Morning Oregonian., April 18, 1917, Image 1

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-f.'. ' Bill Ml
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VOL.. LTVTI NO. 17,599.
PORTLAND, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL, 18. 1917.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
1001 GE
OREGON COEDS TO
GET UNION WAGES
'RESIDENT FIGHTS
FOR ARMY DRAFT
RECRUIT INFLUX IS
TAX ON BARRACKS
BILLIONS FOR WAR
PASSED BY SENATE
WHITE HOUSE TO
GROW OWN FOOD
PRESIDENT MAY WIELD HOE
IN SPARE MOMENTS.
U-BOAT ATTACKS
EUGENE HOUSEWIVES ALSO TO
PAY FOR OVERTIME.
REGULARS PRESSED INTO SERV
ICE AS DRILLMASTERS.
. . DESTROYER
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LOST 01 BATTLE
40 Miles of Trenches Are
Captured by French.
PRISONERS NUMBER 13,500
New Offensive Extends More
Than One-Third of En
tire West Front.
20 DIVISIONS DEFEATED
Teutons Deliver Fierce Counter-Attacks
and Lost
v Positions Bombarded.
PARIS, April 17 Casualties esti
mated at 100,000, including more than
13,500 taken captive, and loss of 40
miles of the strongest part of her line
were sustained by Germany Monday
End today in the new French offen
sive. Continuing their terrific attack
against the German positions between
Soissons and Rheims and east of the
latter place today, the French carried
German first-line positions over many
miles of front, captured powerfully
organized heights, occupied the im
portant village of Auberive and on
this part of the front, about two miles
in extent, took more than 2500 pris
oners. 11,000 Previously Captured.
According to the official statement
from the "War Office, strong German
counter attacks were repulsed.
The number of German prisoners
taken by the French Monday is now
placed at 11,000.
The attack began along a 25-mile
front, from Soissons to Rheims, ex
tending the great western battle a
distance of close to 150 miles, more
than one-third of the mighty line from
Switzerland to the sea.
The Germans were aware of what
was coming, as they showed by a
number of furious attacks made, nota
bly at Sapigneul and Godat farm,
with the object of finding out some
thing definite in regard to the French
preparation.
20 German Divisions Used.
The invaders had manned naturally
formidable positions with effectives
amounting to at least 20 divisions and
an enormous number of guns, well
supplied with ammunition.
The battle opened on the left of the
line, where, shortly after 8 o'clock in
the morning, the French infantry
swept forward in an irresistible wave.
In spite of a stiff resistance, the
Germans were driven back, and inside
of half an hour prisoners began
streaming toward the French rear by
hundreds.
First Line Won Quickly.
The struggle was hottest east of
Loivre as well as in the whole sector
of Berry-au-Bac and to the east of
Craonnelle, but the French heavy
shells were too much for the Germans
and before noon the whole first line
was won.
On the right the action began a lit
tie later in the morning. The French
met with a determined resistance and
the fighting was terrible.
After several hours of homeric
struggle, the French infantry, thanks
, to the support of several hundred
heavy quick-firing guns," forced their
way into the enemy's first line. It was
a fine success, as the terrain was most
difficult and the positions formidable,
Counter Attacks Are Violent.
In the afternoon the Germans coun
ter attacked with extreme violence al
most everywhere along the front. The
majority of their reserves were en
gaged south and east of the Brlmont
ridge. It is from the Brimont fort.
built on a crest which dominates all
the plain around, that .the Germans
have bombarded the city of Kheims
The French troops are now very close
to this ridge, which is likely to play
a prominent part in the coming fight
ing. In capturing Loivre they have
drawn nearer to Bermericourt and
have gone far beyond the famous po
sition which they lost in the first
weeks of the war and failed to win
back at the battle of the Marne.
According to the latest news reach
ing Paris, the Germans are bombard
(Concluded on Pace 6. Column &.
Minimum Wage Is Set at Ten Cents an
Hour and Rate of Compensa
tion Is on Sliding Scale.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, Eugene,
Or., April 17. (Special.) As a result
of a conference between the dean of
women of the university and the house
wives of Eugene, coeds hereafter will
work their way through school on a
union scale of wages, with a sliding
scale for overtime. Three and one
half hours have been set as the equiva
lent for the working girls' eight-hour
law. The minimum wage is set at
10 cents an hour. This Is the first time
union rules have been adopted for
coeds.
