VOL. LVIII. XO. .17,974. '
PORTLAND, OKEUON, WEDNESDAY; JULY 3, 1918.
PK1UE FIVE CENTS.
IRON CROSSES FAD
OF YANKEE TROOPS
E
U. S. AIR SQUADRON
BATTLES WITH FOE
IE
SHIPYARDS TAKE UP
CHALLENGE OF FOE
MAD,
StMSlGHIH
DRIVE ROUTS HONS
i LL ON
AD
MOB
1XICAI
DlTOPiS
200 HURT
REACH PORTLAND
Mill.
BOYS FROM WEST COLLECT KAI
HALF-HOUR FIGHT SERVES TO
DESTROY 3 BOCHE PLANES.
HUNDRED LAOCHIXGS JULY 4
3IESSAGE OF DEFIANCE.
SER'S WAR MEDALS.
U.S. MEN OVER SEAS
Troops Moved Abroad
in Swelling Stream.
DISASTER
Boche Regiment Viped Out
and 500 Captured.
KUCH BOOTY IS SEIZEO
Vaux Village, Two Woods, Hill
and Large Slice of Paris
l Highway Brilliantly Won. .
COUNTER BLOW REPULSED
Americans Gain All Objectives
and Dig In Far Beyond Old
German Trench Line.
PARIS, July 2. German counter
attacks west of Chateau Thierry
against the positions captured by the
American troops have completely
failed, according to the War Office
announcement tonight. The village
of St. Pierre Aigle is again in French
hands.
(By the Associated Press.)
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY
OX THE MARNE FRONT, July 2.
American troops, which advanced and
hurled back the Germans on a front
of two miles west "of Chateau Thierry
in a battle which began last night at
6 o'clock, continued their pressure on
the enemy throughout today, and re
pulsed a counter attack against their
new positions:
Fighting Yet Continues.
The vijlage of Vaux, the height to
the west of the village, two patches
-. of- wooded land, a large slice of the
Paris highway west of Chateau
Thierry and other ground gained by
the victorious Americans has been re
tained. sThe battle continues.
The total number of prisoners cap
tured by the Americans is now esti
mated to be about 500, of whom seven
are officers. Many groups of pris
oners already have been sent to the
rear and others have been located in
hospitals where they were removed
after being wounded. The Ameri
cans have captured many machine
guns and other equipment.
Hill 204 Is Shelled.
There was hot fighting today in
front of Hill 204, which is in the
hands of the Germans. At 5 o'clock
this evening, the American artillery
was engaged in heavily shelling the
position.
An entire German regiment has
been virtually annihilated in the
fighting west of Hill 204, according
to official information.
Reports from the advanced front
brought back through a heavy enemy
barrage confirmed the earlier state
ments that the Americans have
reached their every objective and are
holding every point.
Foe Attackers Annihilated.
The German counter attack which
was fiercely conducted ' was launched
against the American positions at 3
o'clock this morning. It resulted in
the Americans further increasing
their number of prisoners. Virtually
the remainder of the enemy-attacking
force was annihilated.
In the Vaux region the Americans
took the Germans completely by sur
prise. Most of the prisoners were
taken out of cellars and dugouts.
U. S. Planes Are Active.
While the artillery preparation was
going on many American airplanes
flew high overhead. Some were pro
tecting the observation balloons,
while others were combing the skies
to keep off enemy machines.
Early this morning, the American
pilots againappeared for similar duty
and soon were found contesting with
the enemy for supremacy in the air.
A number of the aerial battles were
observed, but reports on the results
are not yet available.
It was exactly 6 o'clock last eve
ning when the Americans went over
the top under the protection cf a hail
of machine gun bullets from our ma
chine gun barrages. The infantry
action was preceded by a short but
terrific artillery preparation. When
the . Germans saw that n formidable
tt Js was developing, many of those
in outposts yelled and ran toward the
rear to nests from which a hot fire
began pouring. . .
