VOL. LVII NO. 17,555.
PORTLAND, OREGON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2G, 1917.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
GERMAHS RETIRE
Oil WESTERH LIIIE
British Sweep Into Evacu
ated Positions.
ADVANTAGE TAKEN OF FOG
Mew Teuton Line Reported to
Be Three Miles in Rear of
Old One in Places.
OLD DUGOUTS ARE BURNED
Patrols Harass Movement and
Occupation of Baupaume
Is Now Expected.
From a Staff Correaitnndent of the Associ
ated Press.
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE, Feb. 25, via London, Feb.
26. On one portion of the British
front at least the war today became
a war of movement.
Under cover of fog and mist, which
have been particularly heavy in the
past 48 hours, the Germans carried
out the greatest retirement they have
made on the Western front in the last
two years and the British have swept
into possession of Pys, Serre, Mirau
mont and Petit Miraumont, including
the famous Butte de Warlencourt,
which has been the scene of some of
the fiercest fighting of the war and
In places is deep with the bones of
dead men.
Retiring Germans Harassed.
The exact extent of the German re
tirement is not known tonight, but it
is estimated that it approaches a
depth of three miles at some points..
British patrols are out in all direc
tions harassing trie Germans and
keeping in touch with their move
ments. Until they report it wfll not
be possible to say just where the Ger
mans have determined to fix their
next line of resistance.
It can be said that the British now,
or soon will be, in a position possibly
to force the evacuation of Bapaume,
which has been the key to the German
position since the beginning of the
battle of the Somme. The points
which already have fallen into the
British hands have stood out in the
history of the fighting on this front
end had been most stubbornly defend'
ed. Only a week ago when the Brit
ish attacked n a two-mile front east
and south of Miraumont and Pys the
German resistance was bitter and the
high ground desired was won only
after desperate hand-to-hand encoun
ters and the taking of more than 800
German prisoners.
Stronger Positions Prepared.
The British had been waiting for a
clearing of the foggy weather before
pressing the advance, but meantime
it is apparent that the German high
command decided to retire without any
further fighting to stronger positions
prepared well in the rear Friday
fires were observed in the German
front line trenches. They were only
dimly visible through the thick mist
of the particularly black night, but it
was discovered that the flames issued
from burning German dugouts. '
Patrols sent forward reported the
evacuation of the German outposts.
Similar reports came from north of
Ancre, and by nightfall yesterday the
British had established themselves in
Petit Miraumont and advanced all
along the line, meeting' only with snip
ing resistance here and there.
. Today the British patrol pressed
forward, keeping in close contact with
the Germans, who had retreated a fur
ther 2000 yards during the night. Thus
the way was opened to the ground
which for months had been contested.-
There were bursts of stiff resistance
from German obstructing parties
which had been scattered in the rear
of the retiring columns. Early to
day a big mine was exploded in the
main street of Miraumont just be
fore the British advance patrols en
jterecL
Ammunition Shot Away.
It is evident now that the Germans
taking advantage of the last days of
heavy frost and hard ground, moved
.8 great many of their guns well to
the rear, leaving others forward to
keep up a show of resistance. This
they had been valiantly doing for the
Concluded oa 4, Column
DAY'S U-BOAT TOLL
THREE STEAMSHIPS
BOTH VICTIMS BRITISH, TOTAL
ING 5066 TONS.
Sister Ship of Vedamore Arrives In
Baltimore With Largest De
fense Gun Yet Mounted.
........................
VICTIMS OP CERMAif SUBMA
RINES REPORTED YES
TERDAY. '
Tonnage
Dorothy (British) 3.806
Iser (British) 7.160
Falcon (British) 2.243
Total known tonnage....".. 8,209
Tonnage previously sunk. .423.562
Known tonnage eince Feb
ruary 1 431.771
Summary Since February 1.
American .......... ........t 2
Other neutrals ............ .. 62
British 104
Other belligerents........... 18
Unidentified 3
t
Total 178
PARIS, Feb. 25. A war office com
munication tonight says:
"Vessels sunk February 24-25: Brit
ish steamer Dorothy of 2806 tons
gross."
