Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, September 22, 1917, Page 3, Image 2

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    TIIE 3IORXIXG OKEGOXIAX, ' SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1917.
GERMAN 'THIN LINE
FAILS IN BIG TEST
British and Australians Dem
onstrate Futility of New
Teuton Defense. System.
NOTHNG STOPS TOMMIES
Further Details of Great lrive In
Flanders Show Success Even t
Greater Than at First An
nounced Prisoners Blue.
By The Associated Press.)
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE,. Sept. 21. The great British
victory yesterday east of Ypres has
demonstrated the lutility of the Ger
mans new system of holding the line
thinly with troops scattered over a
depth and depending- mainly on shell
hole and small redoubt defenses in
place- of the trenches formerly occu
pied. Perhaps some would prefer to say
that the superiority of British work
manship again has been shown. In
either case the fact remains that' the
enemy scheme of maintaining the front
attacked yesterday proved a failure.
As a result he now finds himself with
a chattered system, which he cannot
replace by returning to the old plan
of holding the front line trench strong
ly, for if he straightened his line out it
would be blown to atoms by the dom
inating British artillery.
German officers taken prisoner were
Impressed greatly with the magnitude
of the British success and have ex
pressed keen dissatisfaction with their
own higher command. They freely ad
mit the great efficiency of the British
artillery preparation before the attack
and characterize as awful those tremen
dous barrages which swept over the
CJerman territory ahead of the assault
ing troops.
German Prisoners Gloomy
The vast number of German bodies
which lie in the muddy shell holes with
in the territory traversed by the Brit
ish and the devastation wrought by
the big guns give added strength to
their testimony.
The British infantry did not proceed
without opposition to their objective,
but the details of the fighting show no
particularly spectacular features.
The whole operation was a most
astounding performance, but it was ac
complished with such clocklike regu
larity that It left one gasping. It was
as though one had witnessed the wip
ing out of a city by a huge dynamite
line, which does its work instanta
neously. ,
The German prisoners clearly feel
the weight of the blow inflicted. They
are dazed by it and many of them look
on the situation as dark for their
forces.
There was little change in the situa
tion this afternoon. The British were
refting on their laurels and consoli
datiner their gains at most places, al
though local battles were in progress
at some points where the Germans
were still clinging to some redoubt or
small defense which the British de
sired for ra further strengthening" of
their positions.
. Counter Attack Shattered.
Virtually every counter attack the
Germans have attempted since the of
fensive began has been shattered by
artilLery and machine gun fire, and the
nemy undoubtedly lost a great num
ber of men in their abortive attempts.
Throughout yesterday he struggled de
terminedly at many places to regain
the ground lost, but each attack was
broken by the deluge of explosives
hurled into his ranks, he finally adopt
ed the attitude of waiting and during
the night offered little opposition to
the victorious forres opposite him.
Yesterday's fighting from Lange
marck southward to the Ypres-Roulers
railway was largely among strong con
crete and steel redoubts . with which
this section is pitted. Rose Farm,
Quebec Farm and many other well
defended positions fell before the Brit
ish. In most instances their capture
was accomplished after the troops had
forged forward through mud and water
and surrounded them in face of ma
chine gun fire.
Many Germans lost their lives in
the region south of Langemarck. Along
this section the enemy attempted six
counter attacks during , the day. In
nearly every instance they were met
by such murderous artillery fire that
they were forced to withdraw, leaving
large numbers of dead and wounded
on the field.
Whole Column Wiped Out.
Early in the afternoon a column of
2000 Germans advanced from the direc
tion of Oost Rieuwkerke for a counter
attack. As they proceeded through the
village they came under the artillery
fire, and airplanes harassed them con
tinually. The employment of gas shells
by the British forced the Germans to
put on ga.a masks, and they proceeded
ln'this manner to the front, where they
deployed in waves and attacked at two
points. One of the attacking forces
was smashed to pieces with artillery
and machine gun fire. The second was
partly successful east of Langemarck,
but soon was forced back and suf
f-red the same fate as the other.
A strong German position on the high
ground south of the Langemarck-Zon-rtebke
road was captured by the British
troops early in the day. As this was an
important defense the Germans deliv
ered a heavy counter-attack here last
evening and hard hand-to-hand fight
ing developed in which the bayonet
was used freely. The Germans were
forced to withdraw after a short, but
derisive battle.
