Morning Oregonian., February 12, 1917, Page 2, Image 2

2
THE MORNING OREGONIAN. MONDAY, FEBRUARY ,12, 1917.
AMERICAN LINERS
ARE LIKELY TO ARM
Enforced Idleness of Fleet Re
garded as Threatening
Prestige of Nation.
GUNS MAY BE SUPPLIED
German Proposal to Open Discus
sion Viewed as Effort to Bewil
der Country, Befog Issue
and Divide People.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11. American
ehipowners who have been holding their
vessels in port because of inability to
obtain guns for defense against sub
marines probably will have their diffi
culty solved in a few days. Strong in
timations were given in official quar
ters tonight that while the Government
will not actually arm merchant craft
or even formally advise arming, a way
will be found to put weapons at the
disposal of owners who desire to pre
pare for defense against illegal
seizure.
The enforced Idleness of the Amer
ican merchant fleet is being viewed
with growing disquiet, and the general
view here is that not only the export
trade but the Nation's standing before
the world demands that American ves
sels continue to ply the high seas with
out regard to the German proclamation,
which the Government has repudiated
with the most severe means in its pow
er short of war.
Fropoxnl Meets No Response.
The German proposal, delivered to
the State Department yesterday, that
means be discussed of preventing the
break in relations from resulting in
war apparently has struck no respon-
sive chord here. No official would in
dicate today whether a reply already
had been given, but there was no dis
position to deny that the proposal had
been made or that the American Gov
ernment regarded it as an effort on
the part of Germany to befog the issue.
It was made clear everywhere in Gov
ernment circles there was nothing to
discuss, unless Germany desired to stop
abridging American rights and illegal
ly menacing American life.
In connection with the German sug
gestion, special interest is attached to
cable dispatches announcing that Em
peror "William had called a conference,
presumably to discuss the submarine
campaign and the position of neutrals.
Jt was suggested that out of the con
ference something might come more
tangible than the mere oral suggestion
that Germany would like to discuss
means of preventing the addition of an
other nation to her long list of ene
mies. Effort to Setoff Inane Suspected.
"What has been done so far Is con
strued as an attempt to place upon the
United States the appearance of bel
ligerence, to bewilder public opinion
here and divide the country.
Whether any sort of answer beyond
a mere acknowledgment to the Swiss
Minister who presented the suggestion
yesterday will be made is uncertain,
as that matter rests entirely with
President Wilson. Opinions differ,
some believing it wiser to ignore the
suggestion entirely. It is possible that
a summary of the present submarine
campaign with a list of the sinking
without warning and the loss of lives
may be submitted as further showing
why the United States and other neu
trals believe Germany's course outside
the bounds of law.
The fact that only one vessel was
destroyed in the war zone today, and
that the number has been growing
smaller daily has modified the views
of those who thought the. new cam
paign might completely isolate Eng
land. t
Government Mot With Caution.
In the matter of permitting the arm
ing of American ships, the Government
win taKe every precaution, it is under
stood, not to :o further officially
than it has already gone in telling
shipowners that they are Justified in
arming for self-protection if they
think it necessary. Strong oppposition
has developed from the beginning of
the armament discussion to any step
which would seem to implicate the
country absolutely in the actual ma
chinery of armament. As much a
possible it has been desired not to
take any action which might put the
United States in the position of pre
cipitating hostilities.
Neverthelesss, officials believe that
so long as the Government has repudi
ated Germany's war zone and officially
notified American shipowners of their
right to arm for self-protection, the
owners should be "put in a position to
exercise that right. The statement of
P. A. S. Franklin that he has vainly
sought guns and gunners for the
American liners has put the question
squarely up to the Government.
closed here after the shortest session
for years. There was only one day
devoted to Jury trials, after which the
petit jury was discharged.
Harlan Long pleaded guilty to a
statutory offense, and was sentenced to
from three to 20 years in the peniten
tiary. Walter Hodges, for -a similar
offense, got the same sentence. Carl
Davis, over whom six indictments hung,
pleaded guilty to a minor offense
against the school law, and was fined
$50, and the other indictments were
dismissed. .- .
