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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (July 17, 1917)
mm v i .vi i- NO. 17,675. PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY. JULY 17, 1917. rillCE FIVE CENTS. DISPUTE HALTS SHIP PLAN FOR MAKING RRCCPC REAL YOUTH RESCUED BY 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL FIRE AND USED AT PENDLETON MELTS; MERCURY TIPS 107 ONLY RAIN CAN SAVE NORTHWEST WHEAT NITRATE CHANGED E GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO EX-1 I Ml Ml G. EDWARDS, OF PORTLAND, SAVED FROM DROWNING. HOTTEST SPELL ON RECORD IN PEIfD $4,000,000 FOR PLANT MED FORD BROKEN BY RAIN. flOW PRISON KLAMATH PROGRAfl AO Al N GERMANY Goethals Delays Plan to Take Vessels Over. DENMAN BLAMED BY GENERAL Board Head, on Other Hand, Accuses Manager. PRESIDENT MAY STEP IN Differences, Supposedly Based on Wooden Ship Issue, Said to Go i Much Deeper Chairman Dc- i mauds Details of Contract. WASHINGTON, July 16. The Gov ernment's merchant shipbuilding: pro gramme was halted today, when Major General Goethals, manager of the Ship ping Board's fleet corporation, post poned his plan to requisition all eteel merchant ships under construction and to let contracts for building two Government-owned shipyards for producing fabricated steel ships. At General Goethals' office It was said the postponement was due to a request by Chairman Denman, of the Shipping Board, for a short delay to give the board time to go over the programme. This was denied at the Shipping Board,' although the statement was made that General Goethals had been asked to supply additional Information concerning his plans. Authority Is at Issue. Today's development was regarded as bringing to a direct issue the ques tion of who is to have supreme author ity in carrying out the building pro gramme Chairman Denman or Gen eral Goethals. Authority to spend $750,000,000 for acquiring a great merchant fleet, given to President Wilson by Congress, has been divided In an executive order be tween the Shipping Board and its cor poration, the Board being authorized to acquire vessels by purchase and the corporation to take charge of build ing. In announcing his programme last Friday. General Goethals apparently as sumed that as manager of the corpora tion he would have a free hand, but Mr. Denman, In a statement tonight, assumes responsibility for the Shipping Board, whose members are directors and stockholders of the corporation. President May Decide. Officials who have watched the sit uation develop and who have been con cerned lest differences between Chair man Denman and General Goethals hinder the Government's shipbuilding plans at a time when every vessel that . can be constructed is needed to meet ' the submarine menace, declared tonight that President Wilson might be called t on to settle the controversy once for all. While the disagreement between the two men appears to be largely over the number and type of wooden vessels to be built, it is no secret among their friends that their differences go deeper than that. In a letter to Mr. Denman, made pub lic Friday. General Goethals announced that he would start his programme to day. The fact that he had postponed it was made known after he had received a letter from Mr. Denman this morn ing. Contents Not Divulged. The contents of this letter neither would divulge, and at the offices of one It was declared Mr. Denman had asked for a. delay, while at the offices of the other It was asserted he merely had asked for more complete information, Mr. Denman's statement accepting for the Shipping Board and the corpora tion, responsibility for the shipbuilding programmeglven to the press tonight reads: "We requested of General Goethals certain Information concerning his programme for the expenditure of the J75O.00O.O0O .of public money, of which k the President's executive order has made the board and the corporation responsible. If the project had reached the condition of preparedness which it has been asserted It had reached, the information could have been furnished in two hours, or we could have been told if the information was not In hand. Speedy Construction Desired. "When we do get the information in writing, we will take up with General Goethals a discussion of all the mat ters involved in the project of build ing ships. What we want is speedy construction of ships, reasonable prices for steel on the ship fabrication and retention of all alien tonnage on our stocks which may be necessary to carry troops and supplies to Europe if the rate of submarine sinkings continues at even two-thirds of that for the last five months. "We are also Interested in the reten tion by the Government of any fabri eating plants constructed by the Gov eminent and are interested In deter mining the policy as to their sale on facts as they exist after the war and not now. We cannot now determine conditions of the world commercial warfare after the war and we may re quire