jji 0xwimt
VOL. LVII. NO. 17,804.
PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1917.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
SLACKER BORROWS
FAMILY TO ESCAPE
CAMP MILLS WON'T
NEW KITCHEN CARD
WILL SOON BE OUT
GILL IMPEACHMENT
READY TO PRESENT
AMERICANS KILLED
BY GERMAN &0MBS
NORTHWEST HIT BY
GALE AND TORRENT
HELD AS HUN SPY
BE USED ANY MORE
FRIEND'S WIFE AND TWO CHIIi
DREN WIN EXEMPTION.
HOUSEWIVES TO BE ASKED TO
MAKE FURTHER SAVINGS.
AIR ATTACK BY TEUjfOXS RE
SULTS DISASTRO IJSLY.
HELMSMAN OF 10
Sham Illness Bared by
American Nurse.
HALIFAX BLAST PROBE BEGINS
Munitions Ship Captain Tells
of Trying to Avoid Crash.
3 LAZING SHIP ABANDONED
Master pf Mont Blanc Declares He
Gave Proper Signals, but Belgian
Belief Craft Made for Him, .
Ramming Starboard Side.
HALIFAX, Dec. 13. John Johansen,
helmsman on the Norwegian steamer
Imo, the Belgian relief ship whose col
lision with the ammunition steamer
Mont Blanc led to the disaster of last
Thursday, was detained as a G'erman
spy suspect today. He was turned over
to the military authorities by officials
of the Massachusetts relief hospital,
where he has been under treatment.
One of the nurses at the hospital, a
young woman from New York whose
name was not revealed, yesterday no
ticed that her patient was acting queer
ly and that he did not seem to be
-wounded. Physicians examined the
man and the conclusion was reached
that he was shamming illness. Later,
it was said, Johansen offered a nurse
$50 if she would go out and buy him
a newspaper, the assumption being that
he intended to escape in her absence.
Shooting; Story Denied.
After that incident a military guard
was placed on duty by his bed. The
provost guard was sent for today and
Johansen was locked up.
In connection with the arrest, the
wildest spy rumors heard here since the
war began were spread broadcast.
These culminated in a report that eight
Germans had been shot at sunrise. Mili
tary and .naval authorities, while ac
knowledging that the Johansen case
was being thoroughly investigated, de
clared the shooting story was absurd.
Another persistent story was that a
secret code In German had been found
on Johansen, and that a wireless sta
tion had been unearthed in the district
destroyed by fire after the explosion.
Johansen Bound to Norway.
J. C. Burchall, counsel for the Imo in
the admiralty hearing on the collision
of the vessels, said tonight that the
secret code story as far as It concerned
Johansen, was absolutely without foun
dation. Johansen, Mr. Burchall said,
has been' living in the United States 10
years and as he was anxious to return
to his old home in Norway, he shipped
on the Imo.
Military authorities announced tonight
that Louis Vosburg, also known as
Henry French, arrested here today after
the arrival of a relief steamer, was not
a German spy. in their opinion.
Man May Be Crasy.
Vosburg, who carried a railroad ticket
from Boston to Halifax, a map of Hall
fax and an assortment of unintelligible
papers, boarded the steamer at Boston
without being observed and failed to
give a satisfactory account of himself
after the ship was at sea. A physician
called to examine Vosburg expressed
the opinion that he was temporarily
unbalanced. He will be held until the
secret service men are satisfied he is
harmless, and probably will be de
ported.
Testifying at the Government in
qulry today. Captain Lamodec said that
the Mont Blanc was loaded aX Grave
send Bay, New Tork, with a cargo of
T. N. T., gun cotton and dry picric
acid and a 3eckload of benzol for the
French government. He described the
distribution of the explosives in the
holds and said all necessary precau
tions were taken against an accident.
The partitions were of wooden con
struction protected by tar cloth. The
cargo was hermetically sealed and no
body on board was allowed to smoke.
Craft Seeks Orders.
