-. -C fft 1 VOL. L, VII. NO. 17,544. PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1917.' PRICE FIVE CENTS. AMERICANS OUT OF RELIEF OF BELGIUM German Order Cause of Withdrawal. AUTHORITY IS . TAKEN AWAY Means of Communication Also Denied to Commission. FORMAL NOTICE IS GIVEN tlT. to Leave Occupied District at Once Except Few YVlio Will Seek to Arrange for Continua tion. . of Food Service. GERMANY DECIDES TO HOLD HOSTAGES AMERICAN SAILORS ON YAH ROWBAIE NOT RELEASED. , LONDON, Feb. 12. The American commission for relief in Belgium has officially notified the German authori ties that the' Americans will withdraw from participation in the relief work In Belgium and Northern France. This step was taken in reply to an order from the German authorities that Americans must withdraw from the provinces of Belgium and Northern France, leaving only a few of their' representatives, headed by Brand Whltlock, American Minister to Bel gium, in Brussels. The action of the commission is explained in a formal statement which was given to the Associated Press today by directors of the commission in London. Germans Ilestrlct Americana. "We were, advised February 12 by Director Warren C. Gregory from Brussels that Baron von der Lancken (civil Governor of Brussels) had noti fied him American citizens could no longer occupy positions in connection with the commission in the occupied territory of France and Belgium," says the statement, "but that a few Ameri cans, among them Brand Whltlock, might reside in Brussels and exercise treneral supervision over the work. Mr. Whltlock, however, was to ' have no diplomatic standing. Further, automo biles and other means of communica tion v'ould be denied Americans. - "After earnest consideration with Ambassador Page, the directors .of the commission in London, acting in ac cord with Herbert C. Hoover, chair man of the commission, instructed Mr. Gregory to Inforu- the German authori ties that in view of their order that the Americans could no longer exercise their functions in the occupied terri tory and that as under these conditions the American members of the commis sion could no longer carry out their responsibilities and undertakings to other interested governments and ful fill their duties toward the peoples of Belgium and Northern France, the Americans would officially withdraw from participation in the work of re lief in the occupied districts. All bat Few Will Leave. "Mr. Gregory was advised to arrange for all his men to leave Belgium im mediately., except a few who are to close the commission's affairs and take steps to see that there be no interrup tion In the service, pending the reor ganizatlon of the work." HAVRE. France. Feb. 12. The Bel gian government says it ' has learned that laborers at Bruges are being ar rested in the streets by Germans and immediately sent to the German front along the Tser, where they are forced to. do military work, such as putting up barbed wire fences and dlggin, trenches. , It is asserted that 75 per cent of the men who were compelled to present themselves to the military authorities have been taken for work. These men are between the ages of 15 and 45 They leave their homes Monday and return Saturday. On their arrival home tney are aeciared to be erreativ rie pressed because of insufficient nourish enint, which consists of a quarter of a loaf of war bread in the morning and fruit soup made of apples and pruned at noon. This is said to be all the men receive. Men Taken From Work. ine uelgian government affirms that, contrary to what the Germans say. the Germans are systematically taking men who are not idle. At a large steel mill laborers earning from 7 to 8 francs a day have been com. pelled to quit their jobs and work for the Germans. The same is declared to be true of horticultural workers. At a wen-Known Horticultural establish ment known by the name of Flandria i l worKers out or 24 have been taken away. A diamond cutter who paid his employes rrancs a day saw them all taken away from him. A foreman who naa oeen worxing ror one man In Bruges for 27 years was taken from his nome, losemer witn His two sons, neitner or wnom was idle. Jt is oeciarea that no account is raxen or ceniricates or affidavits eiven by employers. When employers make demands in behalf of employes the military authorities write them that they are disposed to return workers on condition that