South of the Ypres-Roulers railway
the Australian troops carried out the
early stages of their task without en
countering many snags, but they were
counter-attacked quickly and sharp
fikrhting followed at many places. They
had reached their final objective, which
carried them well east of the Nun's
Wood, the Glencorse Wood and into the
western part of Polygon Wood, a little
after 10 o'clock and in some places the
outposts had gone a considerable dis
tance in advance of the main line.
othlng Daunts Australians.
The terrain over which they bad to
travel represented some of the most
difficult ground in this section, but the
artillery had made matters easier by
smashing most of the shell hole de
fenses and shattering the forests which
clothed the elevations. .
When the Australians went over the
top at dawn the Germans dropped -a
heavy barrage just back of them and
put a good many shells among the ad
vancing men. It was not a pleasing
situation, but the troops were in fight
ing fettle and pushed forward without
pause. On their left they swept for
ward to the Anxac Farm, where they
planted their standard in honor of the
occasion, and also nearly swept over
the position called Herles. both names
recalling days on the GalHpoli penin
sula. The Nun's Wood was found to be
ery marshy, and there a large number
of German machine guns were con-
t
cealed. Sharp but brief fighting oc-
cur red, the Australians smashing i
their way forward with the vigor
which has characterized most of
their work since the war began.
Similar fighting occurred in Clen
course Wood. Polygon Wood was
found to be a mass of shattered timber,
the British artillery having played
havoc here. The Australians pushed
on half way through this wood, where
they rested.
Weary Tommies Puff Cigarettes,
Just south of Polygon Wood hard
fighting developed at Blackwatch
corner. This was a battle with rifles
and it continued until all the Germans
engaged were either killed or had sur
rendered. Inverness Copse fell to the English
troops with comparatively little re
sistance and they pushed on . to their
final objectives in fine form. West of
Gheluvelt, near a place called Tower
Hamlet, the fighting still proceeded to
day. In order to advance here the
British were forced to cross a stream
and exceedingly marshy grounds in the
valley. A strong' redoubt here domi
nates most of the ground surrounding
the Tower Hamlet and ihe Germans
have been making strenuous resistance.
The first fighting yesterday was very
severe.
ORPHEUM HAS WAR FILM
PICTl'RES OF GERMAN ARM V IN
FILL RETREAT ARE BOOKED.
Views of Great Maaa f Mn Fleeing
Before Rain of Shell Are Taken
From Allied Airplanes. - -
Below the birdman flowed the gray
flood of the German retreat. Sheila
burst in the rout, and men shrank from
the cataclysmal rain of steel and high
explosive. But, far aloft, on the hov
ering: airplane, the motion picture cam
era caugrht that field on film probab
ly one of the most remarkable war pic
tures ever taken. It was the retreat of
the Germans at the battle of Arras.
Through Captain Baines, of the Brit
ish government, the Orpheum and
Keith circuits Jointly have obtained
this four-reel spectacle of battle in the
great war. The pictures will be shown
at the Orpheum in a three weeks' run,
beginning: October 28. They are r,ow
being- exhibited at the Palace and other
well-known New York motion picture
houses.
The pictures of an army in full re
treat, with the tide of battle flowing:
after, were taken both from airplane
and on the field, and are the first war
pictures to arrive in America since the
entrance of the United States into the
strife. Reviews declare them to consti
tute the most notable conribution and
achievement of motion picture opera
tions ever carried to successful conclu
sion. They are vivid history -in ac
tion. Telegraphic advices announcing the
booking of the films were received yes
terday from Martin Beck, of New York,
manager and director of the Orpheum
circuit, by Frank McGettigan, Portland
manager for the Orpheum.
GRANDMOTHER OF
REVOLT OPTIMISTIC
Chief Trouble, Says Catherine
Breshkovskaya, Is Pop
ular Ignorance.
VICTORY IS PREDICTED
BODIES OF BOYS FOUND
NO IXftrEST HELD IX CASES OF
EARL OWEX AND TED CREEL.
