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VOL. L.VII NO. 17,573.
PORTLAND, OREGON. MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1917.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
MUSTERING OUT OF
NATION VIRTUALLY
WILD GREENS FATAL
TO TWO IN IDAHO
PLOT SCENTED IN
FIND OF EXPLOSIVES
STRIKE
MILITIA STOPPED
III STATE
IS
OFF
ORDERS RECEIVED ALL OVER
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER DEAD;
THREE OTHERS GIVEN UP.
DYNAMITE DISCOVERED NEAR
. GOVERNMENT MOORINGS.
i. - ,.,
COUNTRY HOLDING GUARD.
1
.A Jav A S. a A A. A. A. .
1
NT
SHARKS
3 AMERIGAH SHIPS
ALLIES Gil Oil
82-MILE milll
RALRDAD
DECLARED
.'1
V
Part of Two Crews Are
Reported Missing.
TORPEDO GIVESNOWARMNG
City of Memphis, Vigiiancia
and Illinois Are Destroyed
in the Atlantic.
TWO CARRYING BALLAST
Admiralty Vessel Scouring
Seas for Remainder of
American Crews.
LONDON, March 18 The sinking
of the American steamships City of
Memphis, Illinois and Vigiiancia was
announced today. Fourteen men from
the Vigiiancia are missing:, as are
some ' of the men from the City of
Memphis. The crew of the Illinois
landed safely.
The City of Memphis, In ballast
from Cardiff for New York, was sunk
by gunfire. The . second officer and
15 men of the crew have been landed.
A patrol boat has gone in search of
the other members of the crew.
The Illinois from London for Port
Arthur, Tex., in ballast, was sunk at
8 o'clock this morning.
Submarine Not Seen. ,
The Vigiiancia was torpedoed with
out warning. The submarine did not
appear. The captain, first and second
mates, first, second and third en
gineers and 23 men of the crew havg
been landed at the ScinyIslands. The
fourth engineer and 13 men are miss
ing. - .
The City of Memphis was sunk Sat
urday. She had left Cardiff ' Friday
in ballast for New York. When she
left port the City of Memphis had the
Stars and Stripes painted on both
sides. She encountered a submarine
about 5 o'clock Saturday evening. The
German commander ordered the .cap
tain of the steamer to leave ship with
in 15 minutes.
Steamer Founders Quickly.
The entire crew entered five boats
and the submarine then fired a tor
pedo, which struck the vessel on the
starboard side, tearing a great hole,
through which the sea poured. The
steamer foundered within a few min
utes. In the night the boats became sep
arated, and at 4 o'clock Sunday morn
Ing three boat crews were picked up
by a patrol vessel and landed. These
boats contained 33 men, mostly
Americans.
The officers believe that the other
boats will be rescued.
Warning Shot Fired
Third Engineer Thompson, of the
City of Memphis, in an interview with
the Central News, said that the sub
marine fired a warning shot for the
steamer to slow down, and subse
quently signalled for her to stop and
for the crew to abandon the ship.
Ten or 11 shells were fired at the
vessel, which began to sink. Then fol
lowed a terrific explosion. -
Ihompson said the snip was on
charter to discharge her cargo at
Havre. From Havre she went to Car
diff, and the skipper, knowing he was
in the danger zone, kept one flag,
which was yards in length, flying at
the masthead. Captain Borum briefly
consulted with the officers after the
Germans ordered him by megaphone
to leave the ship because it was in
tended to sink her, said Thompson.
Talk Held With Captain.
All agreed that there was no alter
native. Thompson continued:
"When the ships had been destroyed
the German commander . approached
our boat and asked for the Captain,
but none of our lads answered him. He
then went from boat to boat until he
found Captain Borum, who briefly
conversed with, him. I do not know
what was said.
"The weather was not bad, but there
were heavy swells. We kept the boats
together, and during the evening we
rowed together toward the coast.
Younger Sailors Sick.
"The night closed with a biting
wind, and some of our young chaps
were very sick."
The statements that the steamer
.Concluded da fast 3. Column 3a
Wyoming, Tennessee, CaTollnas and
Other Troops Kept Under Colors
Until Farther Orders.
RALEIGH, N. C. March II. Orders
received at the Adjutant-General's of
fice here today suspended the order
for the muster-out of the North Caro
lina National Guard after arrival from
El Paso. ,
COLUMBIA, a C, March 18. The
musterlng-out of the Second South
Carolina Infantry. recently re
turned from the border, was stopped
today on orders directing the Federal
mustering officer to await further in
structions. .
MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 18. Colonel
H. S. Berry, in command of the First
Tennessee Infentry, which arrived here
today from Eagle Pass, Tex., was ad
vised' tonight that orders had been
Issued suspending the musterlng-out
of National guardsmen "until further
orders."
CHEYENNE. Wyo.. March 18.
ders were received at Fort D. A. Rus
sell today directing that mustering-out
of organizations here and ' those en
route here be postponed.
"WASHINGTON, March 18. War De
partment officials said tonight no new
orders concerning National guardsmen
had gone out fror.i here.
HINDUS CANNOT RETURN
British Consols Refnse Passports to
Sail From America.
SACRAMENTO. CaL. March 18. The
British Consul at . San Francisco will
not issue passports to Hindus who
have immigrated to this country and
now wish to return to India, accord
ing to information given out here today
day by leaders in the Indian colony
here. This action prevents the return
of any Hindus to their native land, as
steamship tickets will not be sold ex
cept on presentation of a passport. '
The new order is said to have gone
into effect upon the day that the news
of the successful revo!"tion in Hussia
reached this country. Previous to that
time Hindus who had not been con
cerned in the rveolutionary movement.
said, to be centered in San Francisco,
were allowed to sail for India. A party
of 10 applied for . passports this week
but none was granted..
TYPHOID CARRIER PERSISTS
' - T . t
Alter Tour Tears of Isolation "H.
O." Is Menace Still.
SAN FRANCISCO. March IS. After
four years of isolation and treatment
under the direction and observation of
the State Board of Health and United
States Public Health Service. "H. O.."
the typhoid carrier who caused the
steamship Acme to become known as
the "typhoid ship" five years ago, is
still a carrier, it was made known to
day, and a menace to the public health.
"H. O.. whose identity has been
kept from the publlo by the authori
ties, is submitting voluntarily to his
isolation at the Marine Hospital here.
During -the time 'H. O." was a mem
ber 'of the Acme's crew 30 cases of
typhoid developed, of which five were
fatal.
FLAG-RAISING IS IMPOSED
Bouck "White Assigned to Patriotic
Duty While Prisoner.
NEW-YORK, March 8. Bouck White.
pastor of the Church of the Social Rev
olution, who Is serving a 30-day sen
tence in the . Tombs for burning an
American flag at a. "melting pot" cere
mony in the courtyard of the church
last June, will raise the flag on the
new flagpole in the Tombs yard each
morning and haul it down at night.
To Edward R. Ames, and August
Henkel, serving sentences for the same
offense, will fall the duty of carrying
the flag to and from the warden's of
fice, i
SECRET OftOER IS GIVEN
Naval Officers at Annapolis Not to
Finish Post-Graduate "Work.
.ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 18. An
napolis was brought In close touch
with the serious condition of Interna
tional relations when the 17 naval offi
cers who are attending the post-graduate
school at the Naval Academy re
ceived secret orders at noon today asJ
signing them to special duty.
All work of the post-graduates' de
partment will come to an end at once.
AIR CAMPAIGN IS INTENSE
Germans Say They Brought Down 2 2
Airplanes in Day. -
BERLIN, March 18. (By wireless to
Sayvllle, N. Y.) The battle that now is
in progress for mastery of the air along
the Franco-Belgian front was carried
on with greaf intensity yesterday, and
the War Office reports 22 airplanes
were destroyed by the Germans.
' The Germans lost three machines.
I
ENGLISH COAST SHELLED
German Torpedo Boats Attack, Do
ing Little Damage.
. LONDON, March 18. German torpedo
boats shelled towns along the iCentish
coast early Sunday morning. Little
damage resulted, according to an offi
cial statement issued tonight. .
Wilson Considers Calling
Congress Immediately.
"OVERT ACT" IS COMMITTED
Next Move Must Be to Send
American Warships to Pro
tect Ocean Lanes.
DEFINITE POLICY NEEDED
Ships Sunk Were American
Built, American-Owned and
Manned by Americans.
WASHINGTON, March 18. With
the announcement of the ruthless de
struction of three unarmed American
merchant ships by submarines, it was
unofficially admitted here tonight
that virtually a state of war exists
between the United States' and Ger
many. Technically the United States re
mains in a position of armed neutral
ity. Whether this shall be changed
before April 16, the date fixed for a
special session of Congress, the war
making branch of the Government,
President Wilson has not decided.