operation of these plants by the Government after the war is over. "General Goethals has not even told tfle public or the directors of the corporation the names of the two con (Concluded on Pace 5, Column 2.) Water Power May Be Utilized Later If Greater Production Is Found Xecessary. WASHINGTON, July 16. Secretary Baker announced today that plants for the production of nitrate from atmo spheric nitrogen would be constructed immediately at a cost of about $4,000, 000 and that water power would not be used. Sites have not been selected. Further discussion by localities de siring to be considered as possible sites Is closed temporarily, the announce ment says, while the site committee of Cabinet officers Is making further engineering studies. It has been assumed ever since the great nitrate project was proposed that a vast supply of water power would be needed, consequently sites with water power have been supposed to be the only ones likely to get con-' sideratlon. Mussel Shoals, of the Ten nessee River, was one of the places most strongly urged during the de bates In Congress. Congress appropriated $20,000,000 for the project. Apparently the entire ex penditure contemplated by the War Department is one-fifth of that sum. Informally officials explained that to day's announcement did not mean that the idea of building a water power ni trate plant was permanently aban doned, although It would not be pressed for the present. It would require sev eral years to build the enormous plant required for the utilization of water power, and for thatTeason It was de termined that for urgent war purposes it would be necessary to adopt one of the various more expensive processes of producing nitrates. FISHERMEN ARE VICTORS Order Forbidding Boats on lower River at Night Suspended. ASTORIA, Or.. July 16. (Special.) As the result or a conference of sev eral cannerymen with Colonel Bills, commanding officer at Fort Stevens, the regulation which was to become effective this evening forbidding any small boats, including fishing craft, to cruise In the harbor below Forts Co lumbia and Stevens after sunset is sus pended. Colonel Bills Is now communicating with higher officials of the depart ment, and it Is believed the order wjll be revoked. This was good news to fishermen, as the order would have put a stop to fishing at night. 4 U-BOATS LOST IN ATTACK American Convoy's Victory Admit ted In German Dispatch. LONDON, July 16. Four of the larg est and most modern German sub marines were destroyed by American warships which were convoying the first installment of American troops to France, according to a report from German sources. A Berne dispatch to a Rome News Agency and forwarded from Rome by the Central News carried the informa tion. RESERVOIR SITE IS HELD Government 'Will Not Restore to Entry Lands at Crane Prairie. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, July 16. The Secretary of In terior today notified Representative McArthur that he will not restore to entry the lands withdrawn for the Crane Prairie reservoir site on the Deschutes irrigation project, as engi neers report the project is feasible and can be built at a. reasonabl cost. The reservoir some day will be needed, by the Government. ROYAL TITLE TO CHANGE English King's Name Is of German Origin. LONDON, July 16. King George has called a special meeting of the Privy Council, to be held tomorrow, for the purpose of proclaiming a change in the title of the Royal House. King George is of the House of Saxe Coburg and Gotha. whose German name suggests the reason for the pending change in title. ARGENTINA ISN0W ANGRY Demand Made on Germany for Sat isfaction for Sinking Steamer. BUENOS AIRES. July 16. Argen tina has instructed her minister in Berlin to demand of the German gov ernment an answer to the Argentine note calling for satisfaction for the torpedoing of the Argentine steamer Toro and the promise to cease attacks on Argentine shipp? A rupture in relations is considered imminent. BERLIN GIVES UP NAPKINS Hotels Permitted to Change Bed Linens Once Weekly. COPENHAGEN, July 16. The textile shortage now deprives Germany of nap kins and tablecloths, the use of which in hotels and restaurants in that coun try has been forbidden. Hotels are prohibited changing bed linens more often than once a week for guests. - Washington Is Advised Nation Is at War. 250,000 TROOPS TO AID ALLIES Entente Force in Balkans Will Total 950,000 Men. MISSION TO U. S. LIKELY America Expects Request to Fur nish Munitions for New Army. . Majority of People Happy Over Final Decision. WASHINGTON. July 15. Uncertainty as to Greece's status In the world war was cleared away today with the re ceipt of. official information that the Greek government not only has severed relations with all four of the central powers, but is actually In a state of war with them. Information has reached the State Department that the Greek Minister In Paris has notified the French govern ment Greece considers herself