The Americans paused for a mo
iCoaciudcd oa fas i. Coiuma -.
Americans Strip German Prisoners
of Souvenirs to Send to
Girls Back Home.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. July 2. (By the Associated
Press.) The German Emperor has dis
tributed iron crosses gralora among; the
American foVces holding; lines west of
hill 204. . The distribution was not di
rect, but via the chests of soldiers Ger
many considers her best. Having; an
iron cross is a fad among; the Ameri
cans. Nearly every prisoner taken has
one, and few retain them. These are
probably overlooked during; the excite
ment of battle and the hurry to gret the
prisoners -to the rear.
A few Americans seen today had the
enemy medal pinned in the center of
their shirts not on the left side
while others pulled their trophies from
their pockets, explaining; that they
considered them the best souvenirs be
cause they are easily mailed home,
while machine guns, rifles and trench
mortars are likely to become elephants
on one's hands.
The men said some of the crosses
had been given voluntarily by the Ger
mans when they were asked for them,
but others were cut off prisoner's
shirts. One small dougrhboy. who
looked less than 20. stepped up. to- a
German officer taken prisoner and
drew his bayonet to cut off the cross.
The officer thought the American in
tended to kill him. and fled.
The American chased him with the
bare bayonet in his hand. The prisoner
finally was headed off by other Amer
icans. The small soldier patted the
German on the shoulder with one hand
and removed the desired trophy with
the other, much to the astonishment of
the officer. The American gave the
German a cigarette and a match and
the bargain was closed.
NEW BARRAGE GUN WONDER
Factory Tnrns Out Howitzers .at
Rate of Ten Each Day.
"WASHINGTON, July 2. American
built 155 millimeter howitzers are mov
ing to France, supplementing the
equipment of General Pershing's troops
heretofore obtained from French ord
nance factories.
One American firm that never
ouched ordnance work prior to Amer
ica's entering the war is turning out
these guns at a rate of ten a day from
a factory, the site of which was a flour
ishing cornfield last August.
These facts were disclosed today to
newspaper correspondents from Washj
ington, who visited the new Army
proving ground at Aberdeen, Md.
The. howitzers, which are of French
design, are of approximately six-Inch
bore, and are the heavy barrage guns
which support an infantry advance
against an entrenched position. The
United States soon will be independent
of its co-belligerents for guns of this
type. ' '
7 CLATSOP MEN REJECTED
Man Who Fails to Sign Question
naire Sent to Fort McDowell.
ASTORIA. Or.. July 2. (Special.)
The local board has received word that
seven of the contingent of 94 men sent
recently from here to Camp Lewis,
have been rejected with several men
yet to be reported upon. These men
were rejected for slight physical de
fects, such as imperfect teeth.
Joseph I. Waring, who was arrested
a few days ago for failure to sign and
return his questionnaire, has been in
ducted into the military service and
was sent today to Fort McDowell.
ARMY TITLE IS SPURNED
Preston Gibson Enlists as Private in
' U. S. Marine Corps.
NEW TORK, July 2. Preston Gibson
nephew of Chief Justice White, an au
thor and playwright, has refused an
Army commission to enlist as a private
In the Marine Corps. He has notified
; Colonel E. Lester Jones, at headquar-
tcrs of the Signal Corps in Washington.
i Mr. Gibson joined the French army as
; a volunteer last August and was twice
; cited for bravery. He returned to the
I United States and spoke for the last lib
erty loan.
AMERICANS MAKE 2 RAIDS
I In Daylight Operation Xear Mont-
didicr One German Is Captured.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMT IN
FRANCE. July 2. (By the Associated
I Press.) Two successful raids, one ' of
! them In broad daylight, have been
carried out by the American forces in
the Montdidier region.
In the daylight raid a Corporal and
three men entered an enemy post lo
eaten in a wheat ' field and took one
prisoner and a machine gun.