Immediate Session Contemplated.
One step the President is contem
plating is a call for an immediate ses
sion of Congress to. hear an address
asking for authority to adopt aggres
sive measures against the submarine
menace. -Already American ships are
being armed to defend themselves, the
next move must be to send warships
with orders to seek out submarines
and clear the trans-Atlantic lanes
Some of the highest officials of the
Government hold that the Executive
has the power to declare that a state
of war exists and to proceed with ag
gressive protective steps pending the
assembling of Congress. There is no
indication, however, that the President
will follow that course.
Two Unloaded, Homeward Bound.
Of the three ships destroyed two
were unloaded and homeward bound
and all were American-built, American-owned
and officered and manned
largely by American citizens. Meager
dispatches indicate that all were sunk
(Concluded on Paso 3, Column 2.)
Entire Family at Carey Stricken Im
mediately After Eating Home
Canned Iiambs' Quarters.
BOISE, Idaho, March 18. Mrs. Sam
uel P. Richards, 60 years old, and her
daughter, Blanche, aged 22. are dead;
Mr. Richards, a 12-year-old son, Claude,
and a 16-year-old daughter. Hazel, are
at the point of death from poisoning
after eating. home-canned lambs' quar
ters. '
The family lives at Carey. Idaho, and
became ill Immediately after eating.
Physicians were rushed there from
Hailey, but mother and daughter died
within two minutes of each other and
the other three members of the family
are not expected to live through the
night.
Lambs' quarters is a, low-growing
wild herb which is found In many parts
of Idaho. The symptoms are not like
ptomaine poisoning and the - doctors
think some poisonous weed may have
been gathered with the greens.
SCRATCH BY BONE POISONS
Albany Man's Hand 'Infected by
Slight Abrasion.
ALBANY, Or, March 18. (Special)
Through a slight scratch received from
a bone in a piece of beef, James H.
Thompson, of this city, is suffering
from a severe case of blood-poisoning.
Three weeks ago, Mr. Thompson, who
Is a transfer man, was carrying a
quarter of a." ecf when a piece of bone
scratched his wrist. The injury was
so slight no attention was given It at
the time. Later the hand and arm
became swollen and Mr. Thompson ex
perienced considerable pain and trou
ble. Physicians believe now that his
condition is such that there is no
danger of serious consequences.
'SAGEBRUSH' IS ADOPTED
Nevada Legislation Decides on State
Emblem.
CARSON CITY. Nv March 18. (Spe
cial.) After ' the Legislature had re
fused to adopt the sagebrush as the
emblem of the state of Nevada, requests
by women's clubs throughout the state
obtained a reversal of the former ac
tion, and the desert shrub has been of
ficially adopted by the present aesslon
as the. state lnslgnlaj " '
Nevada has been known for years as
the Sagebrush State, but the name was
applied, not because of a - Legislative
action hut because of the large propor
tion of Nevada covered by shrubbery.
RANCHERS TO BUILD SHIPS
Pendleton Men Seek Investment In
Seattle Industry.
SEATTLE, "Wash.. March 18. (Spe
cial.) Through R. W. Michael, of Se
attle and Portland, a number of ranch
ers of the Pendleton district In Oregon
are seeking to invest a large amount
of money In the motorship industry at
Seattle, Michael said today.
"The construction of wooden ships Is
the logical means of putting to use the
money received for the wheat crops."
he -said. "It is apparent that the mo
torship Industry is only in its infancy."
THE WORLD MOVES.
British Occupy More Than
.60 Villages. .
FRENCH ADVANCE CONTINUES
Peronne, Chaulnes, Hoyon and
Crouy Among Chief Towns
Lost by the Germans.
CAVALRY-GETS IN ACTION
Teuton Official Report Refers
to Event as System
atic Retirement.
LONDON, March 18. British
troops, continuing their rapid advance
on the heels of the retiring Germans,
have occupied the important towns of
Nesle, Chaulnes and Peronne.
Along a front of about 45 miles
they have entered the German posi
tions to a depth of 10 miles in places.
In addition the British have taken
more than 60 villages.
Gains Officially Reported.
The announcement .of these gains
was contained in the official report
tonight from British headquarters.