Employe on Steimrr Ratb Make
IlMcvery f Youth Mho Was
Employed on River Craft,
OREGON" CITT, Or.. Sept.' 21. (Spe
cial.) The bodies of Earl Owen and
Ted Creel, the two young men who
mysteriously disappeared on the night
of Wednesday, September 12, were
found floating: iu the Willamette River
today. Owen's body was seen floating
by the crew of the steamer Ruth, the
boat on which the young: men were em
ployed, the body being: near the west
bank of the river south of the rapids,
and the body of Creel was found by
some fishermen between the Magoon
park and Jennings Lodge.
Owing to the absence of the Coroner,
Dr. W. K. Hempstead, who Is at
American 'Lake, this position is being
filled by John R. Sievers, Justice of the
Peace, but owing to the circumstances,
he deemed it unnecessary to hold an
inquest, as it was without doubt that
the boys lost their lives accidentally
on the night of their disappearance.
The bodies were brought to the east
side of the river and taken in charge
of R. L. Holman and removed to the
Holman undertaking parlors, where
chey are . being prepared for buriaL
Owen's body will be sent to Loder on
the Willamette , Valley Southern Rail
way on Saturday and the funeral serv
ices will be held in the Voder ceme
tery .t 2 o'clock. It is probable that
the remains of Creel will be sent to his
home, but definite plans have not yet
been completed.
Earl Owen, who was 17 years of age,
leaves a mother, Mrs. Owen, of Molalla;
two brothers, F. Owen, of Needy,
Clackamas County ; C. Owen, of Molalla,
and a sister. Mrs. Flood, of Portland.
DB. MOORE if FRANCE
PORTLAND MAN HEADS PARTY FOR
1NFAXT WELFARE WORK
Doctors and X uriet to Be Stationed in
Cities and County to Work From
House to House.
WASHINGTON', Sept. 21. The Ameri
can Red Cross announced today that
Dr. Charles U. Moore, of Portland, Or.,
with 16 specially trained nurses had
been sent to France to reinforce the In
fant Welfare Union now working there
in an effort to reduce the high death
rate among children under two years of
age.
These reinforcements are sent in re
sponse to a cabled request from Major
Murphy, head of the. Red Cross Com
mission in France. While the plans of
the unit are not yet fully developed, it
is expected that doctors and nurses
will be assigned to service at all the
points of greatest need in France.
They are to be stationed in groups of
two or more at leading camps, from
which house-to-house work and edu
cational campaigns can be conducted,
both in the cities and through the coun
try districts.
A third detachment of doctors will
sail before the end of the month.
T3r. Charles IT. Moore, who sailed from
New York City last Sunday night for
France, left Portland September 6 for
New York. He was formerly a promi
nent physician of Portland with of
fices in the Corbett building. His wife
resides at 1180 East Flanders street.
Woman Seriously Burned.
Mrs. C. A. Wendland. 43. of Boring.
Or., was taken to the Good Samaritan
Hospital last night in a critical condi
tion from bums sustained while help
ing her husband burn stumps near her
home yesterday. Her clothing was ig
nited and she was injured so badly that
she was not expected to live through
the night.
Masses Are Being Educated and Out
of War Will Come Internal Re
generation, Declares Aged
Exile, Xow Free,
PETROGRAD, Sept. 20. (Delayed.)
In the Winter Palace, directly over
Malachite Hall, In which the provisional
cabinet daily debates Russia's fate, is
lodged the "grandmother of the Rus
sian revolution." Catherine Bresh
kovskaya, who. nas spent 50 years of
her 74 years in prison or as an exile
in convict settlements under police
supervision. Madame Breshkovskaya
declared: "My chief food Is optimism."
Today she was interviewed by the As
sociated Press.
"I am largely out of politics she
said. "Deny the stories that I take
part in cabinet affairs. I wish I did.
Things would be better.
Ivornllof f Declared Betrayed.
"Nevertheless, prospects, in . Russia
regarding internal politics and the war
are not as bad as pessimists make them
out to be. You may say. that the Kornil
off revolt was nothing tragic. He was
not a clever man and was badly be
trayed by counter-revolutionists who
at the Moscow conference cheered him
into a perilous adventure and then left
him in the lurch.
"There are still serious disorders, in
stability and threats of worse condi
tions, but these are normal phenomena
due to one remedial cause general and
political ignorance and the immaturity
of our people.