a full belligerent and will act accordingly. He said it was not necessary to Issue a formal declaration of war, as the gov ernment feels It is bound by the decla rations previously issued at Salonikl by Premier Venizelos. who took with bim to Athens all the responsibilities and commitments of the temporary Saloniki government. . Early Mobilization Expected. As a belligerent Greece is expected to lose no time in mobilizing her war resources and Joining effectively in the allies' operations in the Balkans. The strength of the Venizelos army is placed at about 60,000 men and the remnants of the former regular army, while not over 30,000 now. has at times been mobilized to a total of 200,000 men and i3 capable of reaching 300,000 If munitions are provided. The regulars practically were de mobilized ' by the allies when former King Constantino held the organization as a threat to the allies' rear, but can quickly be called to the colors again. The classes of 191G and 1.917, previ ously prevented by the allies from be ing called out, were called to the colors about two weeks ago. 2 50,000 Men Available. Commissioner Jornart, whom the al lies entrusted with enforcing Constan tine's abdication, has reported that a Greek army of 250,000 will be raised to add to the 700.000 allied soldiers al ready in the Balkans. A Greek mission may be sent to the United States, not only to negotiate for supplies for this army, but also to pre sent Greece's situation as to the general world reconstruction after the war. For (Concluded on PAge 2, Column 1.) NOW'S THE LP ; 1 In Aiding Young Swimmer, Ruth Wilkinson Almost Loses Her Own . Life. . DALLAS, .Or., July 16. (Special.) Risking her life in LaCreol Creek, near Oak Grove, Friday afternoon, Ruth Wilkinson, 13-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. L. Wilkinson, 631 Thurman street, Portland, saved George Edwards, 16-year-old son of Mrs. Dwight Ed wards, 1153 Thurman street, Portland, from drowning, as the youth was sink ing the second time. Toung Edwards, still weak from a re cent operation, was attempting to swim in a deep part of the stream when his strength failed and he began to sink. When the young girl tried to aid him, the struggling boy almost pulled her under as he was sinking the second time. Freeing herself, she swam to the bank, picked - up a long pole and' ex tended it to the boy as he came up for the last time. He was nearly uncon scious when pulle out of the water. REJECTED YOUTH GETS IN Oregon Boy ' Enlists With British When American Army Bars Rim. EUGENE, Or., July 18. (Special) Louis D. McFadden, a native son - of Lane County, is determined to fight for America, even though he must go to war under the flag of a foreign na tion. Mr. McFadden, who had been em ployed in Nebraska recently, tried to gain admission to the various branches of the United States Army, but was rejected because he had two toes miss ing, the result of a hunting accident when he was a boy. J. A. McFadden, of Junction City, father of the young man, today re ceived a letter from him announcing that he had made application for serv ice in the British army, been accepted and would leave for Canada at once. I. W. W. HELD AS SLACKERS Three Accused of Talking Against Draft and Possessing No Cards. , HOQUIAM, Wash.. July 16. (Spe cial.) Three men were arrested in Hoquiam today and lodged in the County Jail at Montesano on charges of interfering with conscription. They are John and Victor Suhonen, brothers, and Ell H11L All three are Finns. They are said to be Industrial' Work ers of the World strikers, and had been doing a. good deal of talking in the logging camp against the draft. Offi cers fpund neither of the three men had a registration card. EDDY AND LUNA ARE PROUD Draft Act Will Not Apply to Two Counties In New Mexico. SANTA FE, N. M.. July 16. Two New Mexico counties Eddy and Luna will not furnish any soldiers under the selective draft act, it became known today. Publication of figures apportioning the states showed that each already had furnished more than its share to the military service of the country. TIME FOR OLD JUPE TO SQUARE Livestock Is Killed by Hundreds. ARMED GUARD IS INCREASED More I. W. W. Members Gath ered Into Official Net. FIRE ATTEMPTS FOILED One Blaze Started In Outlying Dis trict and Effort Made to Blow V p Barns of Farmer Who Is Sup plying Horses to Allies. KLAMATH FALLS, Or., July 16. (Special.) Attempts to start fires in Klamath Falls and on a stock ranch in the vicinity as well -s the poisoning of large numbers of livestock led to more active steps today to round up the I. W. element in this county. Some of those arrested yesterday were re leased upon examination today, while several new arrests were made. i.ie number of armed deputies is be ing Increased by Sheriff Humphrey and guards at all manufacturing plants are being strengthened. The local flrj department answered an alar... last night at 11 o'clock at the home of C. A. Bunting, formerl- presi