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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 1917)
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1917. 5 HUNS DRUNKEN AND UGLY, LOOT AT WILL Hugh Gibson Tells How, After Soaking Up Wines, Invad ers Rob Belgian Homes. ART COLLECTIONS STOLEN Trlnce Worse Than Common Sol diers In One Case Recited Amer ican Has Hard Time to Get Pass Brussels to Antwerp. BY HUGH GIBSON. aeretary of the American Legation in Ftrus sels &t the Outbreak of the war. Copy right. 1917. Doubleday, Page A Co.. by Otla F. Wood. (CONTINUED.) September 8. The Count and Countess de X had an interesting story to tell of their experiences when the first German armies went through. When the war broke out they were at their chateau and were caught by. the first onrush of troops. Their fine eel lars were emptied for the benefit of the Invader, but nothing more serious hap pened to them until the second wave I came along. Then there was a demand ; for more wine. As all the wine had v been carried away they could not com- ply. The Germans were convinced that ' they were being fooled, and searched the place very carefully. ) Finally they Imprisoned the X's for . three days in the cellar and then ' brought them forth and stood them up .' before a firing squad and threatened to shoot them unless they told where the wine was niaaen. At me critical mo- Cnt ;nt a big gray military car rolled up. to their considerable relief they that one of the occupants was a oerman princeling, who ' ad formerly been their guest on several occasions. They called out to him, and by his orders were immediately released. Prince Practical Man. After expressing their thanks to him they went Into the chateau to find that soldiers were engaged in packing up their fine collections of enamels and porcelains to ship to Germany. Another appeal to the Prince, who was most sympathetic He was a practical and resourceful man, and said: "Of course I'll stop this, but you will understand that our men would like to keep some little souvenir of the war in Belgium. That would be hard to prevent. But I would suggest that you pick out all the pieces that you value most and pack them away in that large wardrobe. Then I'll do the rest." Madame de X was, of course, de lighted with this, and scurried about gathering together the finest pieces and packing them carefully into the big wardrobe. She kept it up as long as there was a nook or cranny where odd pieces could be put. and then re ported progress to the Prince. "Are you sure that all the best pieces are there?" says he. "All that could be packed there," answered Madame de X. "Good." Bays the Prince, and then turning to his orderly: "Have that wardrobe sent to Berlin for me." Wine la Taken by Hnns. . . The way the German army cleaned out the wine of the. country was a revelation to everybody. They would cot taAce What they needed for the day's drinking but would clear out whole cellars at a time and load what was Dot drunk onto carts to be carried away. The result was that people who had a little warning had recourse to all sorts of Ingenious tricks to save some of their store. There was one bright man in the province of Namur who removed his stock of wine all except a few thous and bottles of new wine and deposited them in the ornamental pond near his chateau. The Germans arrived a few hours afterwards and raised a great fog because they were not satisfied with the amount of wine they found. The owner of the chateau had discreet ly slipped away to Brussels and they could not do anything to him. However, they tapped all the walls for secret hiding places and went over the park to see if anything had been buried all in vain. The next morning, how ever, the pond was covered with labels which had soaked off and floated to the surface, and after draining the pond xne wnole stock was carted away. Writing; Is Preserved. Madame B , who was there, has an interesting souvenir which she pro poses to keep if possible. During the first days of the war her chateau was occupied by a lot of officers, who got gloriously drunk and smashed up pretty well everything in the draw lng-room and dining-room. One of them, with a fine sense of humor, took a piece of hard chalk and wrote on the top of the piano in large letters: Jjeutschland uber alles! The crowd left the place in the morn ing without trying to cover their traces and Madame B came in to put things to rights. The first thing she did was to get a large piece of plate glass to cover the top of the piano so that the lettend would not be effaced, and over Vl that she placed an ordinary piano a ver so that no future visitor would be lined to erase the inscription. When war is over this will be an inter esting reminder of her visitors. Evislve Tactics Adopted. This morning I was ready to start for Antwerp. My laisser-passer had been promised for 10 o'clock. When it did not come by that, hour, I went up to see Baron von der Lancken who had agreed to attend to the matter. He re ceived me most graciously, told me how delighted he was to see me, how It pleased him to see that we came to him with our little troubles, etc He kept off the subject