People Being Educated.
"Our people have no knowledge of
their country, its frontiers and his
tory, or of political economy, and the
aim of the rest of my life will be to
help them towards maturity. All my
time now Is being devoted to the edu
cation of the people and the army, both
in civic duty regarding Russia and a
patriotic attitude concerning the war,
in which I demand a battle of victory.
"Our central organization in Petro
grad. which is badly in need of money,
publishes daily educational newspapers
in every provincial capital with the ob
ject of giving instruction on political
and economic questions so as to pre
pare the people for the constituent as
sembly. "On one front alone we have 140
dally newspapers which preach the
need of discipline and solidarity with
our allies. We have circulated already
on the front more than six million
pamphlets written in the same sense.
Regeneratlotrf Expected Soon.
"The wish of the mass of our sol
diers Is to compel the evacuation and
the restoration of all land occupied by
Germany and Austria so that Russia
will come out of the war without loss
and also will get guarantees - which
will prevent suffering in the future."
In conclusion Madame Breshnevs
kaya said: ' -
"Don't be despairing about Russia.
Although I am an old woman, I am con
vinced that I shall see victory and in
ternal regeneration. The Impatience to
witness these is the only passionate
sentiment left ma in life."
GAS BISE IS PROTESTED
CITY ATTORNEY FILES BRIEF WITH
STATE BODY.
I. Roche Contends Vlfforoniilj- That
Reduction In Quality I. Sue
mm Rate Increae.
Objections of the city to' the request
of the Portland Gas & Coke Company
to be allowed by the Public Service
Commission to reduce the quality of its
gas, are outlined in a brief filed with
the Public Service Commission -yesterday
Ly City Attorney La Roche."
It is contended that the reduction of
the gas quality is equivalent to an in
crease in rates. The process would in
crease the company's output of briquets
and thereby its products, while -gas
users would have to burn more gas to
get the same amount of heat, Mr. La
Roche contends. He objects also to the
alteration of the meter inspection serv
ice, contending- that the fact that the
company admits meters get out of or
der is reason for their being tested and
replaced oftener than once in 10 years,
as desired by the company.
"In the 12 months' period ending
August 31, 1917." says Mr. LaRoche, "the
Portland Gas & Coke Company pro
duced 1,372.929.000 cubic feet. sold
through 49.181 meters in service, or an
average amount of 27.900 cubic feet
per meter per annum. The loss of heat
units valued at $.0352 per 1000 feet, is
an average loss of J. 9821 per meter per
annum, or for 49.181 meters a loss of
J48.296.75. - In addition to this direct
loss to consumers and gain to the gas
company there is a saving to the gas
company of 27.458.580,000 British ther
mal units.
"Assuming that all of these . British
thermal units can be put into briquets
at 15,000 Brltisa thermal units per
pound, there would be the amount of
915,236 tons of briquets, which at $9.50
per ton. would be worth $8,694.75 additional."
Auto Hit by Streetcar.
An automobile driven by A. D. Smith,
484 Williams avenue, was struck by a
St- Johns streetcar at "VViliams avenue
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Merch anrJise of cJ Merit Only"
MEN'S NECKWEAR !
A Wonderful Sale at
45c 59c, 79c, 98c, $1.15 an'd $1 .35
HANDSOME scarfs from one of America's foremost manufacturers. The mate
rials have come from the best looms of America, France and Switzerland and
the patterns are extraordinarily rich and beautiful!
All in wide flowing end styles with slip-easy bands patterns to suit all tastes and colors
to match all costumes.
Silks, Satins, Brocades, Ombres, Basket Weaves, Persians and
Dresden Designs i truly wonderful assortment.
See them in the Fifth and Washington Street Corner Window.
Come in early the values are extraordinary.
Buy now for self and Christmas gifts.
Just Inside Washington-Street Entrance.
IS.
Men's New STAR SHIRTS
Are Here in
Full Assortment
and we noW you 11 agree they're. the
best shirts to be had at the prices.
$1.50 to $5
In fact, we think they're the best shirts you can Duy at anywhere near the prices !
Star Shirts are famous for workmanship for cut comfort and the quality of material used in
their makeup.