dent of the Klamath Falls Water Users' Association here, where a tire was set with kindlings under the north side of the barn near the house. A north wind was blowing, and if the lire had not been discovered before it had gained headway the barn and residence un doubtedly would have been destroyd. Mr. Bunting lives in one of the most ex clusive residence districts about a mile from the center of the city, and it is thought that the object was to get the department far away so that fires could be set elsewhere and be destructive. Great numbers of livestock have been poisoned in the lava bed country on the Oregon-California line south of here. . J. Frank Adams, one of the most prominent and extensive ranchers In Klamath County, last Saturday dis covered 25 head of his horses and 200 cattle dead. Fifty head of cattle from the "P" and "Pitchfork" ranches, and belonging to various farmers in South ern Klamath County, were also found dead, besides about 40 sheep belonging to Cox Bros., of this county. No clew has been obtained as to how the poison came to be placed. Mr. Adams also reports that about 11 o'clock yesterday morning he dis covered an attempt to burn his big barns and other outbuildings on his home ranch near Merrill, south of here. Two small sticks had been set at the south side of the barn,' and to them was attached a powerful magnifying (Concluded on Page 2. Column 2.) HIMSELF. Garden Truck at The Dalles Damaged and No Relief Is in Sight ; Port land Day Is Pleasant. PENDLETON, Or.. July 16. (Spe cial.) Pendleton sweltered today in the greatest heat of the season. The thermometer reached 107. according to the Government report. MEDFORD. Or.. July 16. (Special.) A local rain and thunder storm to night broke the hottest spell in Med ford and the Rogue River Valley for six years, the mercury reaching 107 both yesterday and today. This temperature has only been ex ceeded once In the history of the local Weather Bureau, July 16. 1911. when the maximum reached was 109.5. Low humidity and a breeze prevented seri ous suffering. THE DALLES; Or.. July 16. (Spe cial.) In spite of a heavy breeze which prevailed all day, the mercury climbed to the 101 mark today. The continued extreme heat is raising havoc with gar den truck, in many places actually cooking the vegetation. There seems to be no relief in sight, as every indi cation points to a continued period of the hot wave. WALLA WALLA, Wash., July 16. (Special.) Today was the hottest day in six years, the maximum being 106 degrees. The same date six years ago, or in 1911. it was 108 degrees. Street temperatures ranged from 115 to 120. Today's record-breaker followed two days when the mercury reached 99 de grees. Although the mercury reached 85 de grees here at 5 o'clock yesterday, or one degree more than on Sunday, the day was declared pleasant. Saturday, which registered 91, bids fair to hold the record for a time. Un irrigated garden truck in the suburbs has sweltered to some extent and Is in need of a shower. CALIFORNIA HEAT KILLS 9 Imperial County Hospitals Taking Care of 2 5 Victims. CALEXICO, Cal.. July 16. Nine per sons, five men, two women and two Infants, died in various towns of Im perial County from heat yesterday be tween noon and midnight, according to official reports today. - Twenty-five heat sufferers also were sent to hospitals. Many horses and mules died. 3 AMERICANS DECORATED Kins of .England Rewards Bravery of Soldiers. LONDON, July 16. King George has conferred the military medal for bravery on three members of the American Legion of the Canadian forces. The men are Lance Corporal Dick. Sergeant Harlan and Private Porter. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 85 degrees; minimum. 60 degrees. TODAY'S Fair, continued warm; moderate westerly winds. War. Berlin press scores German duplicity. Page a. Russian drive nets 37.000 captives. Page 2. Nattonal. Dispute again delays ship programme. Page 1. Plan for making nitrate Is changed. Page 1. Mobilization of Guard is begun. Pago 5. Senators wrangle all day over Hoover's ap pointment. Ftse 3. Greece now real foe of Germany. Page 1. Senate wants information on Census Bu reau s population estimates. Page 4. Domestic. Powder bums discovered on bodies of coal operator's family. Page 3. International News Service falls in all courts to oDiain iree nana in news pirating Page 2. Mrs. Rent MoOney. on trial for murder in connection with parade bomb explosion, testifies in her own behalf. Page 5. Mystery surrounds Identity of "Roy Nor ton." killed in auto accident at Los An geles. Page 5. Exiled miners say their employers want them to return. Page 4. Sports. Double-headers are to be played each Sun day when Beavers are at home. Page 8. W. M. Johnston and Miss Mary K. Browne, California tenn:a stars, to meet best East ern players. Page 8. North went. Fire and poison used at Klamath lead to In crease of guard. Page 1. Only Immediate rains can save Northwest grain crop. Page 1. Hot spell