Captain Lamodec testified his ship
had not carried munitions before. He
eaid the ship came to Halifax to re
ceive orders where to join her con
voy. He received his orders from the
British pilot, McKay, who came on
board at Halifax the evening of De
cember 5. , McKay was "absolutely
sober," said the witness. No liquor
was on the Mont Blanc, as it had been
forbidden by the French government.
une morning or tne collision was
clear, the captain continued; While
proceeding up to Bedford Basin his
ship sighted the Imo at 8:30 A. M. He
was then about 120 feet from the Dart
mouth shore. The Imo was heading to
sea on the west side, but was taking
a. direction across his course, so that
her starboard side was visible. He
gave one short blast on his whistle to
radicate he was going to the right.
The Imo replied by two hort blasts.
He thought the Imo changed her
course, though it was difficult to de
termine this as she was against the
land.
Im'i Speed Is Great.
He was at that . time going to star
board and the Jmo to port. He no
ticed later that the Imo came a little
more to the left. In the meantime he
had stopped the engines. The Imo
(cave two short' blasts when the ships
were about 150 feet apart. The col
lision was inevitable at this point. The
(Cencludd on Pass 4. Column 4.)
Thomas Gillespie, of Tacoma, Con
fesses Amazing Trick, Includ
ing False Affidavit.
BILLINGS, Mont., Dec. 13. (Special.)
Thomas Gillespie, of Tacoma. Wash.,
walked Into the police station here to
day and gave himself up as a slacker
from the draft Army, declaring that his
conscience was troubling? him to such
an extent that he found it difficult to
sleep.
Gillespie told the officers that he had
procured exemption from the draft
through having made a false affidavit.
While the officers listened in amaze
ment, Gillespie told of how he had bor
rowed a friend's wife and two children
for a while, lived with them and repre
sented himself as a husband and father
in order to procure exemption from
draft as the only support of the family.
He said that after he had obtained his
exemption the arrangement with his
ready-made family was abandoned.
Gillespie was locked up pending dis
position of his case by the Federal au
thorities.
BELGIANS WANT CLOTHING
People In Occupied Territory Accept
TJ. S. Soldiers' Offer.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13. A cable dis
patch today to the commission for re
lief in Belgium said the people of the
sections of the country occupied by
the Germans would be glad to have the
civilian clothing offered by America's
first National Army soldiers to keep
the Belgians warm this Winter.
"Conditions in Belgium will be very
seyere this Winter," said the dispatch,
"and advices from the inside indicate
that the people rejoice at the prospect
of receiving the clothing which is now
being collected at the American Army
camps.
SUGAR SHORTAGE TO LAST
No Prospect Seen of Filling Market
Demands During December.
NEW TORK, Dec 13. George M.
Rolph, Federal sugar administrator, to
day announced it was probable the
sugar shortage here would continue
until the first of the year. Consumers
in the Fast are not paying more for
sugar than those in the West, he said.
While temporary relief might be pro
vided, Mr. Rolph declared there was
no prospect of filling the market de
mands this month. i
Licenses of two wholesale grocery
establishments were suspended by the
food board today as penalties for over
charging in sales of sugar.
TEAM S0LD TO JOIN ARMY
John Thompson, Aged 40, , Offers
Services to Government.
ROSEBUKG, Or., Dec 13. (Special.)
Selling his team of horses and
wagon for $150, John Thompson, who
resides at Canyonville, left yesterday
for Portland, where he expects to join
the Army. Mr. Thompson is 40 years
of age, but ,is sincere in his desire
to enter the service. Accompanying
him were five young men from the
same city who will enter the Army and
Navy.
FLOUR LOWER IN SPOKANE
White Drops to $9.60, Graham to
$9 and Whole Wheat $9.
SPOKANE, Wash.. Dec 13. Reduc
tions of 20 cents a barrel on white
flour, 40 cents on graham flour and
20 cents on whole-wheat flour were
announced today by local millers.
Washington high patent flour will
sell at wholesale for $9.60 a barrel,
Washington hard-wheat flour at $9.80
and Montana hard-wheat, at $10.40
Graham flour will sell at $9 and whole
wheat flour at $9.20.
FUNDS FOR FARMER ASKED
Purchase of $100,000,000 of Bonds
Biennially Is Advocated.
WASHINGTON. Dec 13. Members of
the Federal farm loan board appeared
before the House banking committee
today to press a request that Congress
authorize the Secretary of the Trea
sury to purchase $100,000,000 worth of
farm loan bonds every two years.
