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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 1917)
" I . - i . 7 r . - ' : ' -- -I,. -"' - - : " " : J .- .'"I t VOL. LVII NO. 17,575. PORTLAND, OREGON. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1917. PRICE FIVE CENTS. WILSON TO URGE ARBITRATION LAW GERMANS GETTING GALE-DRIVEN SNOW HITS GRAYS HARBOR FIELD IS POLICE AND NEGRO EX GZAR MAY QUIT BATTLE; 3 KILLED FOE OUT IN OPEN BEGUN FRANCE HIS NATIVE LAND PRESIDENT SEES WAT CLEAR TS SEVEN INCHES FALLS IN DAT IN HXJMPTULIPS DISTRICT. VANCOUVER CHIEF FALLS IN SUPREME COURT DECISION. ATTACK ON HOUSE. WIL1I PUSHltlG DEFENSE PLANS FIGHTING A v-. 1 ... t r : I -1 - j ' i v.- - - v I - ? V.t '.1 , - : ."V ; - i . i- t 1 Congress Session May Be Advanced to April 2. OCEAN PATROL ORGANIZED Navy to Sink Submarines on ' Sight, but Will Not Risk . Big Battleships. PRESIDENT'S POWER GREAT Important Announcement on Situation Now Expected Within 48 Hours. BT JOHN C ALLAN O'LATTGHLIN. ' "WASHINGTON, March 20. (Spe cial.) Preparedness, preparedness and, again, preparedness. This is the policy of the Adminis tration as determined at the meeting of the Cabinet today. According to a statement made by the President, following the meeting, every aspect of the situation arising out of the unwarned destruction of American merchantment by German submarines was discussed. Important Announcement Coming. It is said tonight that the President will make an important announcement within 48 hours dealing with the de velopments in our relations with Ger- ' many. The character of that an nouncement is not known. It may take the form of a decision to advance the date of the assembling of Con gress, so that that body will be ready to transact business on April 2 In stead of April 16. The President, it is asserted, has not definitely made up his mind as to what to do in this matter. With one exception all . his Cabinet advisers urged him today to get the two Houses in session as speedily as pos sible, so that a state of war might be declared to exist. Why President Hesitates. The one argument which is causing the President to hesitate against an earlier sitting of Congress than that arranged is that even though Ameri can ships have been sunk without warning, the situation has not changed beyond the point for which he made provision by authorizing the arming of merchantmen, and that it is de sirable to wait to see how the armed vessels fare in dealing with German submarines. If the armed vessels should escape, then, it is argued, there would be no reason for going beyond the state of armed neutrality. Moreover, if an armed ship should sink a submarine, the German government might take upon itself the onus of declaring war and this would be valuable for the ef feet it would have upon sentiment in various communities now classed as pro-German. Leaving the White House, Secretary Daniels attended a meeting of the General Board of the Navy. That board is charged with the formulation of strategic plans in connection with the distribution and use of the Ameri can fleet. Submarine Patrol Organized. At the request of the Navy Depart ment, The Oregonian refrains, except In a general way, from revealing what the Navy will do to meet the subma rine menace. There is no intention, of course, to hazard the dreadnoughts and cruisers, which are essential for the defense of the Nation. All the American vessels available will be or ganized into a submarine patrol. They will operate on the western side of the Atlantic, prepared to sink any (German submarine they may sight. In other words, every effort will be made to prevent merchantmen from being torpedoed immediately after their departure from American ports a not impossible contingency in view of the operations of the U-63 off New port last Fall. The allied submarine destroyers must provide for the pro tection of the merchantmen once they reach the other side of the water. Scope of Insurance Extended. To encourage the departure of mer chantmen, Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo, following a conference with the director of war-risk insurance, an- nounced that the scope of insurance iCooclud.d on X'aga S, Column 1.) Compulsory Adjustment of labor Dis putes to Be Pressed With Increasing Vigor. OREGONIAN NEWS BTJREATJ. "Washing-ton. March 20. President Wilson, It is learned on good authority today, will strongly urge upon Congress, in special session, the enactment of a com pulsory arbitration act, basing his de mand on the decision of the Supreme Court in the Adamson case, which fore tells that such a law will be held con stitutional. The President, according to those who have seen him since the decision, will be more vigorous in his demand than in the past two sessions, and will use the full power of the Administra tion in favor of a law similar to that of Canada. One feature will be an arbitration board. Another .feature which the President probably will In sist upon will make it unlawful for employes of Interstate railroads to strike pending the arbitration of dif ferences. It is also learned