The most Important civil case to
come before the court, was an injunc
tion proceeding by the farmers living
along Beaver Creek, against .the mem
bers of the Beaver Creek Club for the
damming up of the creek at its mouth
and causing their hay land to be over
flowed. This club is composed of
wealthy sportsmen from Portland and
vicinity, holding 700 acres along the
creek. In order to protect their beach
lands from being washed away by the
storms of Winter they attempted to
change the bed of the creek -last Fall.
SHIPPING BOARD ACTS
ARMY TRANSPORTS SOUGHT TO USES
IN COASTWISE TRADE.
Transfer of All Available Vessels to
FiU Gap Aakea for tit Earliest
' Possible Date.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11. The Fed
eral Shipping Board has taken its first
practical step toward rehabilitating
American maritime commerce by ask
ing President Wilson to turn over,
available Army transports for service
in the coastwise trade between Atlantic
and Pacific ports through the Panama
Canal. ,
In a letter made public today Chair
man Denman points out that nearly all
of the American-built vessels which
have been plying in this trade have
been withdrawn for more profitable
charters or sold to foreign flags, and
asks that available vessels that can be
spared from military uses be trans
ferred to the Board at the earliest
possible moment. .
The Board seeks particularly to get
certain obselete foreign-built trans
ports which the War Department has
been authorized to sell. There are two
such vessels, the Meade and Crook.
The Crook, of 4800 tons, is being used
in connection with the Alaskan rail
way, and the Meade, ofi 6400 tons, is
Idle at Newport News, and recently was 4
advertised for sale.
A provision for the pending Army
appropriation bill would authorize the
use oi tne snips on coastwise trade,
but this authorization would be un
necessary if they were turned over to
the Shipping Board.
BERLIN'S ATTITUDE
BASED ON RUMORS
Hints of Detention of Hos
tages Due to Alarmist Dis
patches From America.
POSITION SOON ABANDONED
CHINA IS IN EARNEST
TEXT OK REPLY TO GERMANY
GIVEN OUT AT PEKIN.
IS
If Protest Proves Ineffective Diplo
matic Relations Will Be Severed,
Though Pence Is Desired.
PEKIN, Feb. 9. (Delayed in trans
mission.) The note handed to the Ger
man Minister by the Minister of For
eign Affairs, in reply to Germany's
declaration of the resumption of
unrestricted warfare, follows:
"The new measures of submarine
warfare inaugurated by Germany are
imperilling the lives and property of
Chinese citizens even more than the
measures previously taken, which have
already cost China many lives and
constitute a violation of international
law. The toleration of their applica
tion would introduce into international
law arbitrary principles incompatible
with legitimate intercourse between
neutrals and belligerents.
"China, therefore, protests energet
ically to Germany against the meas
ures proclaimed on February 1 and
sincerely hopes the rights of neutral
states will be respected and the said
measures will not be carried out. If,
contrary to expectations, this protest
be ineffective China will be con
strained, to its profound regret, to
sever diplomatic relations. It is on
necessary to add that China's action is
dictated by a desire for further peace
and the maintenance of international
law."
DEVICE DETECTS U-BOAT
DETAILS OF INVENTION
GUARDED CLOSELY.
BEING
VILLA CLAIMS RIDICULED
Funston Does Not Believe Bandit
Has Force of 25,000 Men.
SAN ANTONIO. Tex.. Feb. 11
Hlpolito Villa, brother of Francisco,
wno, according to New York advices
sent to John J. Hawes, Villa's repre
sentative, a statement that Francisco
Villa now has a force of 25,000 men,
declined tonight to admit he had for
warded the information. When the
figures purporting to detail Villa forces
in various parts of Mexico were shown
him he said: "From information reach
ing me through various sources, I be
lieve the figures are substantially cor.
rect."
When the assertion that Villa has
za.uuu men was brought to the atten
tlon of General Funston, the latter said
no considered the statement ridiculous.
KELSO MILL IS ENLARGED
Plant Equipped to Cut 100,000
Shingles in 10-Hour. Kan.
KELSO. Wash.. Feb. 11 (Special.)
The Gordon & Fenton shingle mill, in
the old Page Lumber Company Mill
building, in the north end of town, will
resume operations after a prolonged
shutdown, during hlch the capacity
of the plant was doubled. The mill
now is equipped with two band ma
chines, and will cut about 100,000
shingles each shift of 10 hours. A
new drag saw was also added.
The mill will employ about 12 men.
In the near future work will bs started
upon the construction of a new dry
kiln, doubling the kiln capacity.