the employers designate two unemployed men for each employed woricman UDeratea. . Farm Hands Also Reported. The situation, the .Belgian govern ment says, is uo better in the rural districts, where all the sons of farm ers are taken away in masses every Monday morning. All farms of acres remain withotit hands for culti vation and all complaints, remain un heeded. Children of less than 15 years also are taken. At Leffinghe a youth of 16 was theeldest of his crew, which was composes of boys of 14 and 15 years of gtv All these children lived promiscu ously with the older workers ia the same sheds and suffering the same in- Washington .Is Amazed by Sudden Change of Front Detailed Ac count Being Prepared. WASHINGTON, Feb. 12. Formal no tification of the retention In Germany of 72 American sailors brought in as prisoners in the prize ship Tarrowdale was given to th State Department to day by Dr. Paul Ritter, Swiss Minister here, acting for the German govern ment, together with an inquiry as to status of the crewsof the German war bound ships in American harbors. Germany, Dr. Ritter said, had de cided to hold the Tarrowdale prisoners' until she has had definite assurance that German crews In American har bors would not be held or Imprisoned. This development, wholly unexpected, was amazing to the American Govern ment. Officials here had come to the conclusion that the early reports which misled the German government as to the treatment of German crews here has been effectively dispelled by the forwarding of complete details. Ae this included the Presidential an nouncement that German ships, would not be seized now or in the event of war and full Information about the fair attitude of the Government toward the German sailors, officials are wholly at a loss to know what kind of report could have so suddenly changed Ger many's attitude. A query was at once cabled to the Governor of Hawaii, the only section where German ships are warbound where all the conditions are not known. There is not the least thought that any variation will be found there In the uniformly courteous treatment accord ed German vessels, but officials want a detailed account of the status of the two war vessels and the eight -merchantmen there in order to present a final report showing the conditions In all American harbore. Such a report already has been received from tti& Philippines and Included In the blanket statement previously sent Germany. FAMINE PREVAILS ALL OVER-GERMANY Recent Change for Worse Is Striking. FOOD ALLOWANCES REDUCED CARRANZA WOULD END WORLD'S WAR PROPOSAL TO CTJT OFF SUP- PLIES IS MADE. Civilians Deprived That Sol diers May Be Fed. PRICES ARE REGULATED Potato Ration Cut to-Ten Ounces a Day, Meat to Few Ounces a Week. Lack of Fat Causes Constant Feeling ' of Hunger.' TEUTON BLUEJACKETS BUSY Reichstag Member Says Steamers fn American Ports Won't Be Used. LONDON, Feb. 12. In an address at Wilhelmshaven regarding precautions taken by Germany in view of the pos sibility of war with the United States, Dr. Gustav Stresemann. a v prominent national Liberal member of the Relch- Btag, made the following- statement, ac cording to a Rotterdam dispatch to the Kvenlng News: lOor German- bluejackets in the United States will have seen to it that German steamers in American porta shall not be usable by any one for ome time." , Dr. Streseraann also expressed the opinion that the work of the German submarines was encouraging the army for the Spring campaign. IRISH GET j)AY IN HOUSE Redmond's Request for Early Dis cussion of Promises Is Granted. LONDON, Feb. 12. The government agreed today to set aside a day for dls cussion in the House of Commons of the Irish administration, as requested by the Nationalists. John Redmond, the Nationalist lead er, asked the government last week to arrange for an early discussion of i motion to the effect that it was essen tial, without further delay, to confer on Ireland the free institutions long promised her. STOCKHOLM, Jan. 20. (Correspond ence or the Associated Press.) Food conditions, in Germany have changed greatly for the worse in the last five months. The correspondent of the As sociated Press, who has been away from Germany since the first week in August, has Just returned from a stay of three weeks In Berlin. lie .found that many staples of food had alto gether disappeared from the markets. and others had grown so dear that