"SPANISH GRIP" FEARED
Steamer Thoroughly Fumigated and
Passengers Fndergo Examination.
AN ATLANTIC PORT. July 2. As a
precaution against the introduction
into this country of the "Spanish influ
enza" recently Reported as prevalent
in Spain, a - Spanish passenger liner
which arrived here today was thor
oughly fumigated and those on board
subjected to thorough examination by
Fedcrtl and. state health, officers, '
30 DIVISIONS NOW IN FRANCE
America's Forces Ready to
- Help Resist German Smash.
EQUIPMENT KEEPS PACE
President Makes Public His Cor
respondence With Secretary Ba
ker Relative to Dispatch
of Soldiers Abroad.
WASHINGTON, July 2. American
troops sent overseas numbered 1,019.
156 oar July I.
This was made known tonight by
President Wilson, who gave to the
public a letter from Secretary Baker
disclosing a record of achievement
which the President said "must cause
universal satisfaction," and which "will
give additional zest to our National
celebration of the Fourth of July."
The four units non-combatant left
American shores on May 8. 1917. Gen
eral Pershing followed 12 days later,
and at the end of the month 1718 men
had started for the battlefields of
France.
Steady Stream Started.
June saw this number Increase by
12,261. and thereafter khaki-clad "cru
saders" from the Western Republic
flowed overseas in a steady stream un
til upwards of 800,000 had departed,
when the great German thrust began
last March.
President Wilson's, determination tp
meet Germany's supreme effort with
the utmost of America's available
manpower to assist the desperately re
sisting French and British armies is
sharply reflected in the movement of
troops during the last three months.
The March sailings of 83,811 were in
creased- In April to 117.212. May saw
another 244,245 men embark, and last
month 276,372 were sent away, making
a total for the three months of 637,929.
This. Secretary Baker said later, put
the troop movement six months ahead
of the original programme. ,
Flnt Field Army Formed. (
Substantially 30 divisions are now
in France ready to meet whatever move
the German staff has in preparation.
Some of these divisions already have
been formed into the first field army
under Major-General Liggett, others
are holding trench sectors at important
points along the battle line, and still
others have been broken up and
brigaded with the French and British
troops.
And so. when the German tjiruat
comes, the Americans will be called
upon to play no small part in meet
ing it.
Secretary Baker wrote the President
that the supplies and equipment In
France for the million men who have
(Concluded on Page o. Column 1.)
JUST THE
I n
I
Two American Machines Fail to Re
turn; British . Destroy 12. Ene
my Airplanes In One Day.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMT IN
FRANCE, July 2. IBy the Associated
Press.) An American air squadron
composed of nine machines had a thrill
ing half-hour fight this morning north
of Chateau Thierry with a German flight
squadron of the same number. At least
three of the German planes were -driven
down, plunging to the earth, and up to
6 o'clock tonight two of the Americana
had not returned.
The American airmen, acting as a
patrolling party came upon the enemy
shortly after 7 o'clock in the morning
and immediately attacked. With the
advantage of the offensive, the Ameri
cans succeeded in getting above their
adversaries, and after furious ex
changes at an altitude of more than
two miles drove the Germans down a
mile.
Two of the American aviators saw
one of the Nieuports, driven by an
American pilot, go into a dive and dis
appear, but three American pilots have
reported that they observed tracers go
through the fuselage of three enemy
machines within a few mlnnea of each
other, the planes crashing earthward.
The fighting was fast and all kinds
of maneuvers were brought into play.
Finally the Germans made off hur
riedly. When the Americans returned to
their field they found two of the patrol
missing, and they have not been heard
from so far.
One machine had been struck 13
times. One bullet grazed the gas tank,
another cut a strut, while the fuselage
was like a sieve.
LONDON, July 2-. British airmen
yesterday disposed of 42 German air
planes and three balloons, according to
the official report on aerial operations
Issued tonight.
Of the airplanes, 25 were destroyed,
15 were driven down out of control and
two landed behind the British lines,
where their occupants were captured.
