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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1917)
VOL. IsVIl. XO. 17,807. PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18. 1917. PRICE FIVE CENTS. TORPEDOBOAT RAID 15 DARING EXPLOIT Two Vessels Make Dash Into Trieste Harbor. ONE BATTLESHIP SURELY SUNK Heavy Fog Aids Italians to Surmount Many Obstacles. RETURN MADE IN SAFETY Austrians Preparing to Send Battle ships With Heavy Guns to Bom bard Italian Coastal Posi tions Reason for Attack. WASHINGTON, Dec. 17. Two Italian torpedo-boats under Lieutenant-Commander RIzzo composed the force which made the daring: raid into the inner harbor at Trieste Sunday night, De cember P, and torpedoed two Austrian battleships, one of which was seen to ink. Further details of the exploit were given in dispatches received by the Italian Embassy today. The raid was planned when it was learned that the Austrians were pre paring to send from Trieste two ships of the Monarch type with their 240-mll-llroeter guns, to bombard the Italian coastal positions. Two Boat Make Daring Dash. A division of torpedo-boats under Captain Fignattl was assigned to the task and the Captain selected Lieutenant-Commander Rizzo with two boats to make the dash into the harbor, while the remainder of the division kept out side in support. By slow and silent movements through a heavy fog the little craft r.ch-d .the extremity or the Muggia pier. bt the officer examined the disposition .'mi the numerous obstruc tions wljich barred the passage. Mine fields and other obstructions were lo cated and two hours were spent cutting eight large wire cables stretched across the passage. Other obstructions were weighted and. sunk sufficiently to per mit the boats to pass over them. Battleships Ride at Anchor. During all this time Austrian out posts were very near and searchlights were being played on the water, but in spite of this the torpedo boats succeeded In entering the inner port without be ing sighted. Two Austrian battleships were dis covered at anchor at the further end of the harbor near Point Sabba. Proceed ing cautiously, the Italian vessels ap proached to ascertain whether there were any protecting nets or other ob structions, then took up positions for the attack. Four Torpedoes Exploded. Finally, at 2:30 A. M. Monday, the two torpedo boats simultaneously launched four torpedoes aimed at the battleships. All four torpedoes explod ed. Rlzzo reported that the battleship Wien, nearest the attacking vessels. was observed to sink in five minutes while the other battleship certainly was struck, though, owing to the great dis tance it was impossible to discover the damage done. At the sound of the explosions Aus trian batteries opened fire and search lights swept over the waters. The lights located the attacking vessels and the Austrian guns were brought to bear on them and torpedoes fired, but the Italians escaped and returned safely to base with the supporting squadron. CAPTAIN BLUE IS LET DOWN Commander of Dreadnaught Which Ran Aground Sentenced. WASHINGTON, Dec. 17. Captain Vic tor Blue, who commanded an American super dreadnaught which recently ran aground in home waters, was sentenced by courtmartial to loss of 20 numbers, but Admiral Mayo, commander of the Atlantic fleet, recommended that it be reduced to 10. Captain Blue, one of the best-known younger officers in the Navy, is under review for promotion by the board now in session to recommend some new Admirals. SCPPLE A BALLIV PLANTS PAYROLL. GROWS. The history of the Supple & Ballin Shipbuilding Corporation and its entrance into the indus trial life of this community dates from February 1. 1917, when a force of 150 men began the con struction.of Its shipyards on the Fast Side. Simultaneously the firm began work on the construc tion of two ships. In August following this com pany also organized the Pacific Marine & Iron Works as an auxil iary corporation. Combined, the two plants now employ 650 men, with a monthly payroll approx imating 170.000. The two prop erties represent an investment of $500,000. At the present time the com pany has contracts for ships ag gregating 5,500.000. TROOPS URGED TO REMAIN AT CAMPS OFFICERS ASKED TO DISCOUR AGE HOLIDAY FURLOUGHS. Too Many Absences Affect Trans portation and Training, Says Secretary Baker. WASHINGTON, Dec. 17. Command ing officers at camps and cantonments have been instructed to discourage fur loughs in large numbers for the Christ mas holidays. Secretary Baker today denied that Christmas furloughs has been forbid den entirely by the War Department, but said they were discouraged both on account of transportation conditions and because training might be seri ously affected if many men were ab sent. "The people of ,the' Nation