PARIS, March 18. The advance of
the French troops continued today be-J
tween the Avre and the Aisne along
a front of 60 kilometers (about 37
miles'), according to the official com
munication tonight. French cavalry
entered Nesle. In the direction of
Ham, on the Somme River, the French
forward movement reached a depth of
about 12 miles?
French Cavalry in Noyon.
North of Soissons the French have
occupied Crouy and in the same dis
trict have taken the villages of Carle
pont, Morsam and Nouvron ,Vingre.
The town of Noyon was occupied by
French cavalry. The statement reads:
"From the Avre to the Aisne on a
front of more than 60 kilometers the
advance of our troops continued dur
ing the day. . North of the Avre our
cavalry this morning entered Nesle
and we immediately sent out patrols
toward the Somme. There were sev
eral engagements with enemy rear
guard detachments, who resisted f eeb-
Concluded on Paso 4. Column 2.)
Dredge Clilnook Is Anchored There
and German Bark Danlbek
Is Berthed Nearby.
Eleven sticks of high-power dyna
mite, with a coil of fuse and a number
of detonating caps, discovered yester
day near the Government moorings,
where the dredge Chinook swings at
her anchorage, have given rise to a
suspicion that plotters may have
planned to blow up the premises or
the vessel.
The alarming-find was mad by H.
J. Laury, of Whltwood Court,' and was
carefully hidden on the river bank a
short distance above tne Government
wharf. Mr. .Laury reported the dis
covery to the police substation at St.
Johns, "and Patrolman G. A. Roberta
was sent across the river to investi
gate. William R. Bryon. agent of the De
partment of Justice, was also notified,
and will conduct an investigation, al
though he is inclined to believe that
the explosive was not secreted with
sinister purpose. Frank Batter, fore
man of the Government moorings, has
taken charge of the dynamite.
- The German bark Dalbek is at an
chor In the lower harbor, near the
Chinook
The fact that the dredge Chinook has
not been given her annual overhauling
and repairs, as usual at this season of
the year, revived the report last night
that the Chinook was awaiting orders
to be converted into an army supply
ship or transport. This report has been
current at intervals recently.
COURAGE SAVES SCHOONER
Oceania Vance Reaches San Fran'
Cisco After Much Buffeting.
SAN FRANCISCO. March 18. (Spe
cial.) AVith her seams calked with
blankets and a tale of the courage of
a handful of brave seamen who have
fought valiantly the tempestuous ele
ments for the last 60. days to save their
lives and ship, the schooner Oceania
Vance, 81 days out from Sydney bound
for Port Angeles, put into port tonight
in distress.
A. strong easterly gale was encoun
tered on January 20. For a week the
schooner was in the throes of the hurrl
cane. ,
The Oceania Vance will be put Into
drydock and repaired before proceeding
north.
CABINET PUT UP TO RIB0T
French Minister Reserves Decision
on President's Request.
PARIS, March 18. Paul Deschanel,
President of tri Chamber of Deputies,
hazing declined today to head a new
ministry, Pre:ient Poincare requested
M. Ribo Minister r ' Finance, to under
take 'the responsibility.
M. Rlbot reserved his decision.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature,
C2
degrees: minimum, 41 degrees.
TODAY'S Showers: southwesterly winds.
Submarines.
German submarines sink threa . American
ships. Page 1.
Armed neutrality to continue; declaration
or war improbable. Page 8.
United States virtually in state of war.
Page 1.
City of Memphis bad been ship of adventure.
Page s.
Russia.
New government being cemented. Page 5.
War.
Allies gain on extended front. Page 1.
China explains break with Germany. Page 4.
8gs merchantmen ianK In February, say
Berlin, ran s.
British pressing retiring Germans hard.
Page .
National.
Mustering out of militia Is suddenly stopped.
-age j.
Tomestie.
Railroad strike called off; basic S-hour day
granted. Page 1.
Sport,
boxers attracting
Bantamweight
much
notice. Page IB.
Multnomah Club track athletes begin train
ing. Page 14.
Kan Ten. Chinese catcher, to be called by
Spokane. Page 14.
J. s.V. Seavey is high gun at Donald shoot.
Wise 15.
Aggies lack track-stars. Page 14.
Pacific Northwest.
Portland girl killed in auto accident at Cor-
vallla. Page 8.
Five agencies will handle Hood River 1917
apple crop. Page 6.
Governor "would have Bcnbam Palls land
opened to homesteaders. Page 7.
GUI defense to charge plot by BlUngsleys.