SACK OF FLOUR SELLS HIGH
Mystic Shrlners of Oklahoma Break
Record With $86,675.
SAN FRANCISCO. July 2. For one
sack of flour 186,675. That is the
price paid by the Mystic Shrlners of
Oklahoma for the "Shrlners" Red Cross
sac4c of flour, acording to Potentate
John D. McGllvray, of Islam Temple.
San Francisco, who has just returned
here.
The sack has been sold 21 times and
the total sales to date are 8137.500,
which has been turned over to the
Red Cross.
DELAYS TO BE ELIMINATED
Monthly Checks for Allotments and
Allowances to Come Promptly.
WASHINGTON, July 2. Misunder
standing the war risk Insurance act,
either on the part of the enlisted man
or by his dependents, has causea much
of the delay in the mailing of monthly
checks for allotments and allowances,
according to the findings of a special
committee of inquiry appointed by Sec
retaries Baker and McAdoo.
Steps are being taken, the committee
reported, to eliminate all causes for de
lay. THINGS FOR A NEW KIND OF A
Better Understanding
Object of Trip.
RECEPTION DELIGHTS VISITORS
War Preparations of United
States Astonish.
WEST CALLED WONDERFUL
Political Relations of Two Americas
Certain to Improve 'When Truth
About This Country Is Told,
Say Writers From South.
On the last leg of a 40-day journey
that has taken them through the princi
pal cities and Industrial centers of the
United States. 20 Mexican newspaper
men arrived in Portland at 5 o'clock
yesterday afternoon for a two-day Btay.
The party Is In charge of Lieutenant
P. S. O'Reilly, U. S. N. R. F., who Is
representing the Government In Its ef
forts to show the editors what this
country Is accomplishing In Its war
preparations. '
Tired and dusty after their trip across
the mountains, broken only by Mon
day's visit In Seattle, the visitors were
given last night to rest up for the
strenuous two-day programme arranged
by the Portland Chamber of Commerce.
Highway Trip Plaaaed.
A ride around the city, with stops
at several points of Interest, will be
the first event today. ' Following the
ride the Mexican visitors will be guests
of honor at a luncheon at the cham
ber. A trip up the Columbia Highway
In the afternoon will be followed by a
dinner at the Crown Point Chalet.
Surprise at the manifold war activi
ties of the United States mingled with
delight at the reception accorded them
was expressed In the visitors' conver
sation. Only four of the party speak
English fluently, though practically
every one of them understand it and
can manage a few words of appreci
ation. Kdttore Have Mark to Tell.
"We didn't believe it- possible," said
Manual Carpio. editor of La Vox de la
Revoluclon, of Yucatan, and El Trl
umfo, of Havana, in speaking of the
country's war preparations. "We shall
have much to tell the people of Mexico
when we get back, and we already
have been telling them much by cor
respondence as we travel along.
"The West is wonderful. Here they
give us time to think, and we Latins
are not a bustling people. In the
East we were pushed along from place
to place with scarcely time to appreci
ate anything. Of course we know they
are busy, but they should be more
pleasant about it and they would en
joy everything more. It is beautiful
out here the air, the country and the
people."
Better L'aderetaadlag Prime Object.
Better understanding between Mexico
and the United States the prime ob-
(Concluded on Page ft. Column 3.)
FOURTH,
Pershing, Addressing Chairman
Hurley, Acknowledges Receipt
of Inspiring News.
WASHINGTON, July 2. "No more
defiant answer could be given to the
enemy's challenge."
This was the message received from
General Pershing in reply to Chair
man Hurley, of the Shioplng Board,
informing the American fighting men
in France that the shipbuilders at
home would launch 100 merchant ships
July 4.
"The launching of 100 ships on the
Fourth of July Is the moat inspiring
news there has come to us." General
Pershing eald. "All ranks of the
Army in France send their congratu
lations and heartfelt thanks to their
patriotic brothers in the shipyards at
home. No more defiant answer could
be given to the enemy's challenge.