they are beyond the reach of any but the well-to-do. The daily allowance of potatoes has been reduced to 10 ounces, and either a shortage of flour or a disordered dis tribution of it among the bakers has resulted in long queues of buyers stand ing for hours in front of the bakeries, Government Holds Prices Down. Maximum prices of foodstuffs con trolled by the government are still very low for potatoes and bread, and com paratively low for meats. Potatoes cost only 72 cents, the standard bushel of 60 pounds, and. bread a little less than 3V4 cents a pound. But the po tato allowance is Insufficient for per sons who have little but bread and po tatoes to eat, and has to be eked out with turnips. It had been hoped to allow one egg person each two weeks in Greater Berlin, but the last one-egg allowance was made some five weeks ago. and another Is not promised until Febru ary. When the correspondent left Ber lin in August it was still possible to buy cheese. Cheese Supply Exhausted. Since the end . of August there has been no cheese on the market. It is said that considerable quantities are being imported from Holland, but it goes apparently to the front except for small quantities allowed, the res taurants and hotels. Another serious reduction of food stuffs has been the expropriation for control by the government of all canned vegetables. Four or five weeks ago the dealers were permitted to sell a fractional part of their stock, but only two cans on each bread card. Per- Washlngton Informally Regards 3love as Inspired by Germany. Oil to Allies Affected. WASHINGTON. Feb. 12. Revolution- swept Mexico's de facto government entered the lists as an International peace maker, today with an identic note to all neutrals proposing a Joint effort to end the European war, coupled with theutting off of exports of sup plies to belligerents. The communication was received with expressions of mingled amusement and gravity in official quarters. There had been no decision tonight as to the American Government's response, but the prevailing opinion was that Secre tary Lansing would reply briefly, re ferring to tho futile effort of President Wilson to bring about peace and point ing out that under existing conditions an embargo on exports would bo a breach of neutrality. Among entente diplomats Carransa's action was denounced as another evi dence of German influence In Mexico, and as a further effort to becloud the issue and embarrass the United States in the situation resulting from Qer many's new submarine campaign. Offi cials of the Government were not so outspoken, but those who commented Informally expressed the same view. It became known tonight that a pro posal similar to the one now brought forward officially was made at one of the closing sessions of the Mexican Joint commission which recently at tempted to solve border difficulties. An embargo on exports was the plan. Mexico's exports to Europe are con siderable and of vast importance to the entente allies. Enormous quantities of oil for the British fleet are drawn from the English-owned oil fields on the Mexican east coast. REVENUE BILL PROTESTED Portland Chamber's Slessage Turned Over to Mr. Chamberlain. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, Feb. 12. Representative Haw ley today received from the Portland Chamber of Commerce a vigorous pro test against the enactment of the pend ing revenue bill. Inasmuch as that bill has passed the House, Mr. Hawley having voted against It, he referred the protest to Senator Chamberlain, pointing out that if the bill Is to be killed or amended action must now be taken in the Senate. ITALIANS REGAIN GROUND Total of 100 Prisoners Taken AVlien Austrians Lose Hold. ROME, via London, Feb. 12. The Italian lines in the district east of Go rilla which had been penetrated in some places in Austrian attacks late last week, were re-established com pletely yesterday, the War Office an nounced today. In the operation more than 100 pris oners were taken. YACHTS BEING MOBILIZED Owners Summoned to Enroll With District Naval Commanders. NEW YORK, Feb. 12. The Naval Training Association announced here tonight that it had been requested by the Navy Department at Washington to urge all applicants for membership In the Naval Coast Defense Reserve to present themselves and details of such yachts and motorboats as they own to the nearest district naval commander