COURT TERM IS SHORT
Only Three Criminal Cases on
' Docket at Newport.
NEWPORT. Or.. Feb. 11. (Special.)
Circuit Court for the February term
Naval Conscltlng Hoard Will Not Even
Announce If Secret Is Held by
America or Entente Nations.
NEW YORK, Feb. 11. A method for
detecting the presence of submarines
has been discovered, but the details and
the question of whether the United
States or one of the entente allies pos
sesses the secret are being carefully
guarded, it was learned here after a
special meeting of the naval consulting
board. -
The meeting, which was behind
closed doors, was devoted almost en
tirely to a discussion of the interna
tional situation and the part this coun
try would play in the event of war, it
was said.
There was talk of creating sn Army
consulting board with duties similar to
those of the Naval Consulting Board.
One of the first things to be done at
the meeting here was to effect a perma
nent organization under the new law
with Thomas A. Edison as president
Peter Cooper Hewitt, vice-president;
W. L. Saunders, chairman of the board.
ana nomas rcooinson, secretary.
NEV3ERG TO HAVE APPLES
Almost-Forgotten Orchards Will
Come Into tearing This Year.
NEWBERG, Or, Feb. 11. (SoeclaL)
About six years ago a number of
commercial' apple orchards were set
out in tnis vicinity covering, it is said,
more than 2000 acres. An apple
growers' association was formed and
some interesting and instructive meet
ings were held, with addresses by ex
perienced growers from other localities.
Then the interest waned.
This year a large crop is exnected
from these orchards and a meeting of
growers Is to be held next Saturday in
the Commercial Club rooms to discuss
the situation. The operation of an
apple-Juice plant in Newberg. which be
gan operations last Fall, will take car
of tbe "elder grade" of apples, but the
handling of the first-class variety at a
profit Is to be discussed.
Bishop Sumner In Ashland.
ASHLAND, Or, Feb. 11. (Special.)
The visit of Bishop eiimner, of the
diocese of Oregon, to Trinity Church.
of this city, was made the occasion of
a reception in his honor at the parish-
house on Saturday evening. At the
Sunday morning service he confirmed
a class of seven.
Read Tbe Oresoniau classified ads.
Gerard Refuses to Be Party to Ex
ercise of Pressure Graceful
Withdrawal Follows Receipt
of Reassuring News.
COPENHAGEN, via London, Feb. 10.
The German government's attitude
in endeavoring to induce Ambassador
Gerard to sign a protocol reaffirming
the old-time treaties with the United
States regarding mutual protection of
nationals in case of hostilities, and the
hints of possible detention of American
newspaper men as hostages, was un
doubtedly influenced by alarmist dis
patches from the United States regard
ing the treatment of German citizens
and property there., the Associated
Press correspondent, who left Berlin
Saturday morning and now has reached
Copenhagen, is able to state.
Berlin Recedes Gracefully.
As soon as reassuring adviceswere
received fromxhe United States, and ae
soon, too, as the German government
saw that the attempt to negotiate a
protocol reratifying the treaty of 1799,
with additions and expansions, had
failed, it gracefully receded from Its
position, and nothing further was heard
of newspaper men as hostages. "
The protocol which Count Mongelas,
head of the American department oi
the German Foreign Office, submitted
to Ambassador Gerard on the part of
Foreign Secretary Zimmerman, con
tained, besides a formal reratlncation
of S.he treaty, provisions of 1799 and
1828 regarding mutual treatment of
nationals caught in a belligerent coun
try in the case of war, several im
portant additions and expansions.
Business Contracts Protected.
It provided that merchants should be
allowed to continue their business and
to retain their residencesuntil the end
of the war unmolested; that no law
affecting the validity -of contracts
should be applied to Germans in Amer
ica or to Americans in Germany, and
that all patents should be Inviolate a
queetlon of importance in view of the
high value if not the lndlspensabillty'
of certain German patents in the manu
facture of munitions-and explosives.
Quite as trenchant was the provision
of an instrument which Ambassador
Gerard was asked to sign specifying
explicitly that not only enemy property
as such should be exempt from seizure
or restrictions in its use beyond those
applying to all property, but that en
emy ships In ports of the opponent
should not be seized during the (far
nor forced to leave ports unless to sail
under safe conduct and guarantee the
exemption from seizure by the allied
belligerents for a home port. Provi
sion also was made for a safe conduct
when it was necessary to move ships
from one port to another in the same
country.