With such backing we cannot fail to
win. All hail, American shipbuilders."
Chairman Hurley's message to the
Army said:
"Not by delaying a single ship, but
by speeding to the utmost, the Ameri
can shipyards will launch nearly 100
ships on July 4. On that one day, cele
brating the Nation's Independence and
backing up boys in the trenches, the
men in the shipyards will launch 4 50.-
000 deadweight tons, as much as was
launched in six months last year.
"Tour Inspiring leadership of the
American Army In France has thrilled
the shipyard workers and if the time
comes when you need even the ship
yard men over there, they will go, to
the last man.
"We want you and the boys In the
trenches to know that men In the
yards are going the limit to provide in
record-breaking time the ships that
will carry more men, food and muni
tions to the intrepid American expedi
tionary forces."
SOFA FERRY'S FLOUR BIN
Seattle Attorney Arrested on Charge
of Hoarding Food.
SEATTLE. Wash.. July 2. Pierre P.
Ferry, pioneer Seattle attorney and
son of Ellsha P. Ferry, first Governor
of Washington, was arrested here to
day and charged with hoarding food
In violation of Federal laws.
Officers said they found almost 600
pounds of flour behind a aofa in the
Ferry home. Ferry, according to the
officers, said the flour was purchased
before the food laws became effective
and asserted he did not know he was
violating the statutes by keeping it.
SUFFRAGE MOTION FAILS
Senator Fall, of New Mexico, Ruled
Out of Order.
WASHINGTON. July 2. An" effort by
Senator Fall, of New Mexico, to bring
up the woman suffrage resolution
failed in the Senate today, the Vice
President ruling the Senator out of
order.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Wratbrr.
TESTERDAfS Maximum temperature. 76
decrees; minimum, 54 degrees.
TODAY'S Fair; gentle westerly winds.
Uar.
United States air squadron has thrilling
fight. Page 1.
Yankee soldiers collect Iron crosses. Para 1
Hundred launchlngs July 4 defiant answer
-to challenge of Germany. Page 1.
Italians capture more Austrian. Page 2.
Americans smash Huns. Page 1.
Hope abandoned for Llandovery miss in a
Page 2,
Official casualty list. Page 2.
United States Medical Corps proves heroism
In trench fever test. Page a.
Foreign.
British and French will Join Americans
abroad in July 4 celebration. Page 2.
Germ an -Finnish forces mobilise around
Vlborg. Page 5.
President Doney. of Willamette University
describes thrilling scenes in Pari a. Page 3.
National.
Wilson announces over 1,000,000 American
troops overseas. Page 1.
United States breaks record for output of
ocean-going tonnage. Page 7.
Cabinet officers advocate Federal control
of telegraph and telephone lines.. Page 4.
Domestic.
Two hundred killed or Injured in muni
tions plant explosion near Syracuse. N. T
Pn 1.
Rev. Dr. Washington Gladden dies. Page 4.
Sports.
Abe Gordon turned down by Navy. Page 14.
Bucks cost McCredte $150 dally. Page 14.
Vancouver arranges bout for Fourth,
Page 14.
Shipyard teams play four games tomorrow
Page 14.
Pacific Northwest.
Soldier on furlough kills wife and himself at
Toledo. Or. Page 6.
Sanity of boy slayer questioned. Pace 5.
Logged -off lands swept by flames. Page 7.
Commercial and Marine.
Valuing of new clip wool will begirt-In Port
land next week. Page Id.
Corn higher at Chlcae-o on prospect of large
purchased by Canada. Page 19.
Sharp advances In stock market partly can
celed. Page It.
Shlpworkers who are steady and proficient
not to be drafted. Page IS.
Northwest shipyards ; set new record.
Page 15.
Portland and Vicinity.
Edward Frank Allen addresses Ro tartans.
Page 13.
