3200 feet of waterfront in the main section of North Bend, reaching from Washington avenue to plat B; all tide lands east of Railroad avenue, from Washington street to plat B, compris ing 40 acres; eight city lots on Sher man avenue, in this city, with a water reservoir and spring supply; four lots at plat B, with a water supply; the North Bend Sash & Door Factory at the foot of Washington street; the steam schooner A. M. Simpson, built at North Bend in 1911, capable of carry ing nearly 1.000,000 feet of lumber. The transfer will be effected April 10, and the Buehner concern will oper ate the mills afterwards. The holdings were accumulated here by Captaiu A. M. Simpson, who was the pioneer lumberman of Coos Bay. He died two years ago, and left the property to his three sons and one daughter. Owing to varying Ideas among the heirs they decided to dispose of the property scheduled. Price Near Million. The piice. while not named by either of the parties concerned, is thought to be between $750,000 and $1,000,000. The sale leaves the Simpson heirs a, large and valuable lot of property here. Including 4000 acres of timber land, the sawmill at old North Bend, all the residences and Simpson Park, in the north part of this city, several thou sand acres of timber land near Rocky Point and other city property In North Bend, besides an interest in the steamer Hardy. The sash and door factory, which ran steadily for eight years, was closed during the slump in lumber products last year, and has not resumed. The Porter mill has been sawing since last July, after having been shut down for several months. A large amount of its output was used in the Southern Pacific bridge and other construction in this vicinity. DEAIi IS KNOWN IN PORTLAND Philip Buehner, Before Leaving, Tells of Intention to Close. Negotiations for the sale of the Simpson lumber interests to the Buehner syndicate have been in prog ress for several months. Philip Buehner. the well-known tim ber operator of Portland, is the prin cipal in the new syndicate. He. to gether with his associates, now am in San Francisco to arrange for final transfer of the property. Before Mr. Buehner left Portland, a few days ago, he confided to his friends here that he would close the transac tion. It is understood that the sale in volves a consideration of approximately $1,000,000. The Buehner syndicate proposes to continue operations of the Simpson plant as heretofore, and may make some improvements that will permit of more extensive operations, following completion of the Southern Pacific Railway. LAD, 9, SHOOTS PLAYMATE Yakima Youngster Gets Rifle While Parents Are Absent. NORTH YAKIMA, Wash., March 20. (Special.) Horace Porter, 9 years. oW. in the absence of his parents, Saturday night obtained a small rifle and snot his playmate. Marshall Remelin. agetl 10. through the lungs. The victim, son of Mr.iand Mrs M. C. Remelin. is in the hospital and his re covery is doubtful.