of the laisser passer as long as he could, but when he fould stave it off no longer he said that he must ask me to see von Her warth, who had been placed in charge of -a.il matters regarding passports, etc I made a blue streak over to Her wirth's office, and saw him after a little delay. He kept me as long as he could, and told me all that he knew about the war and perhaps a great deal more. When we got down to the sub jct of my visit he said that von der Upicken was mistaken, that passports Lild be granted only by Colonel von Claer who had his office about a block away. Dangr r of Trip Described. I began to smell a rat about this time, but kept plugging away. I spent an hour and a quarter in the ante chamber of the Colonel, being unable to gt to him or to any of his officers. It , was all part of a game. Both von der Lancken and Herwarth harped upon the 1 danger of the trip to Antwerp, advised against it and told how terribly they would feel if anything were to happen to me. I asked each of them point blank if they contemplated an attack while I was there. They both avoided the subject, but said that with the situ ation as it was now' it was impossible to tell from one moment to another what might happen. I saw that they were undecided about what was going to happen next, and that until they, did know they did not intend to let me go. They naturally do not wish to have anything happen to me or anyone else connected with' the Legation, so I feel entirely safe about going. After lunch I went back to the siege and stayed until my friend, the Colonel, left by the fire-escape or some equally desperate way so as to avoid seeing me. Von der Goltz had sent word to the Minister that he was coming here for tea this afternoon, and wanted to meet the Spanish Minister. That was our opportunity, and the Minister was all primed with what he was to say to the old chap. They beat us to it, however. Pacifist Well Treated. The problem had evidently been de cided since I saw von der Lancken in the morning, for he greeted me with the news that the laisser-passer would be around in the course of the evening. He added that the General was anxious to send one of the Belgian Ministers of State to Antwerp, and would ap preciate it if I would take him with me. He is Count de Woeste, the man who has always fought against having an army, on the ground , that Belgium was so fully guaranteed by her treaties that it was unnecessary. Baron von der Lancken says that they will make out a laisser-passer on which he will be Included, and that the military au thorities will mark out the route by which we had best go, so as to avoid running into trouble. I imagine it will take us by way of Termonde and St. Nicolas. The crowd that came to tea Included von der Goltz, Pacha, Baron von der Lancken, Herr von Sandt, and Count Ortenburg a scion of a mediatized Bavarian family. They told us of all the glorious triumphs of the German army, and of the terrible drubbing' that was in store for their enemies. They stayed on for about an hour. Many Men Reported Taken. When they left, I escorted the old man to his car. Before he climbed in, he looked me over curiously and remarked: "Tiens, e'est fous qui faltes ce foyage a Anfers! Four afez peaucoup de gourage. Che tacheral d'arranger un petit entr'acte pour fous etre agreaple. Mais 11 vaut refenlr aussltot gue bossible!" They evidently Intended to hold off for a day to await certain developments, and I am to get the bene fit of the delay. The Marshal also told us that Mau beuge had fallen, and that they had made 45,000 prisoners. It seemed al most incredible that the French and English would have left that many men at Maubeuge when they knew that it was bound to falL Perhaps we shall find that this Is not altogether accu rate. They say nothing about what is happening in Austria. The news from England and Antwerp is to the effect that the Russians are giving the Aus trians a hard time of it. This afternoon the German head quarters issued an order prohibiting the bringing of newspapers to Brussels from the outside world, and announc ing that anyone who brings news papers here or is found with papers In his possession will be severely punished.- Two German papers will be dis tributed by the authorities, and every thing else is taboo. They evidently in tend that their own version of passing events shall be the only one to get out here. Brussels, September 18, 191. Ever since the 9th I have been off on my little jaunt to Antwerp, and have not been able to get a line on paper. I was not at all sure that I was going to get away at all, until I got down to the Legation on Wednesday morning and found my laisser-passer, signed by von der Goltz, waiting for me another to add to my already large and inter esting collection. With it was a letter from my friend and well-wisher. Baron von der Lancken, who said that an of ficer would be assigned to accompany us as far as the German outposts. He suggested that I take along a large white flag to be hoisted over the motor for the run between the lines. The note and laisser-passer had arrived at the legation about 1 o'clock In the morning, and had looked so Important mat me