The British steamer Dorothy was
built in 1903 and was owned in Sunder
land. She was last reported at Mar
seilles January 17.
LONDON. Feb. 23. Lloyd's reports
the sinking of the British steamship
Iser, 2160 tons gross, and also the Brit
ish steamer Falcon. 2243 tons gross.
The survivors of the Falcon will be
landed Monday.
AMSTERDAM, via London, Feb. 25.
A Berlin dispatch says submarines
which have returned to their base re
port that they have sunk 11 steamships.
two sailing vessels and eight trawlers.
BALTIMORE, Feb. 25. The British
steamer Queernmore. sister ship of the
Vedamore, which was torpedoed sev
eral weeks ago, arrived today armed
with a 5-inch gun. This is the largest
gun mounted on any ship coming to
this port. Captain Hlgnett said he
sailed the day the Vedamore was sunk.
His ship is a battleship gray, a nov
elty here.
He said the impression in England
is that a Spring drive is soon to begin
and that guns, heavier than any yet
used on either side, are being massed
by the British in France. Captain
Hignett's son was killed In action six
weeks ago and the boy's mother died
from the shock.
SAN JOSE FLOODS RECEDE
Newspaper Carrier Electrocuted by
Fallen Live Wire.
SAN JOSE. CaL. Feb. 25. Raln-
swollen creeks that topped their banks
last night, inundating parts of this city
and miles of farm lands, subsided to
day. Two cottages were washed away
and several bridges, highway and rail
road, were undermined. Two Southern
Pacific bridges at Alviso were so weak
ened that it was necessary to divert
traffic.
John Christian, a newspaper carrier,
aged 40 years, was electrocuted this
morning on the road between Congress
Springs and Saratoga, when he came
in contact with an electric power wire
which had been blown down by the
storm of last night. This Is the first
death reported directly due to the
storm.
GERARD OFF FOR COAST
Duke of Zaragoza Drives Engine of
ex-Ambassador's Train.
LONDON, Feb. 26. Telegraphing
from Madrid Sunday, Reuter's corre
spondent says that James W. Gerard,
former American Ambassador to Ger
many, Mrs. Gerard and the members
of the Embassy staff left the Spanish
capital at 4 o'clock on a special train
for Corunna. where the party will em
bark for the voyage to the United
States.
The Duke of Zaragoza drove the en
gine, having volunteered for the task.
Mr. Gerard, learning of this, asked for
an introduction to the Duke, with
whom he chatted cordially before
boarding the train.
SPUDS RISE $1 A MILE
Gaston Potatoes Worth 9250O on
Track at Home, $6000 in East.
GASTON, Or., Feb. 25. (Special.)
Oregon potatoes increase In value at
the rate of 81 a mile as they travel
East. A car of 655 sacks standing on
the track here is worth $2500. When
It reaches the New York market, its
value rises to $6000.
The highest price ever paid for po
tatoes here was received by farmers
from J. II. Westcott & Son, who gave
$3.25 a hundred. Twelve cars of Bur
banks have been shipped and six more
are awaiting cars. Many farmers art
holding for higher prices.
NEUTRALS MEET AT BERLIN
Betomann.HoIlweg Calls Conference
of Diplomats.
LONDON, Feb. 25. The German
Chancellor, Dr. von Bethmann-Hollweg,
Is reported by the Exchange Tele
graph's Copenhagen correspondent to
have invited the Ambassadors and
Ministers of neutral countries to a con
ference yesterday at the Foreign Of
fice. in which Foreign Secretary Zim
nermann took put
PRESIDENT TO GET
AUTHORITY HE ASKS
Result Will Be Deter-
mined in Advance.
UTMOST SOLIDARITY DESIRED
Appearance of Divided Coun
cils to -Be Avoided.
EXTRA SESSION UNLIKELY
Senate, However, Will Fail to Ratify
Colombian Treaty Grayson's
Nomination as Rear-Admiral
Will Be Confirmed.
BY JOHN C ALLAN O'LAUGHLIN.
"WASHINGTON. Feb. 25. (Special.)
There will be no serious trouble be
tween President Wilson and Congress
respecting the authority the former de
sires in order to protect American life
and property during the coming
months.