from authentic sources that the leaders of the Ameri can Federation of Labor are deeply alarmed over the ruling of the Supreme Court as to compulsory arbltratVon. end fear that if this principle Is rigidly applied by Congress labor unlots will be deprived of an important and hith erto effective weapon. NEW PEACE MOVE HINTED German Emissaries In Switzerland and Holland Sou nd Sentiment. LONDON, March 21, 5:15 A. M. A dispatch to the limes from The Hague asserts that a new German peace move ment is on foot. The dispatch says that prominent Germans have recently visited Holland and Switzerland under instructions to try to ascertain what the present attitude of Great Britain is toward a possible cessation of hos tilities. The emissary to Holland, disclaiming authority to speak for the German gov ernment. Is quoted as saying that the Russian revolution has entirely changed the situation, since Germany could no longer claim that she wished to free the Russian Baltic provinces and could also consider handing back Poland to Russia under some form of autonomy. He is represented as adding that the revolution In Russia made it possible for Germany to discuss terms more favorable to the entente. SHIP MARKINGS OPPOSED Norwegians Say Unidentified Vessels Are Safer. CHRISTIAN! A. via London, March 20. It is probable that the neutrality markings on Norwegian vessels soon will be removed. Agitation for their removal is being conducted by the ship owners' and sea men's organizations, as, it is pointed out, these markings not only do not any longer protect neutral ships, but make them an easy prey for subma rlnes, which now boldly attack neutral vessels but are more careful to keep at a safe distance from unmarked ships. HAY SELLS AT $65 A TON Livestock Losses Not as Serious In Montana as First Reported. HELENA, Mont., March 20. While livestock losses in Montana have been above the averare this Winter, they have not been as . severe as reported, according to information received by the State Livestock Board. However, thj supply of feed is running low, and unless Winter breaks up inside of the next two weeks there will be addi tional losses. Inspectors also fear there will not be enough feed on hand to carry the herds until green grass comes. . One inspector reported sheepmen paying $65 a ton for hay. FOUR DIE J-ROM GREENS Claude Richards Succumbs and Rls Father Is Low, but May Recover. BOISE, Idaho, March 20. Claude Richards, aged 22, member of the Rich ards family, of Carey, poisoned last week by eating canned greens, died this morning. He is the fourth victim to succumb, his mother and two sisters having died Sunday and Monday. The father, Samuel P. Richards. Is very low, but his physician now enter tains some hope for his recovery. D. F. Presnell, a hired man, who also ate some of the poisoned herbs, is con slderably improved and will recover. BITTERS PUT UNDER BAN Druggists Warned Not to Sell Alco nolle Stomach Medicines. Stomach bitters containing a high percent of alcohol have been ruled against by District Attorney Evans, who warned druggists yesterday that further sales would be made at the! peril. Well-known brands of bitters contain as high as 25 per cent alcohol, and about 35 recent cases of drunken ness have been reported by the police to have been "bitters Jags." One man arrested admitted that h drank one bottle of bitters a day, not for stomach trouble but for the "kick Gunboat Is Destroyed. LONDON, March 20. A German gun boat in the harbor of Tslng Tau. China, has been blown up and sunk, says Reuter dispatch from Hongkong. Berlin Forecasts New Form of Warfare. . ENTENTE VICTORY IS DENIED revious Strategic Retreats of Hindenburg Pointed Out. NEW POSITIONS STRONG Giving Up of Portion of Front De clared to Pnt End to All of Allies' Finely Laid Plans for Spring Offensive. BERLIN. March 20. (By wireless to the Associated Press from a staff cor respondent, via Tuckerton, N. J.) The German evacuation of Bapaume, Roye, Noyon and Peronne Is but part of a great strateglo undertaking which promises to revolutionize warfare on the entire western front and constitute one of the most decisive moves in the war. Just as a month ago the Germans evacuated an Important sector on the Ancre, but kept the fact secret for week while the British bombarded the mpty trenches, so today's report shows the most important development of 1917 on any front. Destruction la Complete. The sector Including the evacuated cities virtually covers the great Somme battle fronts Reports from this section of the front tell of effective work of destruction carried out before the occu pied land was given back to the French and the British, so that it will avail them nothing. as captured soil, accord lng to views expressed here. ' "With the fronts as long as they are in this war, and with the enormous amount of territory held by our troops,' said a high German military authority today, "there is no particular military significance attached to any special section of the enemy's territory. There fore we can give up a portion of the western front, secure our troops that