Internment of Cltiaens Forbidden. i
The protocol forbade explicitly an
internment or. restrictions upon the lib
erty or movement of enemy nationals
within the limits of the opponent
country and for confirmation of cer
tain articles of The Hague conven
tions, particularly as to treatment of
the personnel of enemy merchant ships
captured or caught within an opponent
country.
Ambassador Gerard's refusal to sign
the treaty after he had ceased to per
form his Ambassadorial functions or to
telegraph for instructions unless per
mitted to use code led Count Mont
gelas to hint that a refusal to sign the
protocol might materially affect the
status of Americans in Germany and
the privilege of departure, mentioned
specifically, of the American corre
spondents whom Ambassador Gerard
desired to take out with him and
whose fate was apparently thought to
carry particular weight in American
public opinion.
Gerard Takes Firm Stand.
This intimation of the possibility of
detaining Americans, even under the
status of a rupture of diplomatic rela
tions, not war, and the use of news
paper representatives as supposedly im
portant pieces upon the diplomatic
chessboard, caused Mr. Gerard to de
clare roundly that he could not be a
party to "any such pressure," and that
he doubted whether any of the news
papermen could be "sandbagged" or in
fluenced in any way by considerations
of personal safety or convenience, and
that he must persist in his earlier ex
pressed standpoint regarding these
negotiations.
From that point nothing further was
heard of the protocol or of the possi
bility of detaining Americans.
As soon as authoritative information
was received in direct dispatches that
the reports of confiscation of shrps and
the internment of Bailors were incor
rect, and that no obstacles were being
placed in the way of Count von
Bernstorffa departure under a safe
conduct, arrangements for the issuance
of passports to the Ambassador and his
suite began to proceed with marked
acceleration, and the Foreign Office of
ficials, who hitherto wou'd speak only
with vague lndefinlteness of "the prob
able date for the departure of the Am
bassadorial train, now ventured on
more and more definite commitments
regarding the immediately pending
completion of arrangements.
GERARD IN SWITZERLAND
(Continued From First Pace.)
part, and he expressed himself opti
mistically with regard to further de
velopments in the German-American
situation.
At the station. Count Montgelas, head
of the American section of the Foreign
Office, and Herr von Prtttwitx. personal
representative of Foreign Minister
Zimmerman, appeared to bid Mr. Ger
ard farewell. The diplomatic corps
was represented by Polo y Bernabe, the
Spanish Ambassador, who is to. take
over the interests of the United States;
Dr. Theotoky, the Greek Minister:
Baron Gevers, the Dutch Minister, and
the diplomats of the bouth American
republics.
The military authorities and the
Foreign Office assigned special offi
cers to accompany the train to the
Swiss frontier, where it is due to ar
rive at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning.
On the way to the frontier the train
will pick up a score or more Americans
attached to Consular offices in South
ern Germany.
The disposition of the Ambassadorial
train after its arrival in Zurich rests
with the Swiss government, which is
awaiting instructions from France. It
is considered likely, however, the
American party will stay in Berne for
a few days.
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EDISON 70 YEARS OLD
MM2 EMPLOYES FELICITATE l.WEX
TOR AT BANQUET. .
Head Tbe Oregonlan classified adj.
Scientist Say He "Feels Fine" and Is
WorUng Hard tor Uncle Sam.
President . Sends Kot.
ORANGE, N. J., Feb. 11. Thomas
A. Edison, who was 70 years old to
day, was the puest of honor at a
banquet given in his honor In his work
shop last night by more than 2000 em
ployes and business associates. Let
ters of congratulation and good will
were read from President Wilson and
many otbers of note from all parts of
the world.
Mr. Edison went from his laboratory
direct to the banquet. A birthday
cake 10 hi feet In circumference and 40
inches high was placed in front of Mr.
Edison. It was aglow with 70 electric
candles. Ia the center of it was a
figure of Liberty holding; an electric
torch. i
Mr. Edison made a brief speech In
which he thanked his "fellow workers"
for their loyalty and their remembrance
of his birthday. He added: "I feel
fine and I am working; hard lust' now
for my Uncle Sam."