The sliding scale of compensation for
separate tasks is 25 cents an hour for
washing, ironing, sweeping, cleaning;
20 cents fqr sewing and dishwashing;
15 cents for afternoon care of children
and mending; 10 cents for care of chil
dren for dinner hour and evening; $1
for serving meal and washing dishes;
75 cents for assistant at an evening
party; 25 cents an evening, plus trans
portation, for care of . children after
children have retired; 25 cents an hour
for stenography and typewriting, 20
cents for correcting papers and 20 cents
for office work.
TREE KILLS THIRD BROTHER
Silas Noah Is Latest In Family to EH
In Logging Camp.
MARSHFIELD. Or.. April 17. (Spe
cial.) Silas Noah. 58, died last night
from Injuries suffered yesterday when
tree fell on him at a logging camp.
Mr. Noah had been a resident of Coos
River since 1872. He was one of a fam
ily of 15 children reared in Douglas
County, 10 of whom are still living, and
mostly residents of this county.
A curious fate pursued the brothers.
Silas being the third who was killed
n logging camps, and the circum
stances of their deaths were almost
identical. The eldest brother, "Joseph.
was killed at Wlnlock. Wash., and the
youngest. George, met his death near
Marshfield when a large fir snag fell
on him two years ago.
CRUISER SHOT HALTS SHIP
British Steamer South Down, Flying
' No Flag, Allowed to Proceed.
BOSTON, Mass., April 17. The United
States cruiser Birmingham reported by
radio today that she had halted the
British steamship South Down by a
shot across her bow off Nantucket
lightship this morning. The steamer
was allowed to proceed after an exam
inatldn. No further details were given.
It was said informally that the proba
bilities were hat the South Down was
flying no flag and showed no other
distinguishing mark.
No steamer South Down Is listed In
available maritime registers, but the
British steamer Southerndown has been
a familiar figure in Atlantic waters.
FLOUR NOW $10.60 BARREL
Advance of 4 0 Cents Made Despite
Unsettled Wheat Market.
Flour prices were advanced 40 cents
a barrel in the local market yesterday
to the wholesale basis of $10.60 a bar
rel for the best family patents. In the
advance the flour market followed the
general upward course of wheat prices.
although wheat for the day was lower.
Wheat prices all over the country
were unsettled by the Government s
action In admitting Canadian wheat
Into the United States duty free. If the
fall In wheat is extended, flour prices
will probably drop back to a lower
level.
BERNHARDT OPERATED ON
Famous French Actress Is in Dan
gerons Condition.
NEW YORK, April 17. Madame
Sarah Bernhardt, the famous French
actress, was operated upon at Mount
Sinai Hospital here late tonight by Dr.
Leo Buerger. ,
She Is dangerously ill with an infec
tion of the kidneys and the operation
was deemed the only hope of saving her
life.
After the operation, lime. Bernhardt
was said to be resting quietly.
MINERS' PAY TO GO UP.
Agreement Provides for 2 0 Per Cent
Advance When Contract Expires
NEW YORK, April 17. A tentative
agreement to advance the wages of
225,000 miners in the bituminous coal
fields of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and
Western Pennsylvania by about 20 per
cent at the expiration of the present
contract was reached today.
A committee, consisting of operators
and employes from the four states, held
a conference.
OFFICERS' LOSS ABOUT 400
Canadian Casualties Since April 8
Include 3 00 Wounded Lieutenants,
OTTAWA. Owt., April 17. Though no
official figures are available. It is un
derstood that officers casualties al
ready received dating back to 'April 8
number more than 400.
These include 300 Lieutenants wound
ed. Most of these casualties occurred
in the first three days of the Canadian
drive..
Pressure Brought on
Members of House.
EARLY PASSAGE IS REQUESTED
Uncertainty of Russia Makes
Peril More Grave.
COMPROMISE IS EXPECTED
Secretary of War Baker Appears
Before Committee ' Greater Part
in. War Than Anticipated Is
Now Thought Probable.
BY JOHN C ALLAN O'LAUGHLIN.
WASHINGTON. April 17. (Special.)
President Wilson used the power of his
great office today to Induce the House
of Representatives to pass substantially
unamended the Administration's mili
tary conscription bill.
He sent for Chairman Dent, of the
House military affairs committee, and
urged him to favor the measure and to
communicate to his Democratic col
leagues the view that the Interests of
the Nation demanded its Immediate re
port. He sent also for Representative
Mann, minority leader of the House.