Oregon again stands in front rank of Kaiser
haters. Page 12.
Paling will case take new ancle. Page 20.
Fish urged as meat substitute. Page 9.
Hun greed blamed for world war. Page 7.
Prune growers to fix prices. Page 11.
West not fighting mid, declares Dr. Will
iam B. Otis, of New York. Page 12.-
Celebration of July Fourth to be most
memorable In civlo history. Page 13.
Russell ite taken on Federal charge. Pag 13.
Automobile owners lack In patriotic duty.
Pace 4.
Mexican editors are In Portland. Page 1.
City men urged to enlist for farm work.
Page 12-
Dr. E. A. Sommer called to Camp Lew la
Page 12.
JVcatbcr report U; && ferccaaU f 12
Explosives Plant at Split
Rock, N. Y., Blows Up.
CITY OF SYRACUSE ROCKED
Terrific Blasts Set Off When
the Flames Reach Vats
of Chemicals.
FIRE FIGHTERS HELPLESS
Lack of Apparatus Makes
Struggle Against Confla
gration Futile.
SYRACUSE, N. Y., July 2. At
least sixteen persons were killed and
two hundred injured and the huge
plant of the Semet-Solvay Company,
at Split Rock, near here, wan virtu
ally wrecked by two explosions of
trinitrotuluol at 9:30 o'clock tonight.
t Terrific concussions from the ex
plosions of the war powder rocked
large business buildings in the cen
ter of this city, smashing plate glass
windows and causing a panic in the
residential district.
T. N. T. Vats Reached by Flames.
The explosions followed a fire that
had got beyond control and spread
to the T. N. T. vats.
Two let go, burying workers under
an avalanche of debris and scattered
the flames to adjoining buildings.
At a late hour tonight the flames
were burning fiercely and there was
constant danger of more explosions.
Volunteer firemen were powerless.
Aid was sent from Syracuse, but at
midnight the water system broke
down.
Five hundred workers were in the
plant when the fire broke out. Its
origin has not been ascertained. The
workers fought the flames and when
they ran to safety were caught in
the first explosion.
Men were hurled in all directions.
Two, caught between burning build
ings, were blown through a wall. They,
were still alive when picked up, but
there was not a shred of clothing on
their bodies. .
The second explosion occurred 15
minutes after the first. Buildings in
the vicinity were crumpled. Homes of
working men across the road from the
plant collapsed. Burning timbers were
blown to the roofs of buildings across
the railroad tracks which divide the
plant.
Families fled across the fields in
confusion.
James Russo and Arthur C. Good
fellow were analyzing samples in the
plant when the cry of "fire" called
them to building No. 1.
Water Found Lacking.
Goodfellow tells this story:
"Russo grabbed a hose and I tried
to help. Smoke was thick, we could
not see. Little explosions kept letting
go inside the building. There wasn't
enough water to be of any use.
"We knew that a big explosion was
coming and we ran. Just as we
reached the foot of a hill the blast let
go. It knocked us both flat on our
faces."
A" telephone message from Split
Rock brought the first word of the
accident to the city. It reached po
lice headquarters in the form of a
request for all the ambulances. The
shock of -the explosion, a few minutes
earlier, had tied up all the telephone
lines, causing a delay before the am
bulances were on the way.
Many Buildings Bum.
Both fire and explosions, according
to workmen who escaped, were con
fined to the east side of the plant
which is made up of about 15 build
ings, including the offices and labora
tories. There are three of the T. N. T.
plants, in the first of which the
flames originated. Next to them are
six plants in which nitric acid' is
handled. Beyond them only a hun
dred yards away are four plants in
which picric acid is handled. All of
these clustered together on the
south side of the railroad tracks.
At midnight the flames had eaten'
into the picric acid plants and were
making slow headway toward the
giant tanks of oleum.
Most of the small explosions were
due, according to workmen, to the
contact of flames with email "nitre
fiers," or "pulverizers,'"
. V
io3.