MADRAS, PERCALE, RUSSIAN CORDS, CRYSTAL CLOTH, SILK MER
CERIZED MATERIALS AND MANY SPECIALLY WOVEN FABRICS
are used in these. AH are made in coat style with soft double French cuffs or stiff cuffs.
WE'RE CLAD TO SAY YOU CAN STILL BUY THE
. - OLD $1.50 QUALITY STAR SHIRT FOR $1.50
v See Them in Our Washington-Street Window
Just Inside Washington-Street Entrance.
Boys' New
MACKINAWS
$5 and $6.50
-Mackinaws that are made by
the famous Oregon City Woolen
Mills fine warm coats in all
the newest Fall styles. Plaids
in green, brown, tan, gray and
maroon. Sizes 6 to 20 years.
BOYS' RAINCOATS
AND HAT SETS
SPECIAL $3.95
For boys 4 to 14 years.
Medium weight, rubberized coats
that are positively rainproof.
Fourth Floor
Lipman. Wolfe & Co.
New Fall SUITS for the BOY-$6.50 to $20
Parents who have not visited our Boys' Store cannot appreciate
how simple it Is to outfit the boy completely at the lowest outlay.
Wo look for material, style and workmanship and, above all, the
quality of service, in our suits for boys! And you'll find suits of the
sturdiest quality and snappiest styles for boys from 6 to 18 in our
Boys' Store.
Serges, tweeds, cassimeres, worsteds, cheviots, homespun and' vel
ours in all desirable shades. . Most of them with 2 pairs of pants!
ARMORCLAD SUITS for boys 6 to 18 $5.00
They Challenge Comparison
LANGHAM-HIGH CLOTHES
For the Younger Young Man
SUITS and OVERCOATS We've Just received a whole shipment of Langham-HIghs. And
whew, but they're good looking the kind the fellows are asking for: belters, pinch
back and plain back models in dandy fine cloths. Sizes 32 to 36.
Priced $15, $18, $20 and $25
Boys' SCHOOL BLOUSES Sizes 6 to 1 6 65c
BOYS' HATS AND CAPS. 50 to $6.00
BOYS' NEW NECKWEAR, 25 and 50C
BOYS' BLACK RUBBER CAPES, S3. S3
BOYS' BLACK RUBBER HATS, 50C
Fourth Floor Lipman, Wolfe & Co.
and Page street last night and dam
aged badly. The automobile was turn
ing west on Page street when the car
came up behind it on Williams avenue.
Engineers to Be Helped
Organization of the Company B,
Eighteenth Engineers' Auxiliary, was
perfected at the. Hotel Multnomah last
night at which time Mrs. Thomas Saul
was elected president. Colonel C.'Dent
ler and Colonel George Young, United
States Army, offared suggestions con
cerning the needs of the engineers for
the Winter.
Several letters received by parents
of the boys enlisted in the Eighteenth
Engineers, were read. Invariably the
writer would tell of the shortage of to
bacco, and how they would appreciate
a good smoke. They were in London at
the time the letters were written and
told of the royal manner in which they
were treated by the English soldiers
and citizens.
Read The Oregonian classified ads.
VIEWED from every standpoint, and grant
ing a fair comparison with other residen
tial districts of character,
conveys the impression of
distinctiveness in home prop
erty. Inquiries concerning" "The
Ladd Thrift Way" to a
home in Eastmoreland are
welcomed.
LADD ESTATE
COMPANY
STARK AT SECOND
j
Newest Fall
Overcoats !
Smart Models
I $14.85 to $35 j
Fourth Floor. j
cJ'MorcWdiM U Merit CM
Oregon
State Fair
Salem Special Train
.Every Day
Tuesday to Saturday
Sept. 25 to 29
Lv. Portland 8:20 A.M.
Lv. E. Morrison . . .8:27 A. M.
Ar.Fair Grounds. 10:20 A. M.
Lv.Fair Grounds. .5:35 P. M.
Lv. E. Morrison . . . 7 :35 P. M.
Ar. Portland 7:45 P. M.
All trains direct to Fair
Grounds.
$2.00 Round Trip
From Portland
Corresponding low fares from
all stations in Oregon.
City Ticket Office 131 Fourth Street.
Phones: Main 8800, A 6704.
Southern Pacific Lines
John M. Scott, General Ptntucr Agent
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