freedom of movement needed and end trench warfare. That Is -rrhat this real ly amounts to. We are now getting the enemy out of their trenches. Plans for Offensive Balked. "The giving up of this portion of our front puts an end to all their finely laid Spring offensive plans. Ever since November hundreds of thousands of men have been at work building trenches, munitions depots, railroads and cable lines to prepare for the big gest Spring offensive of the war. Now at one blow all that is gone for noth ing. In the face of our withdrawal all this is useless. Four months work of millions upon millions of dollars In value have been rendered valueless. Concluded on Paso 2, Column 2.) Summer Resorts on Beach Covered by Four Inches and Rain Is Reported Elsewhere. HOQUIAM. Wash., March 20. (Spe cial.) The Grays Harbor district was hit hard today by the equinoctial storm, which brought with it one of the latest snowstorms on record in this section, and tonight a southwest gale was raging over the Harbor, accom panied by heavy rain gusts. Snow began falling in the Grays Harbor district early this morning and continued steadily until after noon. Late reports say, about seven Inches of snow fell In the Humptulips district, and about four tncnes at summer re sorts along the beach. From the East end of the county and the higher districts In the north. reports were that the fall of snow was quite heavy. On the Harbor, while the snow was heavy. It melted as fast as it fell. Thus far no damage was re ported. Southwest storm warnings displayed at Grays Harbor and the mouth of the Columbia River at noon yesterday, were extended to all Washington ports at 3 o'clock In the afternoon, and to Coos Bay at 6:10 o'clock last night. A marked disturbance had reached the Strait of Juan de Fuca at that hour. The North Pacific forecast for today is rain with moderate to strong south westerly gales. The maximum wind velocity recorded yesterday- was 26 miles an hour at Seattle, and 60 miles at North Head, all being from the south. At 8 o'clock In the morning. North Head reported the wind making 34 miles an hour from the south, the sea off the entrance to the Columbia being smooth. At noon the velocity had in creased to 48 miles an hour with the sea choppy, and at 5 o'clock in the aft ernoon it was 48 miles and a moderate sea running. COAST GUNNERS READY Forty-Eight Companies, 13 In Ore gon, Prepared for Service. SAN FRANCISCO, March 20. Forty eight companies of Coast Artillerymen of California. Oregon and Washington, comprising . organizations of the Na tional Guard, are ready for immediate service, according to an announcement made today by officers of the Western Department of the Army. . California has 24 companies tad "Washington and Oregon 12 companies each. The war strength of the organized! National. Guard In California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Utah Is 25,814, comprising infantry, cavalry. field artillery, signal corps, field hos pital corps, ambulance companies and engineer corps, according to Army officers. CUBAN REBELS DEFEATED Force of 150 0 Flee, Leaving Dead at Arroyo Rondo. 27 HAVANA. March 20. Victory in 40-minute battle with a concentrated rebel force of 1500 under Angel Castillo is reported from Arroyo Hondo by Colonel PuJoL The rebels fled, leaving 27 dead. THE DEGENERATE TYPE OF PACIFIST. British ' Cavalry Sur prises Germans. . SOME VILLAGES ARE SAYED Programme of Thorough De struction Is Interrupted. WELLS ARE CONTAMINATED Prisoners Are) Bewildered by Ex tent of Retirement, and Report Depression When Strong1 Po sitions Were Abandoned. (Frem a Staff Correspondent ef the Asso ciated Press.) BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN FRANCE, via London. March 20. The pursuit of the Germans by the British troops continued and at places sharp fighting ensued today. This was particularly true near Crolsilles (northeast of St. Leger), which is still strongly held by machine gun companies. The armies have been In such close touch at other places that field fighting tactics have been employed, the men firing from skir mish lines. Cavalry Drive Is Surprise. Wherever the British troops pene trate territory formerly held by the Germans they encounter the same con ditions of destruction and devastation as in Bapaume and Peronne. Only few villages have escaped, the Germans in these Instances having been com pelled to leave before their plans to lay waste could be carried out. The drive of cavalry by the British and French seems , to have taken the Germans by surprise, upsetting some of their calculations. In one village supplies were abandoned, together with much ammunition, and in other places newly opened boxes of high explosives were found, with which the Germans had planned to destroy the villages be fore leavinar. German Thoroughness Shown. That the wholesale destruction was characteristic of German thoroughness was shown by captured orders on the subject. These directed the blowing up of all houses, wells and cellars except those occupied by rearguard outposts, the rearguard being held responsible for making