He asked Mr. Mann to do all in his
power to line up Republican members
on the committee and in the House in
support of the proposal.
Baker Appeals to Committee.
Secretary of War Baker appeared be
fore the military committee tonight.
He told the committee that it was the
judgment of the President that no time
should be lost in enacting the legisla
tion In order that the country might be
put in prompt condition to meet the
grave peril which confronts it.
The President was impelled to Inter
vention by his knowledge of the war
situation, by the attack on the destroy
er Smith by a German submarine and
by information conveyed to him regard
ing the action of the committee .yes
terday in rejecting the conscription
plan.
The President knows that Russia has
become a doubtful factor in the Euro
pean struggle; that, relieved from dan
ger of Invasion by Russian troops, Ger
many and Austro-Hungary will be able
to devote their energies elsewhere
and that the time Is coming when the
United States must bear an even greater
part In the struggle than had been
anticipated.
Every Moment Precious.
Consequently every moment is pre
cious. The delay of a day now In get
ting together an adequate trained army
may be costly in American lives in the
future.
Therefore the President and his Sec
retary of War are urging action with
out the slightest delay. Moreover, for
(Continued on Page 4, Column 1.)
Many of 750 Raw Men for Army
Will Have to Walt Until Equip
ment Arrives From South.
VANCOUVER BARRACKS, Wash
April 17. (Special.) So great has been
the number of recruits for the Regular
Army sent here from the recruiting
stations in Portland and other North
west cities that the facilities for hous
ing and caring for the new men have
been greatly taxed.
The records today showed that 491
men were enlisted in the recruit com
panies and there were 160 more who
had not been completely enlisted, and
more than 100 new men arrived today.
This makes approximately 750 recruits
for the Regular Army . now stationed
here, the largest number ever held here.
, The few soldiers of the Regular
Army who are stationed here have been
impressed Into service as drillmasters
and the commissary and quartermaster
departments have been working over
time in an effort to provide clothing
and equipment for the new men. Many
will have to await the arrival of equip
ment from San Francisco. A regimental
tent camp was started today.
INDIANS TO RAISE FOOD
Umatilla Reservation Being Planted
to Wheat and Barley.
PENDLETON. Or., April 17. (Spe
cial.) Umatilla Reservation Indians
may play an Important part in the pro
duction of food during the period of
stress. "
Superintendent E. L. Swartzlander, of
the Umatilla Reservation, is working
for the co-operation of the Indians and
white renters on the reservation in cul
tivating every tillable acre available
this year.
Every acre on the agency farm has
been sowed to wheat, barley or pota
toes, and many Indians who are not
wheat-raisers are producing their own
hay and vegetables.
VILLA POSSESSES MILLION
Bullion Extorted From Mines Is
Hidden In Mexico.
EL PASO, Tex., April 17. Francisco
Villa told a prominent Mexican mining
man recently that he had approximate
ly Jl, 000,000 worth of gold and silver
bars hidden in the- states' of Durango
and Chihuahua. '
These gold and silver bars were ob
tained from the foreign and native min
lng companies by Villa In the form of
forced loans and ransoms, the mining
man said here today.
CANADIAN TROOPS TO PASS
Use of Lines Crossing Into American
Territory Permitted.
OTTAWA, Ont., April 17. The United
States Government has given permis
slon for the passage of Canadian troops
on the Canadian Pacific Railway
through the state of Maine and on the
Canadian Northern Railway through
the state of Minnesota.
These movements will be between
Canadian points in both cases. '
THE HUNT IS OX.
Changes May Necessi
tate Conference.
PASSAGE IS IN RECORD TIME
84 Votes Are Cast and None
Is Against Measure.
DEBATE IS NOT PARTISAN
Borah and Cummins Declare Oppo
sition to Loan to Allies Presi
dent Will Have Ample Fi
nances in Pew Hours.
WASHINGTON, April 17. The war
finance bill providing for Issuance of
$7,000,000,000 In securities the largest
single war budget In any nation's his
tory was parsed unanimously by the
Senate tonight.
After seven hours of discussion the
Administration measure, which was
passed by the House last Saturday and
which provides for a loan to the allies
of $3,000,000,000, was approved by the
Senate with few changes in record
time. The amendments may necessitate
a conference or the Senate changes may
be accepted by the House.
Art Effective In Few Honrs.
In either event the executive branch
of the Government conducting the war
with Germany will, within a few hours,
have authorization for the great war
chest at its disposition. To expedite
action the Senate tonight appointed
conferees to act if the House should
not, contrary to expectations, accept
the Senate changes.