VILIFIER OF WILSON FINED
Chicago Man Pays $200 for Revil
ing President.
CHICAGO. Dec 13. Theodore Holts
was fined J200 today for reviling Pres
ident Wilson and Police Lieutenant
Patrick Hogan, who had rebuked Dan
iel Ecklund, a private citizen, for as
sisting Holtz, was severely criticised
by Judge La Buy.
FUNCHAL IS BOMBARDED
German . Submarine Fires Forty
Shells, Doing Considerable Damage.
LISBON, Portugal, Dec 13. Funchal.
capital of Madeira, has been bombarded
by a German submarine. Forty shells
were fired, killing or wounding a num
ber of persons and damaging several
buildings. - ,
The submarine fled on - being at
tacked by patrol boats.
Secretary of War Re
ports Abandonment.
MAYOR RECEIVES MESSAGE
Thanks of Oregon Residents
Telegraphed in Reply.
MR. MALARKEY IS PLEASED
Portland Man Who First Raised. Ob
jection to Conditions in East
Coast Military Encampment
Feels He Forced. Results.
Camp Mills, where Oregon and Wash
ington soldiers were reported to have
suffered hardships from cold, is being
abandoned, according to a telegram
received yesterday by Mayor Baker
from Secretary of War Baker, in reply
to the Mayor's telegram in behalf of
Portland protesting against the condi
tions as reported locally by prominent
persons who have visited the camp.
Secretary Baker, in his telegram to
Mayor Baker, says:
'Telegram received. Am asking my
associates for immediate report of con
ditions at Camp Mills. Many, many
thanks for your message. Plans al
ready made for abandonment of Camp
Mills as promptly as possible.
(Signed) "NEWTON D. BAKER.
Thanks re Telegraphed.
In response to this telegram, which
the Mayor took to mean that the hard
ships of the Oregon and Washington
boys have been terminated, a reply was
sent as follows:
"Hon. Newton D. Baker, Washington,
D. C. The people of Portland extend
hearty thanks for your quick action In
regard to conditions in Camp Mills,
where our Oregon and Washington
regiments have been stationed. It
shows the right spirit. We fully ap
preciate the difficulties under which
the Government has labored with the
tremendous task of mobilizing, equipping,-and
caring for the vasft army
which has been assembled with such
wonderful speed, and we extend heart
felt thanks for giving such quick at
tention toour plea' in behalf of our
boys, whom we felt were suffering un
necessary hardships.
. "GEORGE L. BAKER, Mayor."
Statement Corroborated.
"Everything I have said In criticism
of Camp Mills has been authentically
confirmed by the action of Secretary
of War Baker, who has announced that
the camp will be abandoned," said Dan
J. Malarkey last night.
"Since I first made complaint against
the conditions I found to exist at that
camp, a great many parents or rela
tives of soldiers actually stationed
there have assured me that my charges
were borne out in letters they had re
ceived from soldier relatives.
"If the criticism I made as to condi-
Concluded on P.ge 8. Column 3.)
SEND THEM
Sugar Ration of 3 Pounds a Month
for Each Person and One Wheat-
less and Meatless Meal Urged.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 13. A .agar ra
tion of three pounds, for each per
son a month, a porkless day and one
wheatless and meatless meal a day
will be recommended -to householders in
a new kitchen card soon to be put out
by the food administration. Observ
ance of wheatless and meatless meals
will be asked in addition to the wheat
less and meatless days called for now.
The normal consumption of sugar in
the United States has been more than
seven pounds a month for each person.
The cards will caution against hoard
ing foodstuffs in homes, pointing out
that the practice not only is selfish
but that it .contributes to 'high prices
and defeats the purposes of the food
administration in seeking an equitable
distribution.
The reverse side of the card carries
a message to householders. "The food
situation In Europe," it says, "is far
graver than when the preliminary sur
vey of the food supply of the world of
last year was made.
"We have an abundance for ourselves
and it is the policy of the food adminis
tration, by the prevention of ex
ports, to retain for our people an ample
supply of every essential foodstuffs.
