j '
VOL. LVIII. 0. 18,039.
PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, SEPTE3IBER 17.- 1918.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
AUSTRIA'S SCHEME
FDR PEACE FAILS
MlSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSJBISSBsasasasas-TS M
Proposal for Conference
Rejected by U. S.
PRESIDENT'S REPLY POINTED
HUN RAILWAYS AND
DOCKS ARE BOMBED
BRITISH AND FRENCH FF.LL 51
GERMAN PLANES IX DAY.
Only Answer Is to Emphasize
. Position in Reference to
Y Jerms Repeatedly Made.
BALFOUR SCENTS PURPOSE
British Foreign Secretary De
4. clares Move Is Attempt
to Divide Allies. 1
Seventeen Direct Hits Obtained on
Karlsruhe ' Objectives Foe
Flyers Raid. Paris.
LONDON, Sept. 16. British aviators
sain have bombed the railways at
Mets-Sablons and Mains and docks and
sidings at Karlsruhe. Seventeen direct
hits were obtained on the Karlsruhe
objectives, according; to the Air Minis
try communication tonight.
BERLIN, via Lonaon. Sept. 16. As a
reprisal for the continued bombing; of
German towns, says the official state'
ment Issued today by the German War
Office, 24 tons of bombs were dropped
last night on Paris.
PARIS, Sept 1. Enemy aerial
squadrons flew over the region of Paris
this morning, dropping some bombs.
There were a few victims and some
material damage, says an official re
port. . The alarm was sounded at 1:25
and the "all clear" signal at 3 o'clock.
LONDON, Sept. 16. Sunday along the
British front In France was character
ised by vicious air fighting. The weath
er had Improved and the airmen were
up In' large numbers. The British avia
tors brought down 37 hostile machines.
At least 29 of them were totally de
stroyed. . Sixteen of the British ma
chines failed to return.
PARIS. Sept. 16. French airplanes
Sunday brought down 14 enemy ma
chines, and seven captive balloons were
set on fire, according to the statement I
of the French War Office. A total of
6500 kilograms of explosives were
dropped on enemy concentrations while
more than 23 tons of explosives ' were
dropped on railroad stations at Laon,
Mortier. JunlvJlle,. Conflans, . Mars La
Tour, and other places.
GIRL'S SCREAM SAVES BANK
Robbers Flee When Frightened
Stenographer Yells.
CHICAGO, Sept. 16. Eight automo
bile bandits today made an unsuccess
ful attempt to bold up the- United
States Bank at Halstead and Sixtieth
streets. John Jackson, a Janitor, was
shot when he sought to protect Simon
Heck, the president.
The robbers entered the bank and
asked to have a bill changed. A mo
ment later they drew revolvers and
covered the eight officers and em
ployes. A girl stenographer screamed
and the robbers were frightened away
before they had an opportunity to get
Into the vaults, where thousands of
dollars In currency "was kept.
The robbers escaped In an automo
bile. - .
SALOONMAN TO SERVE SODA
Hlnkey Dink" Kenna Long Polit
ical Czar In Chicago.
CHICAGO, Sept. 16. "Hinkey Dink"
Kenna, for 40 years noted as the dis
penser of the "largest and coolest'
beers In Chicago to the motley First
Ward and widely known with "Bath
house John" Coughlln as political czar
of the First Ward, will open an Ice
cream parlor next year, when the'eoun
try goes dry.
Pat O'MaJley, bis principal rival. In
the saloon business, will open a flower
shop. Coughlin years ago got out of
the saloon game.
' T7ASHIXGT0N. Sept. 16. The
United States, as was fully expected,
has unconditionally rejected Ger
many'g peace feeler. In doing so the
Government has spoken for all the
co-belligerents,
Almost immediately after receiving
the Austrian government's note from
the Minister from Sweden, Mr. Eken
gren, Secretary Lansing tonight is
sued this formal statement
"I am authorized by the President
to state that the following will be the
reply of this government to the
Austro-Hungarian note proposing an
unofficial conference of belligerents.
U. S. Position Is Firm.
"The Government of the United
States feels that there is only one
. reply which it can make to the sug
gestion of the imperial Austro-Hungarian
government. It has repeatedly
and with entire candor stated - the
terms upon .which the United States
' would consider peace and can and will
entertain no proposal for a conference
upon a matter concerning which it
' has made its position and purpose so
plain."
Mr. Lansing's statement , was given
ut within half an hour after he had
received the Austrian proposal.
Reply Made With Little Delay.
It would have been forthcoming al
most immediately upon the delivery
of the Austrian note, had it not been
found necessary, in order to avoid the
possibility of grave error, to make a
careful comparison between the .offi
cial text and that which was received
in news dispatches last night from
Amsterdam.
Thus, emphasis was added to the
declination, if any were needed, the
quickness of the reply indicating the
existence of no shadow of doubt in
the mind of the Administration as to
what it should be. As soon as Mr.