Of the 84 Senators present tonight
every one, including all who voted
against war, except Senator Lane, of
Oregon, who was absent because of ill
ness, recorded themselves in favor of
providing the funds to prosecute hos
tilities. Nearly all of the 12 absentees
were ill.
Debate Not Partlsaa.
That in the Inability of the Nation
to supply men at once for the fighting
lines money should be America's imme
diate contributions to her allies, was the
dominant thought expressed during the
debate.
Few Senators participated In the dis
cussion, which was totally devoid of
partisan expression.
Every Senator speaking announced
staunch Intention to aid the Govern
ment In prosecuting the war to speedy
conclusion..
Only two Senators, Borah and Cum
mins, declared opposition to the pro
posed allies' loan.
A few favored raising a larger pro
portion by taxation of the present gen
eration and less upon bonds.
Amendments adopted by the Senate
Include provisions:
Limiting deposits of proceeds from
(Concluded on Pass 2, Column 3.)
Employes of Executive Mansion Ob
tain Permission to Till
Downtown Plot.
WASHINGTON, April 17. The White
House is about to join the increased
food production movement by planting
a garden of its own, in which Presi
dent Wilson may wield a hoe when he
finds a spare moment.
With the approval of Secretary
Tumulty, White House employes ob
tained permission from the Depart
ment of Justice today to use for gar
dening purposes half' an acre of vacant
land in the downtown section of Wash
ington. Tomorrow the assistance of the De
partment of Agriculture will be asked
in selecting seed for the land, and there
will be a formal breaking of ground
Thursday or Friday. The President
probably will participate.
DRYS GAIN lN ILLINOIS
Danville Largest of Eight Cities and
Towns to Reject Saloon.
CHICAGO, April 17. Local option
elections in Illinois today resulted In
the addition of eight cities and towns
to the prohibition territory of the state.
Two dry towns voted to return to sa
loons and eight voted to retain the
licensed sale of liquor.
Danville was the largest of the mu
nicipalities to go dry.
CADETS LOSE OFFICERS
Army Details to Schools Are to Be
Discontinued.
WASHINGTON. April 17. Detailing
of Army officers to educational insti
tutions, for military Instruction work
was ordered discontinued today by the
War Department, with a suggestion
that students of military age can best
serve their country by joining the
Army or Navy.
WILL H. PARRY IS WORSE
Federal Trade Commissioner's Condi
tion Held Dangerous.
WASHINGTON. April 17 Will H.
Parry, of Seattle, Wash., vice-chairman
of the Federal Trade Commission, is
dangerously ill in a hospital here and
fears are felt for his life. He was
operated on for gallstones several
days ago.
Complications developed.
BUENOS AIRES HAS RIOTS
Supporters of Allies and Neutrality
Advocates Clash.
BUENOS AIRES, April 17. Support
ers of the allies and advocates of neu
trality clashed last night during
street demonstration.
Several persons were injured.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature,
degrees; minimum. 40 drreea.
TODAY'S Fair, westerly winds.
Wsr.
51
Germans loso 100,000 men before
attack. Page 1.
French
B1I1 to curb food prices being drafted.
Paso O.
Vlmy victory duo In part to spectacular
charge by Canadian cavalry. Pace 7,
Berlin resents air raid on Freiburg. Pate 9.
Senate passe 17.000,000,000 war measure.
Pass 1.
White House to trow own food. Pace 1.
U-boat attacks American destroyer. Pace 1.
Modified espionage bill up In Senate today
Page 4.
President to assure envoys that America will
fight to bitter end. Page 5.
Officers reserve camps to open May 8,
Page 4.
President and Secretary Baker want Con
gress to rush army bill. Page 7.
President makes personal plea for selective
draft bill. Page 1.
Austrlans hope for peace and Spring. Page 2,
One-day factory strike alarms Berlin. Page 2.
National.
T. R. Sheridan, of Roseburg. pardoned by
President. Page 7.
Mexican Ambassador received at Washing
ton. Page .
Sports.
Pacific Coast Leaatie results: Portland 1
Oakland 3; Salt L4tke 4. San Francisco 1;
Vernon 3, Los Angeles 1. I'age 14.
Multnomah Club athletes to enter Corvallis
relay carnival. Page 14.
Louis Guisto makes first base en Cleveland
team in spits of opposition. Page 14.