will bear this privation. I know," said the Sec retary, "in the same fine spirit which has characterized every previous re sponse, when it Is understood that the relieving oft the-railroads from this burden will enable them by so much to concentrate our energies and capacities for the transportation of our resources to the seaboard and V the battle front In France." LOVE LAUGHS AT STORM Merry Procession - to Vancouver Gretna Green Xot Abated. VANCOUVER. Wash.. Dec, 17. (Spe cial.) The wind blew, the rain fell, it was an unusually stormy day, but the merry procession of happy swains and lassies to the County Auditor's office in Vancouver today was not a whit deterred. No less than 11 couples were married here today and a 12th couple was disappointed because a witness re fused to take the oath. If . the present rate is kept up for the remainder of the month a new mar riage record will be established for the period of a month. TAX EXTENSION PROPOSED Bill Introduced to Revoke Exemp tion of Members of Congress. WASHINGTON, Dec. 17. Legislation specifically . to subject all Federal of ficials except the President and mem bers of the Supreme Court to the excess profits tax was agreed upon today by the. House ways and means committee. There has been widespread criticism because the' "occupational tax' of the. war bill lays upon the income of pro fessional and salaried men, when they exceed T6000, a tax of 8 per cent In addition to the regular income tax, but exempted members ' of Congress. SLUG AND R0B DRUGGIST Unconscious Husband Falls Into Wife's Arms as Door Opens. ABERDEEN. Wash., Dec. 17. (Spe cial.) Robbers waylaid and slugged O. G. Streuver, well-known druggist, on his own doorstep in Elma last night, knocking him unconscious and getting away with $60 in cash. Mr. Streuver is in a serious condition today. He did not see his assailants. His wife, coming to the door, opened it to have her husband fall Into her arms. his unconscious -body being left against the door by the thieves. SECOND COURT-MARTIAL ON Fifteen Negro Soldiers on Trial at Fort Sam Houston. SAN ANTONIO. Tex.. Dec 17. The second court-martial of enlisted men of the 24th Infantry, negroes, growing out of the riot and mutiny of members of that regiment at Houston, the night of August 23 last, was begun at Fort Sam Houston today. Fifteen members of companies M and I are defendants and are charged with murder and riotous and mutinous action. SWISS WILLING TO FIGHT Neutrality of Country to Be De fended at Any Cost. GENEVA. Dec. 17. President Felix Galonder, In the first public speech he has delivered since his recent election, said here today that the Swiss people were ready to pour out their blood against anyone who might attempt to invade their country. Switzerland, declared the President, would defend her neutrality to the end. FUNERAL IS HELD FOR 200 Many Bodies of Explosion Victims Charred Beyond Recognition. HALIFAX, N. S.. Dec. 17. Uni dentified bodies of 200 victims of the explosion disaster here were burled to day after public funeral services con ducted by Protestant and Catholic clergymen. Nearly 100 of the bodies were charred Deyond recognition. EX-PRESIDENT IS EXILED ArmedGuard Escorts Former Portu - gal Executive to Border. WASHINGTON, Dec 17. Ex-President Machado of Portugal, who was re cently deposed, has been escorted to the frontier by an armed guard and sent on his way to Madrid and Paris in exile, American Minister Burch at Lisbon reported today. . RESOLUTION FOR PROHIBITION wins House-. V'o Measure 282 to 128. PARTIES ARE EVENLY DIVIDED Wild Demonstration Follows Speaker's Announcement. BRYAN AMONG SPECTATORS Changes to Be Made in Senate Amendment Adopted at Last Ses sion to Conform With House Provision Just Enacted. - WASHINGTON, Dec 17. Nation-wide prohibition won In the House today, and only the adjustment of a slight difference In resolutions between the House and Senate now stands in the way of submitting to State Legislatures an amendment to the Federal Consti tution forbidding the manufacture, sale or importation of intoxicating liquor for beverage purposes in the United States or its territories. The vote in the House, taken after a day of debate before crowded gal leries, was 282 to 128, with the parties dividing almost evenly. The margin for prohibition was Just eight votes more than the necessary two-thirds of the membership of the House required for adoption and 26 more than two thirds of those voting. Both wets and drys had been pre dicting victory all day, and it was not until the last few names had been called that the anti-prohibltlon forces conceded their defeat. When Speaker Clark announced the result the victors were Joined by the galleries in such a demonstration as is rarely-permitted in