"The harvests of our allies have
proved less than we had contemplated
and the. great curtailment of shipping
by the submarine during the last few
months has further prevented them
from access to remote markets."
FIRE ON NAVY TUG FATAL
Three Men Are Burned to Death and
Fourth Seriously.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13. Three men
were fatally and a fourth seriously in
jured in the fuel oil fire on a Navy tug
at an Atlantic port yesterday, the Navy
Department announced tonight.
The dead are: Bruce Ross, machin
ist, Portsmouth, Va.; Lloyd J. Hampton,
water tender. Bamboo, N. C, and Will
iam Williams, chief water tender.
Portsmouth, Va."
Ellsworth Trumbull. - a fireman, of
Martinsville, Ind., was seriously burned.
'PAYROLLS OP INDUSTRIAL
PLANTS LEAP UPWARD.
' In the last year or It months
the payrolls of numerous indus
trial plants in this city have In
creased several hundred per cent,
contributing to the material pros
perity of the entire community.
An Instance of the phenomenal
advance of these increased pay
rolls is furnished in the North
west Steel Company. Eighteen
months ago this concern em
ployed 125 men. with a payroll
aggregating $2500 a week. To
day the same company employs
3100 men. with a weekly payroll
of 170,000.
The chief activity of this com
pany consists of the construction
of steel vessels under Govern
ment contracts. At the same time
it operates the largest bolt and
rivet shop on the Pacific Coast.
TO THE REAR! SEND THEM TO
rz I t
. 1 ... 4 - X
" : 7
Indifnt Is Based on
i-oiir Counts.
COUNCIL WILL ACT TODAY
City Attorney Draws Accusa
tion, but Cannot Prosecute.
SPECIAL ORDINANCE LIKELY
Seattle Mayor Charged With Per
mitting Disorderly Houses, Gam
bling, Dance Halls and Inter
est In Protective Company.
SEATTLE. Wash., Dec. 13. (Special.)
Four articles of Impeachment against
Mayor Hiram C. Gill, charging willful
violation of duty in knowingly per
mitting disorderly houses to remain
open. In permitting gambling to be con
ducted, in failure to close dance halls
alleged to be nuisances and in consent
ing to the use of his name in connec
tion with the Merchants' Protective
Corporation, were transmitted Thurs
day afternoon to the City Council by
Corporation Counsel Hugh M. Caldwell.
The articles are embodied in a reso
lution which is to be introduced in the
City Council at a special meeting called
for 2 o'clock' tomorrow.
The Mayor has announced that if the
Council decides to try him he will con
duct his own defense.
City . Attorney Cannot Ac.
In a letter to the Council transmit
ted with the articles of impeachment
Mr. Caldwell says that because of the
charter provision making him legal ad
viser to the Mayor as well as to the
Council, he deems it improper for him
to appear in the prosecution of the
chief executive officer of the city.
He says it is within the province of
the Council to employ any special
counsel that it may desire, and he sug
gests that "the committee which has
been 'responsible for the progress of
the proceedings o this" stage should
he consulted in the matter of the re
tention of counsel to prosecute the
charges which I was Instructed to
draw, .based upon the Informal charges
heretofore submitted by said commit
tee." Committee Slay Act.
If this suggestion of tUe Corpora
ora-,
pears I
UtiOD f
com- (
tion Counsel is adopted, which app
likely, the onus of the prosecuti
would be placed directly upon the co
mittee of 25, representing as many
civic organizations. C. J. France sate
Thursday night that the committee of:
25 would probably be willing to fur,
nish counsel to represent the prosecu -tlon.
If the Council is to have the powier
of compelling the attendance of wj t
nesses an ordinance would have to . be
adopted. This ordinance would pi'ob
ably include an outline of the pro fred
ure to be followed, as C. B. Fitzgeirald,
president of the Council, and Cf'.her
Councllmen consider that the . city
charter is hazy on this point.
If such an ordinance is to go, Into
(Concluded on Page 2, Column 2.5)
THE REAR!
Number of Railway Erigineers Are
Killed in Flanders TJ own Be
hind British Flront.
(By the Associated 'Pnu.)