slaves waked the Minister from a deep sleep to receive It. do ue Continued Tomorrow.) COREY SEES EMERGENCY COMMISSIONER SUGGESTS SUSPEN SION OF RULES. An Increase of Demurrage Charges Is Deemed Advisable to Prevent Storage In Cars. SALEM. Or, Dec 27. (Special.) Public Service Commissioner Corey, in a letter to the Commission sug gests suspension of the reciprocal de murrage and average agreement rules of the Commission, such suspension to become effective January 1, 1918. "It seems to me that an emergency exists by reason of war and National requirements sufficient to warrant the suspension of the reciprocal demurrage rules, making them effective January 1, 1918. The average agreement rule, I believe, lends encouragement toward detention of cars over the free time limit, and the reciprocal demurrage rule tends to penalize the carriers for conditions over which they now have little or no control. I also deem it ad visable to temporarily, at least, in crease the demurrage charges to such extent as to make it unprofitable to use cars for storage purposes. This, how ever, will require formal hearing." The average agreement rule men tioned, is a rule whereby a shipper who releases cars ahead of time is given a credit of free time of one day on other cars which he may have in his posses sion. Such offset of credits, however, is given only during any one month, and the shipper's credits so gained do notrun over from month to month. BOYS LOOKING FOR PIGS Pasco Youngsters Eager to Produce Pork With Bank's Aid. PASCO, Wash.. Dec 27. (Special) Boys of the public schools are out scouring the country today for sows that will bring pigs in the Spring. The boys have formed "pig clubs" and ex pect to try their hands at raising pigs. County Superintendent DorBey is out with them and will assist them In mak ing selections and getting them start ed. The banks are lending the boys money with which to make their pur chases, giving them until the time the pigs are marketed to repay the loans. The boys are very enthusiastic and ex pect to add materially to the Nation's pork supply. Pasco Man Caught With Whisky. PASCO, Wash., Dec. 27. (Special.) Eddie Conlon, who conducts a poolroom and soft-drink establishment, was ar rested last night by the police, charged with having in his possession a quan tity of liquor. A suitcase was found in his automobile which contained a quan tity of whisky. Chief of Police Sulli van has the liquor and the automobile in his possession. Couple Travel Far to Wed. SPOKANE. Wash., Dec. 27. (Spe cial.) Arthur Spencer and Miss Pearl Frederickson, both of Wasco, Or., were married at Bonner's Ferry, Idaho, today by Rev. U.. S. Crowder, having traveled 400 miles for the purpose of having the ceremony performed by Mr. Crowder, who was formerly pastor of the Meth odist Church, at Wasco. SOUTH IS DERELICT If BUILDING SHIPS Timber Supply Declared In adequate for Contracts Let in Territory. PROFITS. REGARDED HIGH Senate Committee Takes Kjeen In terest In Price Paid for Steel Construction and Questions Subsidization Arrangement. WASHINGTON, Dec 27. The Ship ping Board's wooden ship programme was flatly called a failure today by K. A. Bowles, former naval constructor and now assistant to the general man ager of tba board's Emergency Fleet Corporation. Summoned before the Senate commerce committee to shed light upon the causes of delays In building ships, Mr. Bowles said the wooden construction venture was a mistake and never should have been attempted. The programme cannot be completed on time, he told the committee, because the country cannot furnish enough ship timber, the 458 awarded contracts call ing for more lumber than is represented in the entire output of Southern pine producers for a year. Most of them were placed in the East and South and specify pine timbers. Western Mills Slow, Too. "The .wooden programme," said Ad miral Bowles, "was launched on a scale entirely beyond the country's produc tion. Mills in the South have not de livered lumber one-half as fast as was necessary and Western mills have been almost as slow. Even if the timber supply had been plentiful, wooden ships could not have been built as fast as steel." Mr. Bowles took entire responsibility for changes in timber specifications and changes in the design of wooden ships. He said it was to make the ves sels more seaworthy and had brought about little actual delay In construc tion. Ninety per cent of the labor put into the construction of wooden ves sels, he declared, could be used in steel shipyards. "In justice to myself," ho added, I want to say that I had nothing to do with letting the wooden ship con tracts." Members of the committee displayed keen Interest in the terms of fabricated steel ship contracts and indicated that they thought too high a profit was allowed the builders. Three steel ships of 28,000 tons car rying capacity have been launched since Saturday, Admiral Bowles said. One went into the water at New Tork, one at Seattle and ono at Camden. N. J. Questions brought from Admiral Bowles that the American International Corporation at Camden, N. J., will profit $6,000,000 on the construction of 120 steel vessels. The Government