the House. Former Secretary Bryan, an interested spectator nearly all day, appeared on the floor and Joined in re ceiving congratulations with Repre sentative Webb, of North Carolina, who led the fighU. - Meaiare Nearly Identical. The resolution adopted by the House Is identical with that passed by the Senate last August, except that it gives the states seven years instead of six in which to ratify the amendment. Sen ator Sheppard, author of the resolution, predicted tonight that the Senate would accept the amendment tomorrow. He said he had assurances that the seven- year period would be approved and that he did not believe a rollcall necessary. The President's approval is not re quired, and the State Legislatures may act as soon as they please after the signatures of the Vice-President and Speaker Clark have teen attached to the resolution. ' "It will be submitted tomorrow as a Christmas present to the American peo ple," said Senator Sheppard, "and I (Concluded on Page 2, Column 1.) T TITII Wn h I T MIh ''if ''''J 'II i I J riff)S '"( ' ' It feJUwi i GROWTH OK MOVEMENT FOR GERMAN DEMOCRACY TO BE SET FORTH IN THE OREGONIAN BY NOT ED WRITER. The Oregonian will begin to morrow publication of a series of six articles describing accu rately the forces which are at work in Germany to democratize that nation and meet the demand of President Wilson that a gov ernment be. established whose leaders may be accepted as "men of their word." . The articles are from the pen of George T. Odell, a noted cor respondent, who for the past two years has been stationed at Ber lin, Copenhagen and Stockholm in close touch with the situation. Facts which have been little known are divulged by Mr. Odell in this series of articles. Few in . the United States realize how far the reform movement in the Kaiser's empire has progressed. These articles will tell. Mr, Odell will trace the movement from its beginnings and show with clarity and force how It has waxed and grown and Is still doing so. Al ready, Mr. Odell declares, all Germans but the persons en gaged in exploiting the big in dustries are interested. The war . policy of the autocracy has brought disillusionment to the masses of the German people, as will be set forth and explained fully. During the period In which this series of dally articles are ap pearing in The Oregonian the Hugh Gibson serial will be sus pended, to be resumed as soon as the Odell series is completed. WILSON REASSURES BRYAN Resignation of Former Secretary Not Asked For by President.. WASHINGTON. Dec 17. President Wilson has written former Secretary Bryan a letter to refute the frequently published statement that he asked for the Secretary's resignation because of the celebrated so-called Dumba conver sation, in which Mr. Bryan after the sending of the Lusitanla note is said to have told the former Austrian Am bassador not to take it too seriously. BERNSTORFPS NAME GONE University of Pittsburg Revokes . Honorary Degree- Conferred. PITTSBURG. Dec. 17. The name of Count von Bernstorff, former German Ambassador to the United States, was today stricken from the list of those who have received honorary degrees from the University of Pittsburg by order of the trustees of the institu tion. The honorary degree, D. D. L.a was conferred upon Count von Bern storff In 1912. BLAST WIPES OUT FAMILY North Vaklma Woman Receives Word of Sister's Death at Halifax. NORTH YAKIMA, Wash.. Dec. 17. Mrs. Jean Kellett. of this city, has re ceived a telegram from Halifax. N. S., saying that all the members of the family of her sister, Mrs. J. B. Hillis, were killed In the recent disaster there. NO. VOTT DON'T PTTT TTAT IN OUR STOCKING. RED CROSS DRIVE STARTS WITH RUSH Workers Enthusiastic in Every County. STORM CAN'T DIM ENERGY Several Plants Already Report Every Employe Signed. UNION COUNTY TAKES LEAD Huge Meter 'Will Keep Tally Up to Date Every Hour and Will Be on Streets Constantly Several Meetings Set for Today. APPEAL MADE TO EMPLOY. ERS FOR RED CROSS AID, Employers who have not been canvassed by representatives of their own business are requested to communicate with Hugh Mc Gulre, chairman, at Red Cross headquarters, so that solicitation of their plants may be conducted, If they desire, by an employe. Employers who have not returned the record slip, gi-vtng the name of their own canvasser, are re quested to mail it to Mr. McGulre at Red Cross headquarters today. With only a few scattering precincts ip Portland reporting and only 10 counties heard from at an early hour last night, -the total progress towards the 240,000 Christmas membership cam paign of the American Red Cross was 8149. with Portland 3087. outside, 6062. Wherever reports were made they were such as to inspire marked en thusiasm. Union County, for