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMT IN
FRANCE, Dec 1J. A n- amber of Amer
ican railway engineers "have been killed
by German aerial bo- ribs In a town
somewhere behind th e British front.
Details are not yet kn town.
It is now permitted Co announce that
a German bomb fell iln a street in a
town through which American troops
were passing. Piece ti of the bomb
shattered the wlndo-j-s of a home in
which there were c Ulcers, showering
them with glass, but hurting none.
Two American sol- tiers have died in
hospitals from gunsi ot wounds.
LONDON. Dec. 13. "On Tuesday
night a bombing r aid was made by
naval aircraft on f.he Bruges docks,"
says an Admiralty a nnouneement today.
The visibility was bad, with low-lying
clouds. One of oit r machines is miss
ing. "The usual patifols were carried out.
One enemy aircriift, driven down out
of control, was observed to crash to
earth."
I. W. W. AGITATORS IN JAIL
Men Arrested at Powers Held After
Prelinf lnary Hearing.
MARSHFIEJD, Or., Dec. 13. (Spe
cial.) G. F. J irdtmann and Charles A.
Falls, found I it Powers spreading I. W.
W. propaga .da, are In the Mars-hf ield
Jail followJj ig a preliminary hearing
before Uni'j ed. States Commissioner E.
A. Dodge, of Myrtle Point. The men
were arret ted by Deputy District Mar
shal Franc Berry, who will leave to
morrow fur Portland, with tlfem, and
two otheir prisoners held to the grand
Jury und er the recent proclamation
against I .liens.
Carl B underson, arrested last night
as an bJ .ten enemy on the Mars-hf ield
waterfr m.t, has not had a hearing.
District United States Attorney Charles
F. McK night prosecuted the alleged I.
W. W.. members arrested at Powers.
WIDOW GIVES THREE SONS
Mrs i. Jennie Nllcs, of Oregon City,
J Sees Last of Her Boys Enlist.
3 REGON CITY, Dec. 13. (Special.)
,Vlth the enlistment today of her
o'dest son, Ralph, Mrs. Jennie Ntles,
vell-known widow of Law ton Heights,
lias given her third and last son to
C'ncle Sam. About six months ago Eu
i;ene, the youngest son. Joined the
umiea oia-iea xurces. xusi wees no) m
teacher in the Klamath High School,
enlisted, and Is now in active service.
Ralph, who is a mail carrier for the
local postoffice, Wednesday decided
that he, too, would get Into the game
of saving the world for democracy
He went to the enlistment headquar
ters in Portland and was accepted. He
will report for duty at once.
MITCHEL CLAMPING ON LID
New York's "White Light" Cafe
Owners Ordered to Court.
NEW YORK, Dec 13. Owners and
managers of some of the most famous
restaurants in the "white light" dis
trict, as well as waiters employed by
them, have been served with warrants
charging them with violating Mayor
Mitchel's 1 o'clock closing edict, it was
learned tonight.
The warrants were issued on the af
fldavits of detectives who swore they
had been served with drinks after
o'clock.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature,
degrees; minimum. Ou degrees.
TODAY'S Rain; fresh southwesterly winds.
I'o reign.
Helmsman of Imo held at Halifax as Ger
man spy. Page 1.
Bolshevlkl cause arrest of prominent Con
stitutional Democrats. Page 3.
Kornlloff army and Bolshevlkl in desperate
clash. Page 3.
War.
American railway engineers killed by British
air bombs. Page l.
British able to maintain present tonnage
despite submarine losses. Page 4.
British repulse three German attacks with
heavy loaa to enemy. Page 2.
Britain optimistic despite Increase In sink
ings, rage 4.
National.
Government will place more contracts for
wooden ships. Page 16.
Domestic.
Count von Bemstorff involved In Hindu
conspiracy. Page 4.
Strike in Twin Cities is called off. Page 5.
Sports.
Eastern paper says Bezdek may coach
Washlng-ton-Jefferson eleven. Page 10.
Judge McCredle gets franchise In Northwest
ern League. Page IO.
Coach Plpal to aid In coaching Camp Lewis
eleven. Page 10.
Oatman will return to play with Portland
hockey team. Pago 10.
Pacific Northwest. .