This statement is predicated upon re
sults which are floating from various
Important conferences today. The
President quietly has seen some of the
leaders; the leaders have held meet
ings and the temper of the rank and
file has been sounded. Before the
President goes to Congress he will
know precisely the extent of the au
thority which will be granted to him.
He will base his recommendation upon
the knowledge he has gleaned.
House Will Acquiesce.
The House of Representatives will
Iobo no time in following his views.
There will be grumbling in the Senate
on the part of a few pacificists who
want Congress to be called In extra
session in order to act as a curb upon
the chief executive. There will be
grumbling also on the part of the
Senators who believe that with Con
gress here the President will be forced
to act more vigorously. In the end
the Senate will do practically what the
House has done and the resultant leg
islation will be adequate for the pur
poses of the Administration.
A whirlpool will be created in politi
cal Washington by the conflicting cur
rents which have been set in motion.
These currents are centering on the
White House. They have not changed
the policy of the President since he
appeared before the two houses three
weeks ago and announced his rupture
of relations with Germany. He said
then that before he would take a
stronger measure he would await an
overt act" by Germany.
U-Boats Secretly Instructed.
The Berlin government apparently
has given secret instructions to its
submarines not to attack American
ships. By this course it has hoped to
avoid war. But American citizens have
been drowned or killed and the lives
of others have been put in jeopardy by
the submarine operations. These vari
ous cases .are having an Important In
fluence on the Presidential determina-
Concluded on Pare 4. Column 6.)
I CAUGHT IN THE ACT.
1 Y CsmrW
I I -5gj; ?r jr- -II
I
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 88
degrees; minimum. S2 detmi.
TODAY'S Occasional rain or snow; south
erly winds.
Submarine.
ConfTMi will (-rant President authority he
asks for. page 1.
Germany firm In reply to Brazil. Par 1.
Dutch Indignant at. U-boat attacks. Pace 5.
Day's U-boat toll Is two steamers. Pace 1.
War.
Germans retiring- on Western front. Pare 1.
National.
Congress not likely to complete Its work.
PH 4.
"Round-up" of Republican members of next
House planned. Page 2.
Domestic
Edwin Gould. Jr., killed while hunting.
Pags 6.
New York authorities advise can In buy
ing as means to combat living prices.
Page 2.
Sport.
Coast League players must not bo too
friendly. Pago 10.
Portland Beavers hit ball hard, but loss to
Chinese. 9 to 8. Pago 10.
Amateur hockey teams to play champion
ship game tonight, Pags 10.
Pacific Northwest.
Criminal Insane batter attendants In at
tempted asylum break. Page 1.
Portland train la wrecked near Kalama.
Page 11.
Fifteen killed, 15 Injured In Idaho snow
slide. Pago 1.
Governor Wlthycorabo tentatively decided
on Highway Commission appointments.
Page 10.
No light shed on missing bridge bill. Pags 11.
Plans for Improving and enlarging state In
stitutions to be under way soon. Page 5.
Marino.
Santlam gets away with lumber cargo. Pago
Portland and Vicinity.
Symphony concert attracts flno audience.
Page 9. ,
Oswald West resigns as Federal agent ia
grant land matter. Page .
Portland bachelors want girls with brains
for wives. Page 14.
More women needed to make bandagea
Page 14.
Man must love and help to be complete,
says pastor. Page 9.
Preparations for entertaining convention
delegates to start. Page 14.
Army wants men to take Reserve Officers
examinations. Pago 8.
Four tong shrines deserted by leaders and
more bloodshed eapected. Page 8.
100 Italian colonist families may bo placed
on land at The Dulles. Page 7.
Naval Militia recruiting picks up. Pags 9.
Three plays proposed for production at the
Little Theater. Pags 4. .
School Board faces membership muddle.
Page 4.
Rose Festival plans await selection of board
of directors. Page 4.
Attendance at spiritual!. tic meeting as good
as bid for wife. Pags 6.
Weather report, data and forecast. Page 11.
BALTIMORE TO BUY FOOD
City Tracks Will Gather Supplies
From Farming Districts.