A letter from President Wilson, ad
dressed to the chairman of the commit
tee in charge, was as follows:
"I wish with all my heart that 1
might be present to take part in cele
brating Mr. Edison's 70th birthday. It
would be a real pleasure to be able to
say in public with what deep and genu
ine admiration I have followed his re
markable career of achievement, I was
an undergraduate at the university
when his first invention captured the
Imagination of the world, and ever
since then I have retained the sense of
magic- which what he did then created
in my mind. He seems always to have
been in the special confidence of na
ture herself. His career already has
mao an indelible impression on the
history of applied sciences and I hope
tv at he has many more years yet before
him In which to make his record still
more remarkable."
-
Berlin Reports Air Raids.
BERLIN, via London. Feb 11. An
official statement Issued today says
"Oui naval airplanes Thursday, night
successfully dropped 66 bombs on the
aerodome at tit. Pol. near Dunkirk,
and on Coxude (east of Dunkirk).
Several hits of the aerodome were ob
served. All of the airplanes returned
undamaged."
MAN HAS GOLD L0CATER
San Jose Inventor Offers to Find
Burled Treasure at Centralis,
CENTRA TiT A, Wash, Feb. 11- (Spe
cial.) A letter was received here yes
terday from Charles D. Smith, of San
Jose, Cat, who says ha has Invented
an Instrument, working like a com
pass, that will locate the half-gallon
of buried gold coin mentioned in a
will made out by W. F. Bryan-ln 1888,
and recently found.
Smith, who gives the San Jose Mayor
and Treasurer as references, says he
will come here with his invention for
a round trip ticket and one-quarter of
the treasure. ,
Vera Magnran Wins Honar.
CENT RALIA, Wash.. Feb. 11. (Spe
cial.) As a result of an elimination
contest Friday afternoon, participated
in by 21 seventh and eighth grade
pupils. Vera Maguran, a seventh grade
pupil at the Edison School, will repre
sent Centralia in the Lewis County
contest to be held next Friday. Her
average In the oral and written contest
Friday was .9776. Ruby Bowen and
Lucille Clark, two eighth grade pupils,
tied for second place with .9701.
Read The Oregonian classified ads.
BILL TO BE HASTENED
HOUSE COMMITTEE TO SPREAD
ESI ER GEXCY AMEXDMEXTS.
Ship Draft and Aircraft Features Ap
proved. Bat Bond Isaac for O,oick
Delivery Ia Hot.
"WASHINGTON, Feb. IL At a re
quest from Secretary Daniels the House
rules committee Saturday receded Its
determination not to report a special
rule to expedite emergency amendments
to the annual naval bill providing au
thority to commandeer shipyards and
munitions plants and apropriatlng Jl.
000.000 for purchase of the basic
patents of aircraft.
The committee had a long conference
with the Secretary, who pointed out
the necessity for prompt action on the
proposals. Under the rule later agreed
to the amendments will be brought in
immediately but authorization to draft
the personnel of the commandeered
plants into the naval establishment is
eliminated altogether with some other
details which would have authorized
sweeping chiJhge of policy as to hours
of labor and other matters.
The committee adhered to Its former
decision not to provide for expediting
the Administration amendment fcr a
8150,000,000 bond issue to cover cost of
quick delivery of ships and war sup
plies. It is understood that anothei
method of securing this legislation will
Authorized Sales and Service
Sold on Easy Terms
Complete Stock of Parts
THE PACIFIC KISSELKAR BRANCH -Broadway
at Davis St.
be undertaken by a bill emanating from
another committee.
The naval, bill will be up for a final
vote Tuesday under an agreement
reached todsy.
Pe Eft to Rave Community Fair.
CENTRALIA. Wash.. Feb. IL (Spe
cial.) Mayor Hendricks, of Pe Ell, haa
appointed a committee to arrange a
community fair. The committee, which
will report at a meeting of Pe Ell citi
zens to be held on February 28, is com.
posed of Dr. A. B. McLean, C. F. Frank
lin, J. G. Dunlap, J. J. TrzesnlowskL
Mrs. C. W. Boynton. Mrs. C. Wltesida
and Mrs. Thomas Beavers.
B
Jim
ludso
Remarkable character
ization of the famous
Mississippi River Ballad
"The Pest"
A sure-fire Sidney Drew
comedy.
Colored Educational
Columbia
Sixth at Washington