Northwest visited by worst rain storm in
years. Page 1.
Gill impeachment otj four counts ready to
present to Seattle council. Page l.
Commercial and Marine.
Record prices offered for oats and barley
in local market. fage iv.
Interrupted corn movement causes higher
prices at unicago. fage i.
Stocks continue downward movement with
rally near close. Page 10.
Portland pilot schooner Joseph Pulitzer to
oe held lor service here. Page 8.
Portland and Vicinity.
Telegram of thanks sent Secretary Baker
lor quick action at Camp Milts. Page 9.
Right of city to sell fish argued before
Judge Kavanaug-n. Page P.
Chinese witness declares gunmen were hired
to siay liing nung leaaers. Page 11.
Two nurses and teacher testify that M
Xarifa Fallng was hopelessly Insane
Streams in Coast Dis
tricts Bank-Full. .
HEAYY DAMAGE AT ASTORIA
Schools Close Because Water,
Main Is Ruined.
BUNKHOUSE MADE WRECK
Sleeping Men Narrowly Escape Dis
aster Railroad Bridge Near Che-
4
halls Goes Out Grays Har
bor Lowlands Flooded.
STORM STORY TOLD 1ST NUT
SHELL. Astoria. Or. Sixteen men nar
rowly miss death when rockslide
crashes from 200-foot bluff on
bunkhouse. Storm wipes out part
of water system, forcing closing
of schools and floods basements
and stops sewers.
Hoqulam, Wash.- Grays Harbor
country in grip of worst storm in
years. Flat districts flooded and
several streams rush out of banks.
Toledo, Or. Rain Is heaviest in
many years, flooding farms.
Chehalls, Wash. Northern Pa
cific bridge on South Bend branch
goes out, stopping traffic Log
Jam in Chehalls River threatens
many small bridges.
ASTORIA, Or.. Dec. 13. (Special.)
Rock crashed from a bluff nearly 200
feet high at the county rock crushing
plant at Tongue Point durjng the storm
last night and struck one end of the
bunk-house where 16 men were sleep
ing. Although the house was badly
damaged, no one was injured.
Schools are closed and part of the
city Is without water today, while sew
ers are blocked In certain sections and
many basements flooded, following one
of the heaviest rains in recent years.
The rain, accompanied by a southerly
gale, came down in torrents all night
and intermittently today.
Water Mains Washed Away.
The greatest damage done was the
washing away of a temporary fill that
had been made in order to move ma
chinery for the construction of rfhe new
20,000,000-gallon high-service reservoir.
The slide carried with It the high-serv
ice main and the main conduit leading
from the headworks of the water sys
tem to the storage reservoirs. On ac- .
count of this the section of the city on
the hill and the public schools are
without water.
Men are working day and night to
repair the damage and it is expected
the service will be resumed tomorrow.
STORM GRIPS GRAYS HARBOR
Streams Rising Rapidly and Several
Are Out of Banks.
HOQUIAM. Wash.. Dec 13. (Spe
cial.) The Grays Harbor district for
the past two days has been experienc
ing the first storm of the season, and
(Concluded on Pge 2, Column 2.)
OREGON SEIZES THE OP
PORTUNITY! READ THE
STORY IN ANNUAL.
Never before have the people
of Oregon sensed so clearly their
opportunities. The war has been
a pabulum to them in appreciat
ing fully the importance of com
munity endeavor. The spirit of
co-operation is growing; the sig
nificance of co-ordination of ef
fort rapidly is being realized.
The concentration of all ele
'"ments in the production of sin
ews of war is paving the way
towards a greater and more def
inite programme when peace
again, shall reign. The elimina
tion of economic waste and ap
proved and intensive methods of
production are bringing about a
tremendous expansion along all
lines.
There undoubtedly will be a
great surfeit of production above
domestic needs. New channels
of trade will be opened. To take
care of the industrial and com
mercial expansion Oregon will
prepare to enter extensively into
the world trade. Plans to that
end now are taking shape. Truly
a great era of maritime com
merce is near at hand.
In the forthcoming annual
edition of The Oregonian, which
will be issued January 1, 1918,
this important programme will
be fully presented.
Page T. .
ED 1 05.2