BALTIMORE. Feb. 25. Twenty-foor
five-ton trucks of the city departments
will be lent out in the country sur
rounding Baltimore tomorrow and will
gather In farm products in an attempt
by the city to help smash the corners In
foodstuffs.
Spot cash Is to be paid to the farm
ers out of the city's contingent fund.
Mayor Preston said that he expected
to cut 25 per cent off the costs to the
consumer.
PANAMA OFFERS TO AID
Co-operation in Defense of Canal
Zone Pledged In Resolution. .
PANAMA, Feb. 25. The National As
sembly of Panama today adopted unan
imously a resolution expressing sym
pathy with the United States and a
desire to co-operate in the defense of
the canal zone.
A bill authorizing the President of
the Republic to organize a military
body to co-operate with the canal gar
rison was passed.
s o s o j . . ... s Mi.jin .L. . as a -,ss sso.es j. t , ill iiAJIt . . txtJH X-LHa
GIANT SH0WSLI0E
If IDAHO KILLS 15
Danger of Avalanche
Stops Rescuers.
MANY ARE SERIOUSLY HURT
Disaster Worst in History of
Wood River Mining.
SUPERINTENDENT- IS HURT
Injured Men Are Carried Miles in
Sleighs to Railroad Hope of
Finding Any Store Alive
Has Been Abandoned.
BOISE. Idaho. Feb. 25. Fifteen men
were killed and 15 Injured when a
giant snow slide destroyed the bunk
house, compressor-house . and ware
house of the North Star Mine. 12 miles
northeast of Halley. Idaho, at 3:30
o'clock Sunday morning.
Bodies of these men have been taken
from the debrta:
John Fleming.
Elton G. Cooley.
' Jack Vaughn.
James Peterllne.
Phil Welch.
John PurnelL
Frank P. Manglno.
Roy Judd.
6am LaBarge.
Six Believed Burled.
The following alx men are missing
and all are believed to be burled be
neath the slide: John Klstle. John
Hearn, Jack McKelvey. Emmett P.
Russell. W. R, Motley and W. C
Schmidt. J
On the list of those injured Is Tom
Jay, mine superintendent. A. E. Wood
Is In a precarious condition, with his
back broken and hip fractured. Others
on the Injured Hat are:
George Lee, Jack Llndsey. L. O.
Beeson. Bert Judd. E. C Jones, J. JR.
Carter and Pete Peterson.
Work of searching the wrecked
buildings for the remaining bodies Is
being delayed because of the imminent
danger of bringing down a slide from
the opposite side of the gulch.
Rescuers Are Called Oat.
For a time the Federal Mining &
Smelting Company, owner of the North
Star Mine, had a force of 90 men en
gaged in recovering the dead. Aban
donment of all hope of finding any
yet alive and the danger of precipitat
ing a second slide which would cover
the entire force of rescuera caused the
Company late Sunday to call off the
workers.
Immediately upon receiving news of
the disaster, a special train conveying
physicians and rescue workers was run
from Halley to Gimlet, from where the
party was obliged to travel six miles
to the mine in sleighs.
Injured Carried In Slelgks.
The Injured men were brought to
Gimlet station in sleighs and from
there were taken to Halley on the
(Concluded on Page 4. Column 3.)
BERLIN IS FIRM IN
REPLY TO BRAZIL
BLOCKADE DETERMINATION1 DE
CLARED UNCHANGEABLE.
Germany Suggests Diplomatic Nego
tiations in Event Southern Na
tion's Ships Are Sunk.
RIO JANEIRO, Feb. 25. Brazil's
declaration to Germany that she does
not recognize the submarine blockade
and leaves with Germany the respon
sibility for all acts from which Bra
zilian merchantmen may suffer In vio
lation of International law has elicited
from Germany a statement that the
blockade will not be abandoned.
It Is announced officially that the
German Foreign Office has declared to
the Brazilian Minister In Berlin that
it regrets neutral Interests ahould Buf
fer on account of military measures.
Nevertheless. Germany ha reached the
unchangeable determination to main
tain the submarine blockade, to aban
don which would involve national an
nihilation. In case of the loss of Brazilian ships,
the German government, the Foreign
Office says, will suggest diplomatic
negotiations.