their shelters uninhabitable before falling back. All farming im plements were burned or destroyed. Wherever a building was spared it was first rendered filthy. The orders also directed the assembling of filth at all wells to contaminate the water. The destruction of fruit trees now apparently covers the entire belt of evacuated territory, even those clinging to the walls having been stripped off. In one abandoned position a large black (Concluded on Page 2. Column 6.) Two Others Are Wounded in Effort to Capture Man, Whose First Victim Is Boy, Aged 9. VANCOUVER, B. C March 20. Mal colm B. Maclennan, Chief of Police: George Rolph, a 9-year-old boy. and Robert Tait, a negro, are dead and two police officers are wounded, as a re sult of an attempt tonight by the po lice to capture Tait. The Chief and the boy were both killed in the first rush on the negro's house early in the evening. The police effected an entrance at 11:10 P. M., four hours late, only to find the negro dead. The call for Talt's arrest came from his landlord, who declared that the ne gro, who was said to be a drug hab Hue, and well known to the police, had assaulted him. As the Chief and his squad came in sight of the house at the corner of Jackson avenue and Harris street, the negro opened fire, his first shot striking the Rolph boy, who died half an hour later. When the police, led by the Chief, at tempted to rush the house, the negro continued firing and the Chief fell wounded Inside the doorway, while two of the others. Detective Cameron and Constable Johnson. were wounded about the head. They withdrew, re maining in ignorance whether the Chief was alive or dead. He was found on the second assault on the house with his head half shot off. The dead negro was found armed with a shotgun and an automatic pis tol. It is uncertain whether he com mitted suicide or was killed by shots of the attackers. Frankle Russell, a negro woman who is said to have lived with Tait as his wife for the past four years, was found in the house uninjured and was lm mediately taken into custody. She is held on a charge of murder. Both she and Tait are said by the police to have been crazed by drugs at the time of the shooting. GERMAN RIOTING REPORTED Echo of Russian Revolution Said to ""Reverberate in Several Towns. LONDON, March 211 Some of the morning newspapers give prominence today to wireless reports received from Switzerland saying that the news of the Russian revolution has started serious agitation in some of the German indus trial towns. .. Among these towns are Leipzig, Dres den and Munich, where strikes and other disturbances are said to be tak ing place. INDEX -OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, degrees; minimum. 3S degrees. TODAY'S Rain; southwesterly winds. Submarines. Details of sinking; of American steamer Vlg- ilancia confirmed. Page 2. Wilson pushing plans for defense. Page Copper producers cut price In halt in interest of patriotism, rage s. President's advisers urge calling of Congress at once. Page s. German paper maintains expose of plot Is hostile act. Page a. America to insure practlcallT alt contra. band but arms and ammunition. Page 5. War. Ex-Czar expected to leave Russia. Page Hr. Asqulth warm in defense of lata Lord Kitchener. Page 2. Retreat is strategical move, says German official. Page 1. British engage In field fighting in France. Page 1. Safe conduct fails to protect relief ships In "safety zone. ' Page 2. Foreign. Early recognition of new Russia by America la probable. Page 3. Russia probably will be republic Fags ' It-itlonaL Wilson to nrga compulsory arbitration law. Page 1. Senator Lane sends out letter denying he filibustered. Page 3. Domestic. Great prosperity shown la steel Industry, Page 3. Nation warned it Is unprepared. Page 8. Alabama murderer breaks Jail and la killed by poaae. with companion. Page 4. Guggenheim unable to buy Hill liner. Page 10. Vancouver. B. C. police and negro fight eu-eei cattle; mreo aiiiea. 1 age l. Sports. Beavers return and McCredle releases Brandt and Plnelll. Page i. Many baseball magnates think war would Just about Kill game. Page 14. Eligibility of Wlndnagle and Richards que. tloned by eastern coueges. Page 14. Seattle hockey team defeats Canadiens, to 1. Page 15. Freddie Welsh may box Frankle Callahan for title. Page J. -Pacific Korthwest. Gale-driven snow visits Grays Harbor. Page 1 Governor Lister vetoes item to pay for check on all state departments. Page 6. State ready to make loans under rural credits act. Page 6. . L w. "W. riots previous to that of November 5 cited In Everett trial, page a. GUI trial to be hurried through by night sessiona Page u. Commercial and Marine. Potato acreage In United States may be decreased. Page 19. Sales for profits carry Chicago wheat prices lower. Page 1. Columbia River lumbermen to light Govern ment favoritism of Puget Sound. Page 18. Somedono Maru to get -4.500,000foot cargo of lumber loaded In week. Page 19. Portland and Vicinity. Portland Welfare Bureau appeals for, fl nanclal aid to help city's poor. Page 11. Forest rangers are asked to become