for enrollment. It was also announced that the pres ent International crisis would not In terfere with plane of the association for continuing its naval training camps for civilians next Summer. (Concluded on Page 3, Column 1.) GREEK STEAMER ARRIVES Patris 7 6 Days on Way From Piraeus, Owing to Blockade. NEW TORK, Feb. 12. Seventy-six days after her departure from Piraeus, Greece, .the Greek , liner Patris arrived here today, the first passenger steam er from that country to reach this port for a long time. ti The lengthy' passage was due to her being held up at Gibraltar and the Azores by oraer of the entente pend ing the settlement of tho strained re lations with Greece, the agents here said. She carried 564 passengers. ROAD RILL PASSED DOUBLES AUTO FEE House Provides for $280,000 Revenue. GERMAN STOWAWAY ON TRANSPORT HELD MAX SAID TO HAVE PAPERS IN CRIMINATING AS SPY. George Ktert Is Found Aboard Sher idan In Army TTnlform, After . Departure From Manila. CIGARETTE BAN HOW FOR MINORS ONLY Sweeney BilljAmended, ' Passes House. - MULTNOMAH FORGOES BENEFIT Game Code Cuts Two Weeks Off of Deer Season. MEDICAL SCHOOLS DEBATE Dr. Anderson Wins Effort to Force Hospitals to Open Doors to Os teopaths Gresham Fair to Get More Money. STATE CAPITOL, Salem, Or., Feb. 12. (Special.) Licenses on automobiles and automobile trucks are to bo doubled under provisions of a bill passed by the House today and the proceeds will be applied to the state highway fund for distribution in counties outside of Mult nomah. This bill is a part of the legislative road programme; was prepared by the Joint House and Senate committee on roads and highways, and is a compan ion to the general road code put through the House last week. It is expected to raise approximately $280,000 in cash next year and to in crease from year to year as the num bcr of automobile in the state in creases. Stnto to Expend Money. The money is to go into the general highway fund and to be expended under direction of the State Highway Com mission. The present law requires the money to be sent back to tho respective coun ties In the ratio in which it was paid. The Mtltnomah delegations in the House and Senate have consented to an amendment that will permit all tho money to be used outside Multnomah County. They believe that this will aid most substantially in - developing the general road improvement through out the state. Eastern Onson Expects Loss. Representatives Crandall, Small and other members fror- far Eastern Ore gon objected to the provision giving the commission, discretion in distribu ting the money. They declared that tlrelr counties sc.dom, if ever, get any money from the state highway fund excepting that accruing from the auto mobile taxes and that with that money tstten away they will stand little chance of getting anything. Representat ve Sen Imp ft. chairman of the roads committee, handled the bill on the floor and assured t. members that it offers the best provisions pos sible for adequate road development. The new game code als' went (Concluded on Pave 3. Column 8.) SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12 (Spe- laL) An Investigation was begun to night by secret service operatives Into tho identity and past actions of George Kleft, a German, who arrived here to day on tho United States transport Sheridan from Manila as a stowaway. Kleft was taken off tho transport after the vessel arrived in 'the harbor and Is held In detention. Incriminating papers, which. It Is said, show that Kieft is a German spy and disbursing agent, were found In a trunk which ho smuggled aboard the transport at Manila when he stowed away. Dressed in the uniform of United States Army private. Kleft boarded the Sheridan at Manila and mingled with the soldiers in the troops' quarters. His presence was not dis covered until several days after the vessel left port, when the soldiers aboard were ordered to muster, and it was found - that there was one too many. Kleft was questioned by one of the officers and acknowledged that he had bought the uniform and that he was a German. Kieft told the officers that he was out of funds and wished to get to San Francisco. This story was soon dls proved. He was searched and f 672 was found secreted In his clothing. Shortly afterward a large steamer trunk and a- suitcase belonging to Kleft were found hidden away. TWO WAR PLANTS BLOW UP German Munitions