fur nishes all the capital and pays all the bills. Asked what the corporation furnishes, Admiral Bowles replied: "They put up the "know how' and the organization." Deal Is Defended. If it becomes desirable for the Gov ernment to build and operate ships after the war, the investment in the fabricating yards. Admiral Bowles said. will be found to have been a profitable one for the Government. The maximum number of wooden ships that possibly could be built even If all available ship timber was de livered to the corporation. Admiral Bowles said, would total next year only 370, although the corporation has con tracts outstanding for the construction of 459. No more wooden contracts will be let, he said, unless the builder con vinces the corporation that he has available under his own control a prop er supply of timber. JAPAN IN WAR TO LIMIT EMPEROR PLEDGES CO-OPERATION WITH ALLIES. Speech From Throne Indicates Oriental Nation Awake to Gravity of Situation. TOKIO, Dec 27. Co-operation of Japan with her allies In the war to the fullest extent of her ability was pledged by Emperor Yoshihito in the speech from the throne at the opening of Parliament today. The Emperor said Japan's relations with the entente powers were extremely close, which was greatly pleasing to him and con tinued: "The European war Is becoming more and more Important. It becomes us to devote our efforts toward more effec tive co-operation with the allied powers. We expect the alliance to secure the full fruits of victory and to obtain the objects with which we heartily sympathize. We are prepared to co-operate to the fullest extent of our ability while maintaining peace In the Orient. "In consequence of present condi tions, we have ordered our ministers to present plans having to do with the necessities of National defense." The embassies and legations were fully represented in the diplomatic boxes. After the delivery of the speech from the throne, the Parliament ad journed until January 20. SIUSLAW TO BE BOOMED PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION GRANTS FRANCHISE. Teat Suit Likely to Be Brought Conrts to Test Validity of Law Before Money Is Spent. SALEM, Or.. Dec 27. (Special.) The Public Service Commission late to day issued an order granting a fran chise to the Siuslaw Boom Company to boom, float, drive and raft logs and other timber products on the Siuslaw River and certain of Its tributaries. This is the first order issued by the Commission under the boom law of the laat Legislature. Under the order the company is required to begin work within 90 days and within three years complete the necessary improvements on the streams covered by the fran chlse. The Commission provides that the granting of the franchise shall not In any way interfere with the rights of others in booming or rafting or driving logs or timber products on the Sius law from its Junction with Knowles Creek to its mouth, and the portions of the north fork of the Siuslaw and of Sweet Creek, Hadsall Creek and Knowles Creek, affected by the tides, thus providing that the Commission will not attempt to grant an exclusive franchise under the act on tidewater streams. The franchise also is Issued pursuant to rules and regulations of the Com mission now in force, or which may hereafter be adopted, and also subject to Federal statute and rules and regu lations governing navigable waters. It is understood that the order of the Commission may be made the sub ject of a test suit in the courts to as certain the validity of the law and the full scope and power of the Commis sion before money is expended on the improvements contemplated on the Siuslaw. JEWS MURDERED BY TURKS 3 0 Executed When Moslem Army Surrendered Jerusalem. NEW YORK, Dec 27. Thirty Jewish men and women were executed by the Turkish army that surrendered Jerusa lem to General Allenby December 10. according to an announcement made here today by the provisional execu tive committee for general Zionist af fairs. Included in the number mas sacred were some of the leading resi dents of the holy city. The father and a sister of Aaron Aaronsohn. head of the Palestine agri cultural experiment station, which is subsidized by the United States De partment of Agriculture, were among the victims, according to the announce ment. Mr. Aaronsohn is now in Wash ington. The retreat of the Turks through Galilee drove 13,000 Jewish .survivors northward, where they are in dire need. The committee has undertaken to furnish a minimum of $30,000 month ly for their relief, it was said. EX-CHIEF HEALEY ON STAND Alleged Grafter Makes Sweeping De nial of All Charges. CHICAGO, Dec 27. Charles C Healey, former Chief of Police of Chi cago, today took the witness stand in his own defense at his trial on charges of conspiracy in connection with al leged police grafting. I never took a dollar to protect vice or crime," he dramatically ex claimed in the course of a sweeping de nial of every charge made against him. Healey also denied that he had ever held telephone conversations with Tom Costello, self-confessed head of an un derworld graft syndicate and the for mer chiefs principal accuser. Attorneys for the defense Indicated that they will attempt to show that Healey is the victim of a campaign of persecution. Papermakers to Get More Pay. OREGON CITY, Or.. Dec 27. (Spe cial.) Announcement was made today by the Crown Willamette Paper Com pany and the Hawley Pulp & Paper Company of a flat increase of -20 cents a day in the wages of unskilled la borers, who have been receiving a mini mum or ?2.90 a day. After January 1. 