health patrols over watersheds. Page 7. Merchant's Exchange urges W. T. Wheel wright's appointment as Japanese Ambas- aador. Page 0. Work on viaducts Is to begin today. Page 13. Firemen propose voluntary prevention work under two-platoon system, page 13. Playmates part father and son. Pag 9. Saucy letter of Bureau Chief Pratt to Port land Chamber of Commerce made public Page 15. Navv retting recrulta. Page 8. A. Musgrove Robarts benefit concert success. Page 7. Mr. Plagemann entertained at surprise party by friends. page i. Weather report, data and forecast Page 1. French or Swiss Resi dence Likely. MOTHER GOING TO DENMARK Members of Imperial Suite Favor New Government. REFORMS COME RAPIDLY Soldiers to Address Superiors as "Mister" Instead of "Excel lency" and Ban Against Smok ing in Streets Is Off. PETROGRAD. via London. March 20. The former Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna, who was at Kiev, went to meet her son, former Emperor Nicholas, as he was returning after his abdica tion. She had long resented the Influ ence over Nicholas wielded by the Em press Alexandra, Gregory Rasputin, the mystic monk, and Mademoiselle Gru bava, lady-in-waltlng to the Empress and Alexandra's best friend, who had Introduced Rasputin to the Empress. Marie Feodorovna saw Alexandra only when court functions required. Since early in January she had been at Kiev and had refused to come to the capital. Her meeting with Nicholas was said to have been affecting. Nicholas May Leave Russia. The object of her visit to him was to advise with him as to her future residence. It Is reported that she in- tends to go to Denmark, her native country. It Is expected that Nicholas Romanoff. as the former Emperor is now known, will eventually go to Switzerland or France, his stay In the Crimea being temporary. Most of the members of his suite have acknowledged the new gov ernment. Most of the Grand Dukes In the mili tary service will retain their posts at least temporarily.' Promises Made Worklng;men. The new minister of trade and In dustry is in communication with the workingmen and promises to develop plans for worklngmen's unions,' which were formerly prohibited, abolish crim inal penalties for strikes, regulate hours and conditions, work and pro mote worklngmen's insurance. Among the reforms in the army which have been indicated by Minister of War Guchkoff in a formal order to the troops are . that soldiers shall be addressed as "you" instead of th familiar "thou," that soldiers shall ad dress their superiors as "mister" in-. stead of "excellency," and that the ban on soldiers' smoking In the streets, entering public places and streetcars, and participating in political organiza tions shall be abolished. Last Hours Dramatic. The draraatlo story of Nicholas last hours as ruler of Russia Is told by a correspondent of the Outro Rossll, of Moscow. It says that son of the telegrams about the revolution sent by President Rodzianko, of the Duma, had reached the Emperor. Every effort was made to keep him In Igno rance of these affairs. General Zabel -protested, declaring that if the others refused to inform the IZmperor he , would do so. Nicholas was awakened at 2 o'clock in the morning. He went ' to the dining car and demanded that Admiral Ntloff tell him what had hap pened In Petrograd. He was told that crowd of students, hoodlums and young soldiers had terrorized the Duma, but that a few detachments of troops would be able to put them down. Just then Commander Voyekoff, of the Imperial train entered with a tele gram saying that 700 of the St George Cavalry were on the way to Tsarkoe Selo to present a cross to the Em peror and had arrived at the near by station of Dno, headed by General Ivanoff. Csar Told He la Deceived. "Your Majesty," said Voyekoff. "it is enough that you appear at the Tsarskoe-Selo in the tmidst of these heroes and with the Tsarskoe-Selo gar rison go to the Duma. All the troops will remember their oath. It will be easy to overcome these young soldiers. "It is a lie, your majesty." shouted . General Zabel. "You are deceived. Read these telegrams. Here is the 'order: To the imperial train at Vishera: Do not send the train to Tsarskoe-Selo, but to Petrograd.' " The Emperor arose and exclaimed: "What does this mean? Is It revolu tion? Is Grekoff (who signed the order to divert the train) commander in Petrograd?" Then General Zabel spoke out, saying, "There are 60,000 troops, with officers, backing the temporary government. Your majesty has been de clared dethroned. It is impossible to go further." Nicholas, completely nonplussed, ex claimed: "Why was I not told before? Why . tell me now when all Is finished?" Nicholas Is Fond of Flowers. After a moment he added with a ges ture of helplessness: "Let it be so. Thank God. I will abdicate If that is what the people want. I will ijo to Llvadia (the estate of the Russian im perial family on the south coast of the Crimea), to my gardens. I am so fond of flowers." The train moved toward Bologole. At Dno a telegram was received stat .tCoacluded on Page 2, Column 4.X - T ( i E -. (. . . ': J