Welsh defeats Nelson . in twelve rounds.
Page 14.
Portland Revolver Club wins United States
championship. Page 8.
raclflc Northwest.
Oregon co-eds to receive union wages. Pare 1.
Two women confess) to burning; Ashland
house for Insurance. Pace 4.
Milton and Freewater Join in food conserva
tion campaign. Page 9.
Recruits tax barracks. Page 1.
Bllllngsley brothers will be sentenced this
week. Page 9.
Commercial and Marine.
Local wheat prices follow sharp Eastern de
cline. Page 18.
Removal of duty on Canadian wheat breaks
Chicago market. Page IS.
Portland and Vicinity.
Commissioner Adams addresses Wasco
County good roaus men. Page 7,
Many craftsmen needed by Government.
Page 15.
Rose Festival fund campaign spurts.
Page 15.
Formation for big parade announced. Page 6.
Y. M. C. A. unveils honor roll of members
who have enlisted. Page 13.
Governor Withycombe asks service league
for plan to ,use work: of older men.
Page 6.
Three days left to get 137 Naval recruits In
this district. Page 8.
Committee expects 30,000 In parade tomor
row. Page IS.
Council decides check Is too expensive and
Initiative petitions are Died. Psge 8.
Honor Girls to raise crops on Reed College
tract. Page 10.
Forest road Improvements are outlined
Page 0.
Weather report,' data and forecast. Pace IS.
Torpedo Fired 100 Miles
South of New York.
VESSEL MISSED 30 YARDS
Act Is Germany's First Recog
nition of State of War
With America.
BLOCKADE IS INDICATED
Some Officials Await Further
Details of Event Before '
Accepting Theory.'
BOSTON, April 17. The war was
brought to the shores of this country
today when the United States de-
stroyer Smith reported by radio that
an enemy submarine had tried unsuc
cessfully to torpedo her 100 miles
south of New York at 3:30 this morn
ing. Additional reports were received
from the destroyer tonight and wer
forwarded to Washington. Nothing
of an official nature regarding the
additional reports was made public
here.
A suggestion In shipping circles
that the lookout on the Smith had
perhaps mistaken a large fish for a
torpedo in the uncertain light of the
early morning, met with the reply
that the Smith's officers "stood by
their . original statement."
Blockade Is Indicated.
It was learned, however, that an
other destroyer passed near the posi
tion mentioned in the Smith's report
without sighting anything unusual.
Warning of the probable presence
of a German submarine off the At
lantic coast was sent broadcast to all
ships early today upon receipt at tha
Navy Department of the report from
the destroyer Smith.
No further word came from the
Smith tonight. Navy officials, soma
of whom are strongly inclined to the
belief that the destroyer's lookout was
mistaken, are awaiting with keen in
terest additional reports received to
day at Boston.
Rigid Patrol Demonstrated.
The incident serves to illustrate the
fact that a rigid patrol has been es
tablished off the Atlantic coast. No
details of its operations have been
made public.
Presumbaly the destroyers and
heavier craft are operated on the out
er circles of the patrol. Motor craft
form the inner lines, which are being
extended as rapidly as suitable boats
can be equipped and provided with
crews.
The presence of enemy submersi
bles in American waters indicates
that the threatened German subma
rine blockade of American Atlantic
ports has begun.
This announcement was made at
the Navy Department:
"Reported from Fire Island light
ship to the naval stations at Boston
and New York at 3:30 A. M., on the
17th, an enemy submarine was sight
ed by the United States ship Smith,
running apparently submerged.
Vessel Missed by 30 Yards.
"Submarine fired a torpedo at the
U. S. S. Smith, which missed her by
30 yards. The wake of the torpedo
was plainly seen crossing the bow.
Submarine disappeared."
First information of the encounter
came to the Navy Department in a
roundabout way from the Boston
Navy-Yard, which picked up the
Smith's report, saying she had been
fired upon by a German U-boat.
The Navy Department, after com
municating with Fire Island, Boston,
New York and some other points on
the Atlantic Coast, announced that
the report of the Smith's encounter
had been substantiated by official in
vestigation. Attack First Act of War.
Whether the presence of the Ger
man submarine merely foreshadows
a sporadic raid such as the U-53 con
ducted off the New England coast,
or whether it is the signal for the
beginning of a general submarine
blockade of the Atlantic Coast is not
known.
The attack by the U-boat is Ger
many's first recognition of the state
iConcluJoii ou i. Column 1.).
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