AUTOIST PINNED BY CAR
Machine Goes Over Bank at Vancou
ver Bridge Fill; Ivan Smith Hurt.
VANCOUVER. Wash.. Feb. 26. Ivan
Smith, auto stage driver of Vancouver,
waa picked up just before midnight last
night unconscious from under his au
tomobile, which had gone over the
steep bank of the fill about 100 feet
south of the Oregon Slough bridge on
the road connecting the Interstate
bridge and approach bridge. Roy Fergu
son, of this city, who found him,
brought him to St. Joseph's Hospital,
this city, where he waa still unconscious
early this morning. Physicians were
unable to determine the extent of his
Injuries, which seemed to be serious.
Smith waa alone in his automobile.
The machine tumbled down about 30
feet, pinning- the driver under it. Smith
was trying to dodge a car which took
the wrong side of the road and was
forced off the paving to the dirt. Start
ing to slip, he forced the car back, but
the steering-gear broke and the car
shot across and fell down the opposite
bank.
FREDERIK VIU COALING
Bernstorff's Steamer Expected to
Leave Halifax Tuesday.
HALIFAX, Feb.. 25. The work of
replenishing the bunkers of the steam
er Frederlk VIII. which haa for paa
sengera ex-Ambassador von Bernstorff
and a large party of Germans from the
United States, waa begun today.
Although the authorities declined to
make any statement as to when the
steamer would be permitted to sail for
Copenhagen, It waa said in quarters
usually well informed regarding the
vessel that the examination of passen
gers, cargo and baggage had been com
pleted. It was reported that the vessel
would leave -Tuesday.
JAPAN TO GUARD HONOR
Statesman Says Nothing Else Will
Provoke War With America.
BALTIMORE. Feb. 25. Rev. C. 6.
Relfsnlder, president of St. Paul's Col
lege, Toklo, In an address here today
delivered a message which he said
the Japanese Vice-Minister of State
had bidden him give the American peo
ple: "Japan." read the message." will
never go to war with the United, States
unlesa the United States impugns
Japan's honor."
By "honor," Dr. Relfsnlder Bald, the
Minister .meant auch things aa the
alien laws In California and restric
tions on immigration.
STEAM SCHOONER ASHORE
Raymond in "Good Position" and
Tugs Will Try to Float Her.
SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 25. The
steam schooner Raymond. Captain
Stausland. which left San Pedro. CaL.
In ballast February 23 for thla port,
went ashore last night about eight
miles south of Cape Sur, according to
advices received here today by the
marine department of the Chamber of
Commerce. All hands were safely
landed.
The vessel, of 350 tons net register,
was reported "in a good position" and
tugs. It waa announced, would be aent
from thla port to help float her.
GRAIN ELEVATOR IS BURNED
Half Million Bushels Destroyed in
Louisville; Loss Exceeds Million.
LOUISVILLE. Kjr, Feb. 25. Damage
aggregating more than $1,000,000 was
caused by a fire here tonight which de
stroyed the elevators of the Kentucky
Public Elevator Company and several
score of freightcars.
Approximately 600.000 bushels of
wheat, corn, rye and oats were de
stroyed. $2,000,000 DEAL RUMORED
Seattle Shipbuilders Buy 1 5 Acres
on Waterfront Is Report.
SEATTLE. Wash, Feb. 25. (Special.)
I The rumor is current and not denied
that the Skinner & Eddy Corporation,
local shipbuilders, have taken an op
tion on 15 acres of land on the East
waterway adjoining the plant and
l owned by the centennial Mills for a
prisn a U.o fieigaeorhood, of, J 2,0 00,00 ft,
iiiPAiir
HIII1HL KiDHilL
BATTER 2 GUARDS
Murderer Saves In
jured Men at Asylum.
DR. H.A.STURDEYANT PLOTTER
Attendants Fitch and Lane
Cut About Heads.
SEVERAL JOIN IN BREAK
Improvised Weapons Wielded In Ef
fort to Steal Keys and Escape.
Officials Believe Murder
Was Intended.