Factories De stroyed, With Many Casualties. COPENHAGEN, Feb. 12, via London, Feb. 13. According to tho Hamburger Nachrlchten, two largo ammunition factories at Thorn, East Prussia, and at Glueckauf, in Qulckborn, near Ham burg, were destroyed by explosions last week. Sixty-three persons were killed and the same number wounded. NOW HE'S SORRY THAT HE SPOKE. YouZE GOING TO GET. HURT vAl IF YOU DON'T $SA CTAV nr vm iobUBuJ:'li THE STKEEX BRAZIL ARRESTS GERMANS Duo Photographing Fortress of I Imbuhy Are Taken Prisoners. RIO JANEIRO, Brazil, Feb. 12. The authorities of Nictheroy, five miles east of Rio Janeiro, yesterday arrested two Germans who were photographing the fortress of Imbuhy. The prisoners are Fritz Meyer and! Johannes Karl, employes of commer cial houses. (Concluded on page column 2) Noted Mathematician Dead. CAMBRIDGE, Mass.. Feb. 12. Charles J. White, professor emeritus of math ematics at Harvary University and au- inor ui "Ttrw uuottH on astronomy. was found dead in his chair in his I room today. He had been ill for several I oayo wita grippe. If. I Alt' ' .fJ if W' A ' WKtt 1 11V in 55 - . mi I i ll . fv M . AM - 1 !- - 1 - - 7 . - - t t 4 BRAND GETS WORKABLE LAW Even Author of Drastic Plan Favors Modification. W. C. T. U. IS NOT CONTENT Dr. Morrow Is Pension Kxaniiner. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington, Feb. 12. On recommendation of the Oregon Senators, Dr. K. V. Morrow, of Portland, has been appointed amem- ber or the pension examining board at Portland. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS 1 The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 50 degrees; minimum. 44 aeicreea. TODAY'S Fair; northeasterly winds. Submarines. Germany acalo Tlecldes to hold Americans as hostages. rage 1. Carman efforts to cripple ships at Honolulu aescnoea. fage b. Five German army corps on Dutch border Derore rutniess policy was announced. Pass 8. Germany wants to reconstruct old treaties witn unitea states, raga 2. Washington refueea to dlacusa lasuea with iivmany wnne f-utnieas submarine war continues. Page 0. U-boats sink five more vessels. Page 2. Carransa makes proposal to end world war. rata 1. legislature. Voters for Lincoln lead House tribute. Page 7. Olympia to consider state and National training today. Page 6. Road bill draft almost completed. Page 14. House passes bill to double auto fees. Page 1. Senate considers bonds to match Federal road fund. Page 7. Forbes defies Journal on delinquent tax list bill. Page 7. Cigarettes prohibited to minors only. Page 1. War. Americans forced to withdraw from Belgian reuex worK. rugfl 1. Famine conditions prevail In Germany. Page 1. Spain and Holland to take up Belglan'rellef work. Page 5. Natlonar? United States to block revolt in Cuba. Page . Navy appropriation bill of ?S0r.0OO.000 will be voted on in House today. Page . Domestic Submarine and aviation base to bo recom mended by Holjs. board for Columbia mouth. Page 4? German stowaway on ' transport Sheridan said to be spy. Page 1. Sacramento barber may be prosecuted for overcharging Oregon soldiers. Page 4. Sports. Beavers to start for Honolulu tonight. Page 12. Bronson faces tough customer In Wyard to night. Page 12. Juarez Is dead as racing center. Page 12. Columbia and Lincoln win at basketball. Page 13. Fulton scores technical knockout over Welnert. Page 13. Multnomah Club to hold annua meeting tonight. Page 23. Moose" Johnson elected cabtaln of hockey team. Pace 13. Pacific Northwest. Lincoln's memory Inflames Medford's pa triotism. Page 3. Commercial and Marine. American tea markets affected by German submarine campaign. Page 23. All classes of livestock higher at North Portland yards. Page 23. Kew steam schooner started at Standlfer- Clarksim yard. Page 23. Steam schooner John Klernan to be built and owned in Portland. Page 23. ' Portland and Vicinity. Amv Mlttlng Is found "camping out." Page 11. Laymen's Mlsslonarv convention opens to morrow. Page 10. Police arrest five Chinese aat result of tong war. - Page 24. Shipbuilders protest against Senate bill to limit shipbuilding. Page S3. Officials of two states to be at opening of Interstate bridge, fago 11. Chamber and civic clubs honor Lincoln. - Page 9. Strikes called at two boiler factories. Page - Violin recital of Theodore Spieling Is ap preciated. Page 3. Portland men urge passage of universal military service bill. Page 3. Union