example, reported 1000 memberships and $1000 as its first day's work, while Roy T. Bishop, Uma tilla County chairmen, failed to give Umatilla County's figures, but declared that Stanf ield alone has reported 240 members, or 40 more than its total quota of one-third of Its population. Union County Leads. Deschutes County, through Chairman II. A. Miller, reported 397; C. R-. Hig glns, of Astoria, 500; W. B. Dennis, Yamhill campaign manager, 815; Grants Pass whipped In with 449; Med ford with 176, through Alfred S. Car penter, campaign manager; Lane Coun ty had 500 at the close of the day, and Benton County 700, while Gilliam County raised 190 members. Multnomah County raised 190 members. Multno mah County, outside Portland, 99. On a percentage based on total quota assigned, Union County heads the col umn with 20 per cent of Its work al ready completed, Deschutes and Gilliam counties tleing for second place with 16 per cent. Josephine comes next with (Concluded on Page 8, Column 3.) WIT,HFLM. OREGON CAPITOL 100 PERCENT REDCR0SS ALL OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYES AT STATEHOUSE JOIN. Record-Breaking Showing of Patri otism Effected at Meeting Called by Governor. SALEM, Or., Dec 17. (Special.) Oregon lays claim to having the first 100 per cent Red Cross Statehouse in the Union. At a meeting this after noon, presided over by Governor Withycombe, in the House of Repre sentatives, every official and employe in the Statehouse affiliated with the American Red Cross. The meeting was called by the Gov ernor, who notified the head of all departments that he wished everyone connected with the Statehouse to as semble . In the House chamber. No notification was made of the purpose of the meeting, and this resulted In an absolutely unanimous attendance, even the Janitors being summoned. . "Oregon has been first in every thing," said the Governor, "and now we have an opportunity as a body to be first in the Red Cross. I should like it to be said that the State House offi cials and employes made an Oregon record." The Governor introduced Rev. Mark Gill, manager of the Marion County campaign, who explained the purport of the Red Cross drive. Exactly seven minutes was consumed and at the end of that time every one of the more than 200 officials and at taches had either paid for his member ship or signed a pledge-therefor. Headquarters of the American Red Cross at Washington were immediately notified. MEDIATION IS ONLY HOPE Factions in Telephone Controversy Unable to Reach Agreement. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 17. Federal mediation will be necessary to adjust differences between the Pacific Tele phone & Telegraph Company and its employes, according to announcement made today near the close of the seven days -conference between representa tives of the two factions, which have failed to eradicate some of the princl pal disputed points. The mediators will be John E. Will iams. Of Chicago, Federal fuel admin istrator for Illinois, who will arbitrate wage scales,- and Immigration Commis sioner Edward White, who will mediate differences over working conditions. OREGON SONGS WANTED Naval X. 31. C. A. at Vallejo Plan, to Give Enlisted Men Good Time. Inasmuch as Oregon men stationed at Mare Island are to be entertained soon by the Naval Y. M. C. A. of Vallejo, Cal., M. H. Petersen, musician stationed at the Island, has written Mayor Baker asking that Portland people send let ters of cheer and encouragement to the sailors and marines and also' send pennants, flags and Oregon songs. "We especially need Oregon songs such as "We Love Our Home in Ore gon,' " writes Mr. Petersen. Anything Portland wlsnes to send should be for warded to M. H. Petersen, first-class musician, care of the Naval Y. M. G A., Vallejo, Cal. TANKER IS TOWING SCHOONER Steamer Newburg Disabled by Colli sion in Dense Fog. SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 17. The Standard Oil tanker J-t-A. Moffett was towing the steam schooner Newburg back to this port today after a col lision at sea between the two vessels late last night 30 miles north of Point Reyes which disabled the Newburg, according to a wireless message re ceived by the marine department of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. No details were given. but it vas presumed the vessels collided in a dense fog. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 59 degrees; minimum. 