in Oregon continues. Page 1. Seattle carmen vote to walk out. Page 4, Oirl rescues boy companion. Page 1. Severe electric storms set 3tt fires In umpqua forest. Page . Women rule for day at Chautauqua. Page 6, Commercial and Marine. Wool buyers In Northwest have withdrawn rrom market. Page 17. Hogs and cattle lower at local stockyards. Page 17. Rail sharps higher and war stocks lower la Wall Street. Page 17. Peace rumors cause weakness in Chicago corn market. Page 17. Public Dock Commission holds conference with railroad presidents on grain ele vator location. Page 14. Portland and Vicinity. Banquet will be tendered Jay Stevens to night. Page 7. San Francisco merchants trying to wrest trade from Portland. Page IS. Company A. Engineers, ready for duty. Page 13. Few men want to avoid war duty. Page 13. Mount Hood scaled by 83. Page 12. "Pitiable statesman" charge against General Grant in text-book disaproved. Page 9. Law class of 2, University of Oregon, cele brates -5th anniversary. Page 14. Weather report, data and forecast. Page 14. Theatrical men of Coast will confer here to day. Page 9. Mexican Imposition on churches related by visitor. Page 2. Women doing their bit. Page 11. Crop Cut Almost Half by Drouth and Heat. 35,000,000 BUSHELS IS TOTAL Spring Yield Hit Hardest; Oats and Barley Suffer, Too. OREGON GROWS 17,000,000 Northern Idaho Output Is Estimated at Only 3,000,000 Winter Sown Acreuge Escapes, but Is Not Heavy. CONDITIONS OK CROPS IN I NORTHWEST DISTRICTS TOLD IN NUTSHELL.. The Dalles, Or. Wasco wheat I crop almost destroyed. Oats and barley also damaged. Flour mills close until arrival of Spring wheat. lone. Or. Tleld Is average. f Pendleton, Or. Umatilla loss I is heavy. T Moscow, Idaho Drouth nearly ruins wheat crop. J Lewlston, Idaho Rain needed I immediately to prevent further damage. I Goldendale, Wash. Klickitat ? Spring wheat may be wiped out. I Spokane, Wash. Spokane esti- S mates loss at 30 per cent. Walla Walla, Wash. Walla t Walla wheat output decreased 40 I per cent. The wheat crop of the Pacific North west is passing through a critical period. The prolonged dry spell has caused much loss and hot winds in the Inland Empire are increasing the damage. Portland grain men, who are keeping In daily touch with the situation in the interior, fear that the Northwest will not have more than half a crop this year. State LUtlmate- 10,000,000 Bushel. One of the leading authorities esti mates a yield of 33,000,000 to 40.000,000 bushels in the three states as against 3,000.000 bushels produced last year. Another dealer here makes an estimate of 10,000,000 bushels for Oregon. 17. 000,000 burhels for Washington and 3,000,000 bushels for Northern Idaho, a total of only 30.000,000 bushels for this territory. It is the early Spring-sown grain that Is being hurt in the dry sections of Washington, but in the dry sections of Oregon the late Spring-sown wheat Is suffering most. Winter wheat Is generally in good condition, but the Winter-sown acreage is not heavy. Raima Needed Thin Week. Rains throughout the wheat bolt this week would, of course, be of bene fit, but the greater part of the dam age already done cannot be repaired, in the opinion of crop experts. The oats and barley crops are also needing moisture, but they have not been affected as seriously as wheat. The acreage of both these cereals is larger than usual this year, and in spite of the drouth a crop above the normal is expected. LOSS ESTIMATED 3 0 PER CENT Drouth and Hot Winds Cut Crops in Spokane District. SPOKANE, Wash.. July 16. (Spe cial.) The wheat district contiguous to Spokane has already suffered dam age by drouth and hot winds of ap proximately 30 per cent. This district comprises the Palouse, Big Bend and North Idaho regions. The estimate is a general average. In parts of the Big Bend the crop3 will be large. In parts of North Idaho the crops also will be normal, but In other sections the crops will be badly damaged. Hence the estimate has to be taken as an average one. For Instance, 30 per cent deprecia tion rules in several districts in the Big Bend, while In the Palouse the depreciation In yield will run 40 per cent and some places as high as HO per cent. The wheat crop In tha Palouse especially, and also in other places where Winter wheat was killed by the cold and the ground reseeded i this Spring, is deteriorating every day. There must be rain inside of a week to prevent serious loss. Part of this loss is caused by poor farming. TakinfT these districts as a whole, even with favorable conditions from now on. the crop this year will not be more than 75 per cent of the normal. LITTLE OF WASCO CKOP LEFT Wheat, Oats and Barley Arc Dam aged by Heat. THE DALLES, Or.. July 16. (Spe cial.) The extreme heat of the past few days has raised havoc with the wheat, oat and barley crop. Most of the Spring wheat has been burned up and Is useless except for pasture. . Asked regardirrg the prospects of the Concluded on Page 3. Column l.