SALEM. Or.. Feb. 25. (Special.) Jo
Castranova. inaane murderer from Mult
nomah County, today waa the leading
spirit in breaking up an organized in
surrectlon at the criminal insane ward
of the Oregon State Hospital, and prob
ably saved the lives of D. B. Fitch
and F. M. Lane, attendants.
Dr. H. A. Sturdevant. former Port
land dentist, sent to the Institution on
the sixth of this month, joined with
John H. Thompson, former Milwaukie,
Or, blacksmith. In organizing the con
spiracy to disable the guards, steal
their keys and make a break for
liberty.
Daaareroua Men la Plot.
Many others apparently were in the
plot, but out of the confusion sur
rounding the melee which ensued, and
from conflicting stories of the Insane
patients, it ia practically impossible to
ascertain Just the depth of the plot.
but Is seems certain half a dozen or
more of the most dangerous men of the
ward were implicated.
The insurrection came like a bolt'
from the blue. Fitch, the attendant
first attacked, was reclining In a bar
ber's chair in the criminally Insane
ward, reading a paper. He had been
left in the ward with Lane by other
attendants, who were attending a
chapel meeting.
Sturdevaat Attacks Fltch.
Suddenly Sturdevant rushed into the
room. He was armed with a steel bell
cap which he had removed from the
bathroom, and it proved to be a naaty
weapon. He attacked Fitch from be
hind, striking him on the head witU
the weapon. Fitch, dazed, fell partly
forward In the chair. The first cut In
flicted a wound more than three inches
long in his scalp, penetrating to the
bone. Sturdevant again brought the
gly weapon down on the head of Fltch.
leaving another usly cut near the back
of the head. Fitch dropped, and In
doing so, tripped Sturdevant.
In the meantime. Thompson ran out.
armed with a metal handle from a dish-
pan, which he had tied to a sock and
which he used as a slingshot. He at
tacked Lane, who ran forward to as
sist Fitch. Hammering Lane over the
head with his improvised weapon,
Thompson inflicted two deep gashes
on Lane's head and dazed him into a
near-stupor.
Joe Castraaova Interferes.
Joe Castranova. who was In the hall
at the time, then rushed into the con
flict. He attempted to sieze Thompson
by the arm, and Thompson made a
vicious awing with his weapon. Caa
tranova raised his arm and sustained
an ugly blow on his forearm.
He then lunged at Thompson, secured
a half-Nelson on him, and threw him.
He then Joined in quieting Sturdevant.
Half a dozen or more of the insane
patients engaged in the struggle and
attempted to lock Fitch and Lane in a
email room, but the attempt failed, aa
Castranova and the attendants fought
them off and assistance eamo from tho
outside.
Finally the patients were placed un
der control and locked into their steel
barred rooms. Fitch and Lane, how
ever, both have ugly wounds from
which they will not recover for some
time.
A number of the patienta were
bruised and cut up in the fight, but
the three moat seriously injured are
Castranova. and Attendants Fitch and
Lane.
Thompson has a bad record at the
Asylum. He was sent to the Institution
from Milwaukie. September 18, 1914.
and one of his first acts was to engage
in a hand-to-hand encounter with Sup
erintendent Steiner. William Bo wen.
another patient, who assisted the con
spirators, is wanted in Lane County
for forgery. Ernest Kllnkman, an
other desperately insane criminal, also
engaged in the fight.
Sturdevant Admits Plot.
Dr. Sturdevant admitted afterwards
that he and Thompson hatched up tho
plot last night, that it was the plan to
knock the attendants unconscious and.
the asylum authorities believe, kill
them if necessary, steal the keys and
make their escape. William Bowen also
was acknowledged to be one of the
arch-conspirators, and from reports in
the asylum records, he Is an exceed
ingly dangerous criminal.
Joe Castranova was sent to the Pen
itentiary after conviction for man
slaughter In Multnomah County, for a
crime committed December 24, 1903.
He was sentenced for 12 years. He has
been transferred back and forth from
the Penitentiary to the Asylum a num
ber of times, and is considered a des
perate criminal, regardless of his in-
jlConuluucd on fim ii. Column, ii.i.
uni