Page 10.
Two die In Idaho after eating wild greens.
Page 1.
Marine.
Three lumber carriers figure ia Sunday river
movement. Page 18.
Portland and Vicinity.
Pastor declares only second coming of Christ
will restore peace. Page 12.
Isaac Gevurts dies at 'age of 67. Page O.
Plot scented in finding of explosive near
Government moorings. Page 1.
Man mysteriously wounded. Page 11.
Daughter of lata Congressman ta now lead
ing woman at Baker Theater. Page IS,
Conscription of property as well as men
urged by Peace League. Page. 6.
Centenary congregation raises S20OQ to clear
church debt. Page 12.
Shipbuilding declared Oregon's great chance
by F. N. Clark. Page 10.
Simon Guggenheim expected in Portland to
day. Page 10.
Portland Investors can get new French' notes
that will net 6 per cent. Page 10.
Portland concern buys five cars of Louisiana
plna for'box cars. Page 13.
David Is pointed to as model for young men.
Page 13.
W. H. Galvant sees dawn of historic epoch
In Russian upheaval. Page i.
Bruce Dennis may be In charge of road
bond campaign. Page 11.
Freight embargo to be lifted. Page 2.
Weather report, data and forecast. Page IX
Great preparations being made for &
Alasque, las 13.
Basic Eight-Hour Day to
Be Put Into Effect.
DECISION IS REACHED LATE
Concession Made Regardless
of Forthcoming Action by
Supreme Court.
WAR PROBABLE FACTOR
Managers Say New Submarine
Developments Call for Con
cessions to Defense.
NEW YORK, March 19. The con
ference committee of railroad man
agers early this morning; authorized
President Wilson's mediators to make
whatever arrangements were neces
sary with the railroad brotherhoods to
call off the threatened strike.
The formal letter in which this
authorization was made was signed by
Elisha Lee, chairman of the mana
gers' committee, and was as follows:
"In the National crisis precipitated
by events of which we heard this aft
ernoon, the National conference com
mittee of railroads join with you in
the conviction that neither at home
nor abroad should there be fear or
hope that the efficient operation of the
the railroads of the country will be
hampered or impaired.
Full Assurance Given, i
"Therefore, you . are" authorized to
assure the Nation there will be no
strike, and as a basis for such as
surance we hereby authorize the com
mittee of the Council of National De
fense to grant to the employes who
are about zo strike wftatever adjust
ment your committee deems necessary
to guarantee the uninterrupted and
efficient operation of the railroads as
an indispensable arm of National de
fense." ,
The announcement of the managers
that they had yielded apparently came
as a surprise to the brotherhood chiefs,
for they were in bed when summoned
again to the conference room. Earlier
in the evening there had been a dis
tinctly pessimistic feeling as to the
prospect for averting a strike.
Both Sides Firm to Last.
Up to that hour the railroads, had
refused to make the concessions
granted and the brotherhoods had
stood fast to their determination to
strike unless they won their demands
either by the Supreme Court declaring
the Adamson law valid or by their em
ployers granting them the eight-hour
day.
The men will get their present pay
for 10 hours for eight hours' work un
der the agreement. These concessions
on the part of the managers are vir
tually what the employes contended
they would gain under the Adamson
law if it were declared Constitutional.
Brotherhood Leaders Notified.
Immediately after Secretary Lane
had made his announcement the broth
erhood leaders sent telegrams to all
the general chairmen informing them
that the strike had been called off.
The decision reached by the man
agers at their midnight conference
means that the brotherhood have won
an important victory, although it does
not bring them all their original de
mands. 'By the agreement, it is as
sumed they will be awarded pro rata '
time for overtime on the basic eight
hour day, which they have been as
sured. Their original demands called for
time and a half for overtime on the
same basic day.
Appeal to Patriotism Wins.
Earnest appeals by Secretary Lane
and the other mediators to the patriot
ism of the railroad managers are be--'
lleved to have been an important fac
tor in bringing about a settlement. The
critical situation in which the coun
try finds itself because of the sinking
of American ships by German subma
rines was Impressed upon them and
they were told that if a strike were
permitted at this time it would be a
National calamity.
Similar pressure was brought to
bear on the brotherhood chiefs.
Whether or not President Wilson
communicated directly with Secretary
Lane in the course of the night could
not be learned,, but there were reports
that the spokesman for the mediators
had been Informed by the President
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