50 degrees. TODAY'S Rain; strong southeasterly winds. War. Italy drives back Austro-German attacking forces. Page 3. Germans sink 11 ships in convoy. Page 2. Another German peace offer expected soon. Page 2. Daring torpedo-boat raid In Trieste harbor described. Page 1. .Foreign. Viscount Ishli lauds United States to Japan. Page 4. Borden and conscription win in Canada, ad a. Page 1. National. Hoover ignored by sugar Investigation com mittee. Page 4. Resolution for prohibition adopted by House. Page 1. Sports. Sacramento Is voted into Coast League, re placing Portland. Page 14. Willard says he will re-enter ring to aid Red Cross. Page 14. Lieutenant Keck ousted from Camp Lewis eleven. Page 14. Joe Rivers shows up finely at workout. Page 14. r' Pacific Northwest. Tug loses $3500 raft of choice spruce logs in battle with 50-mile gale in Wlllapa har bor. Page a. Commercial and Marine. Storage holdings of dairy products heavier than year ago. Page 10. Cattle, pricee higher at North Portland stock yards. Page 19. Incveased movement of corn weakens Chi cago market. Page 19. Wall-street stocks drop sharply, but recover In final hour. Page 19. Training ship for seamen, oilers, etc, fitted out. Page 14. Portland and Vicinity. Colonel Dlsque declares spruce- output is curtailed by red tape. Page 18. Work of Y. M. C. A. In war on huge scale. Page 11. Help will be provided for those who have to file income tax statements. Page 7. German Porthos, ex-U. S. soldier, arrested on suspicion. Page 7. Dr. Fluno lectures on Christian Science. Page 18. Weather report, data and forecast. Page 17. Red Cross drive starts with rush. Page L CAHADA'S VOTE IS FOR COflSGRIPTIOH Sir Robert BoraW Re elected Premier. LAURIER IS BADLY BEATEN Standing at Midnight 128 to 87, With 20 in Doubt. all: majorities heavy Soldier Returns, Which Will Not Bo Ascertained for Some Days, Are Expected to Increase Lead of Government Members. OTTAWA, Ont.. Dec. 17. The Union government has been returned and con scription confirmed by the Canadian domestic vote. Early returns received from all over Canada indicate that the government of Sir Robert Border has been elected to administer Canadian affairs for an other five years and that Sir Wilfrid Laurier Is as definitely defeated as In the reciprocity election of 1911. Returns Indicate that ' the French portion of Canada has gone heavily for Sir Wilfrid Laurier and English, constituencies have returned men who will support the union government measures and maintain Profiler Border' in office. The vote has been very heavy every where and the majorities are very large. The soldier vote, which will not be ascertained for some days, will in crease the already heavy majorities of government members and will prob ably increase the number of govern ment supporters elected. Officials returns announced shortly before midnight showed that with 13 districts to be heard from the Union ists had won 128 seats and the opposi tion 87, with four seats deferred. VANCOUVER, B. C, Dec. 17. Latest returns from the Canadian election In dicate a decisive victory for Sir Rob ert . oBrden's union government and conscription. - The returns by provinces: Provinces U. tL. ID. tD. Prince Edwards Island.. 4 Nova Scotia 7 7 .. 3 New Brunswick 6 5 .. .. Quebec 3 62 .. Ontario 72 10 .. ..I Manitoba 13 1 1 li Saskatchewan 16 71 Alberta 8 .. .. 4j British Columbia 10 . . . . 3 Yukon 1 . .1 Totals 133 S3 4 "si Union. tLlberal. IDeferred. tin doubtj WOMEN TO RUN NEW YORK Car Conductors, Mall Carriers and' Snow Shovelers Wear Skirts. NEW YORK, Dec. 17. Women cap conductors, women mail carriers and' women snow shovelers! Three women have Joined the city snow-shoveling force, the Street Clean ing Commission announced today, and1 are proving efficient. 1000 to Be Trained at San Diego SAN. DIEGO, Cal., Dec. 17 Lieuten ant Ernest Swanson, Navy recruiting officer in charge here, announced to day that 1000 young men who have en listed at various stations in the West ern district for service in the Navy Flying Corps will be sent to the naval aircraft school here for training before1 January 5. VALUE OF OREGON'S CROP PRODUCTION IN 1917 IS $180,000,000. Notwithstanding unfavorable growing conditions and the con-r sequent shortage of most of the major crops, the value of farm production in Oregon in 1917 was much greater than that of ;1916, the banner year for the Oregon farmer. The total value of soil products for this year is 'in excess of $180,000,000 a gain of $25,000,000 over 1916. Dae to war demands, prices for virtually all products were abnormally high, the shortage being offset by the increase in returns realized. Ideal harvest ing weather was of great ad vantage and all crops were gathered at a minimum loss, de spite the general lack of labor. A gratifying feature was the hearty response of the people to the appeals of the Food Ad ministration. The result was a more intensive production, the increase in garden products be ing enormous. Read the story of Oregon's agricultural progress in the an nual edition of The Oregonian, which will be issued January 1, 1918. T T