1918, the minimum wage will be 13.10 per day. Chinese Hold Conference. CHICAGO, Dec 27. Before returning to their mother country to. take up va rious lines of work. 40 Chinese students entered a conference here today to sum up the result of their investigations in ins united states. The students have been studying American methods In the proressions and different lines of busi ness. Senator Newlands Buried. WASHINGTON. r 17 tp services for Senator Newlands, of Ne vada, were hold h pr. i--. , , - . - . j . JICDJUCUI Wilson headed a distinguished gather- The Last Two Days of Our Before-Stock-Taking Sale Stocks to the lowest level before inventory, that's what we want. We'll get it if price and count. It's your great opportunity. Choose Without Restriction Any Suit in Stock at $55.00 SUITS $27.50 $39.50 SUITS $19.75 $45.00 SUITS $22.50 Coats at Three special $12.50 TO $17.50 COATS $9.85 A Wonderful :ca $18 3B Men's Midwinter Clothes SIS and $18 WARM, sturdy in fabric, pleasing in pattern, these Suits and Overcoats at $15 and $18 bring comfort and correct style at a modest outlay. I do not believe there are any better clothes than these sold on the Coast at the price. Third Floor Elevator ENGLAND WON'T WELSH' ALL WAR LIABILITIES TO BE PAID, DECLARES BOJTAR LAW. British Chancellor Says Overt&rovr of Government That Suggested Dis honor Would Be Certain. LONDON, Saturday, Dec. 15. (Corre spondence of the Associated press.) Great Britain will not repudiate her war debt, declares A. Bonar Law, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in an open letter which he has caused to be .published and in which he de nounced rumors that the country would fall to meet some of the liabilities incurred in the war. In his letter the Chancellor says: "I am glad to have an opportunity of dealing with the rumors that are, I Snd, current throughout the country with regard to the possibility of ths government repudiating its liabilities. "I should like to state, and to state as strongly as I can, that in my opinion $49.50 SUITS $24.75 $35.00 SUITS S17.50 Lowered Prices groups that will surprise you $18.50 TO $22.50 COATS $14.65 $24.75 TO $29.50 COATS $19.85 Group of Dresses at They formerly sold at 924.75 to $29.50, and in smart new styles of satins, exepe de chines, taffetas and serges. A. splen did lot at $18.95. entire Mock or mouses .Crepe de Chine Blouses In smart, dainty styles of splendid heavy quality silks. Georgette crepes also included. (J O f Former prices to $4.95. Special at J)0 w y 5WETT CO. illl 124 '128JblKJUartceyfabiDSai IDenSel liii! LMorrisonStreet at Fourth? no British government, present or fu ture, will seek to break faith with those who have placed their financial resources at the disposal of the state in this crisis of its history. Such a policy would not only mean that the government of the United Kingdom was in the hands of men who were blind to all considerations of national honor, but would, to my mind, involve the overthrow of any government that adopted It." OREGON GIRLS WAR BRIDES John Day Men at Camp Lewis Prin cipals In Double Wedding. TACOMA, Wash., Dec 27. (Special.) Walter E. Stockdale. Mount Vernon. Or, and Miss Margaret L. Davles, of Baker, Or, together with Charles E. Lemons, of Mount Vernon, and Miss Gladys KL. Asher, of Eugene, Or., were married here at a double wedding on Christmas eve. Rev. D. K. Laurie read the marriage ceremony, the ring cere mony being used. Both Stockdale and; Lemons are mem bers of prominent families of the John Price $24.75 SUITS S12.40 $19.50 SUITS $9.75 $29.50 SUITS $14.75 You Can Select Any Trimmed Hat in our house without exception at PRICE All Gold and Silver Hats y2 Price All White Hats i2 Price All Large Velvet Hats y2 Price All Untrimmed Shapes Y2 Price Any Child's Hat 50c 200 to choose from on Third Floor Reduced ma d Si Day Valley In Oregon and are now in training at Camp Lewis. Mr. Stockdale is a member of Company L and Mr. Lemons of Company C, 361st Infantry. After a brief holiday and honeymoon in this city the brides will return to Oregon and resume their work as teachers. CLE ELUM MEN ARRESTED II. C. Blough and John Baker Said to Be Implicated In Robbery. TACOMA, Wasti., Dec 27. (Special.) Harold C. Blough and John Baker, of Cle Elum, were arrested here today and charged with robbing a safe in the Cle Elum postoffice Christmas night. Deputy Sheriffs Read and Haight, of Kittitas County, made the arrest. Christmas night three men entered the Cle Elum postoffice, took the safe out into a vacant space, blew it up and obtained $125 cash and stamps and money orders. Yesterday one of the three was ar rested, and he later confessed. He told them that Blough and Baker, both of whom live in Cle Elum. did the Job with him and that they had gone to Tacoma. quality