Pacific official says National Educa tion Association convention will nelp aa vertlse Portland. Page S. Weather report, data, and forecast. Pas 12, Severe Penalties Are Provided for Violations and Prosecutors -Are Made Uablo - for Enforce - ment of Measure. STATE CAPITOI Salem. Or., Feb. 13. (Special. A "safe and sane" aatl clgarette bill was passed by the House late today and probably will go through the Senate and become the law of the state. The bill is sort o. a compromise be tween the Sweeney bone-dry bill and the conservative Stott bill, both of which were passed by the House last -week, later recalled and tabled. The bill passed today Is a redraft of the Sweeney bill. It strictly prohibits ' tho sale of cigarettes to youths under 21 years of age and makes It a misde meanor for a minor to smoke cigar ettes. Heavy Penalties Provided. It provides heavy penalties for viola tions. It authorizes the District At torney and other prosecuting officers) to enforce the law under pain of be coming criminally liable themselves. At the suggestion of Representative Kubli, th3 provision against billboard advertising was stricken out. In its amended form, tho bill rep resents the views of a special commit tee composed of Representatives Brand, Burdlck, Bean, Sweeney and Lafferty, who were appointed by Speaker Stan- fiold today to make the revisions- - . . Brand Gets Workable Law. It was largely through Brand's ef forts and Influence that the nieasure was brought back from the Senate and amended so that It meets the wishes of those who desire constructive anti- cigarette legislation without standing in danger of being unenforclble, un workable or unconstitutional. It was the opinion of many of tho bst lawyers In the House that tho original Sweeney bill would not stand, a constitutional test. Brand voted for it the other day, but after reflection came to the conclusion that ho had erred la his judgment. Conference Held With Speaker. After conferring with Speaker Stan- fleld Representatives Sweeney, Forbes and other influential members, lo asked to have the measure recalled. It was on his motion that it was taken from the table today and placed in the hands of a special committee. Tho committee worked on it tha greater part of tho afternoon. , It re ported back amendments just before adjournment at 6 o'clock. Tho rules wre suspended and the bill was placed on third reading for final passage after very little discussion. Sweeney Favors New Bill. Sweeney, author of the original bone dry bill and a member of the special -committee, spoke for it. He said that while it does not represent tho higher Ideals of anti-cigarette legislation that he hopes eventually to obtain, he be lieves It to be a good bill and a step in tho right direction. "When members who had voted for my bill said that they believed they had used poor judgment." ho said. "I consented to have It come back. I think I hare shown my good faith by agreeing to the amendments that have been made, and I hope now that tho other members will keep their faith with me and vote for tho bill as it stands." 1 Anderson Doesn't Like BUI. RItner called for the previous ques tion. There was some protest, but the motion carried and tho roll was called. Quite a few of the members Insisted on explaining their votes. Anderson said the bill is not the kind of a bill that its sponsors wanted, its sponsors are the members of W. C. T. TJ. and other women's organizations. They of fered the bone-dry bill. Anderson re marked that the measure probably had fallen into the hands of its enemies. Bean was quick to resent the sug gestion. "The idea that 't fell Into the hands of its enemies is false, absolutely false," he cried. He voted for the bill. Others Explain Vote. Nearly half an hour was taken un; in other explanations and apologies. Tho Journal shows the following r ollcall : Ayes Ashley, Barber, Bean, Bow man. Brand, Brown. Burdlck, Callan, Cartmlll, Clark, Corbett, Dedtnan, Kl gin, Forbes, Fuller, Gore, Griggs, Hod gen, S. Jones, Al Jones. Kubli, Lafferty. Mackay. Mann, Martin, Matthieu, Peck. Portwood, RItner, Rowe, Schlmpff. Stafrln, Stott, Sweeney, Tlchenor, Wil lett, the Speaker 37. Noes Anderson, Belland, Burton, Childs, Cornelius, Crandall, Eaton. Goode, Gordon. Jones of Lane, Laur gaard, Lewis. Lunger, Meek, Mueller. Porter. Sheldon, Small, Stephens, Thomas. Mrs. Thompson 21. Absent Brownell, Elmo