Lansing's reply can be put in form it
' will be handed to the Swedish Minister
for transmissiou to Austria.
The Swedish legation notified the
State Department early in the after
noon that it had received the note and
that it would be presented as soon as
it could be decoded and translated
from the French. This consumed sev
eral hours and it was not until 6:20
o'clock that Mr. Ekengren appeared.
He remained with the Secretary only
two" minutes.
Misleading Comment Blocked.
There is some reason to believe that
the Secretary acted with this unpre
cedented promptness in a matter of
such great import with the design not
only to indicate clearly the position
ttf th United States Government, but
, . -,;;.- -j NEW YORK. Sept. 16. Boy Scouts
.-..wv., 1. , of AmerIca nave sol(j more than 617.
1ZT as possiDie, newspaper aiscussiuns j ooo.OOO worth of war stamps, headquar
of the Austrian proposition which : ters of the organisation here announced
might convey to the enemy a mislead-1 today. Sales of individual Scouts aver
ing impression that there was any ed while 2471 "ace" medal, have
. , , , , . . . . been Issued to boys who disposed of
considerable element m the United j ,80 of ..baby bonds -
States willing to consider a nego
tiated peace, such as the "non
binding" discussions proposed by
Austria-Hungary might develop.
Also, it is understood, there was a
purpose to sound the note which the
entente powers must repeat in their
own answers. AH these powers had
gone on record formally as accepting
. the conditions of peace laid down by
President Wilson as their own.
Small Nations Not to Suffer. - ,
While no reference to it was made
in the reply which tha' United States
Government is making to Austria, it is $200,000,000
known mat one oi ine most oojec
tionable features of Baron Burian's
proposition was the secrecy suggested
for the '"non-binding" conferences. It
was realized by officials here that the
purpose was to barter away the rights
of various nationalities in star-cham
ber proceedings so that the victims
OREGON'S ENERGIES
ARE FULLY BOUSED
First, Blow in Fourth
Drive Delivered.
SIBERIANS DECLARE
WAR ON GERMANY
OMSK - ORDERS -- MOBILIZATION
OF 1918 AND 1919 CLASSES.
AUTOCRACY ALREADY GROGGY
Pledge Campaign for World
Freedom Is On.
CITY CRUSADERS PREPARED
Thousands In -All Parts of State
Shelve Personal Affairs to Get
Into Fray for Liberty;
Success Is Assured.
SINGLE SHOT BAGS PLANE
Enemy Machine Downed by
Artillery Defense Gun.
Paris
PARIS. Sept. 16. (Havas.) A Ger
man bombarding plane was brought
down by a direct shot from the artil
lery defense of Paris during the aerial
attack upon the city last night. The
wrecked machine fell in one of the
northern suburbs. In the wreckage
were found the bodies of an officer and
two men.
Antoine Troubat, under-chief of the
questorship In the Senate, was killed
during the aerial bombardment.
BOY SCOUTS MAKING GOOD
Sales of War Savings Stamps Total
Seventeen Millions.
SHIP DELIVERIES INCREASE
2 New Vessels Turned Over to 17. S.
in IS Days.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 16. Twenty-six
ships, with a deadweight tonnage of
147.50, were delivered to the Shipping
Board by American yards during the
first 13 days of this month, the board
announced today. ' During the same
period 28 steel and wood ships of 150,
370 deadweight tons were launched.
IS SOUGHT
Australia's Seventh War Loan Cam
paign Enthusiastically Opened
FIRST 10 PER CENT LIBERTY
LOAN PLEDGE REPORTED -
BY INDUSTRIAL UNIT.
Late last night, when the work
men were assembled for the'
"graveyard" shift, the night crew
' of the Installation department of
the Coast Shipbuilding Company
reported 100 per cent organisa
tion pledged to the fourth liberty
loan.
Theirs is the first Industrial
unit to report completed organ
isation and pledges for the city
campaign, which does not" for
mally, open until tomorrow.
The crew numbers 45 men. with
an aggregate pledge of $2900.
The largest individual pledge"-1
were 5100.' Every man of the
crew now has the right to wear
the off lclal' badge of duty done
"I am pledged."
Czechs Roond TJp Roaming Austro-
. German Prisoners and Put Them
to... Doing Useful . Work. '
OLOVANNAYA, Trans-Baikalla, Sept.
6. (By . . the , Associated Press.)
The Siberian government at Omsk.
fortified town of Asiatic Russia, has de
clared war on Germany, and has order
ed the. mobilization of the 1918 and
1919 classes.
Within the territory freed from the
Bolshevlkl by the Czechs are between
300,000 and 400,000 Austro-German
prisoners. Formerly . they , roamed
about the country at will but they now
have been placed at useful work. .
' To guard the prisoners and to pro
tect the railways, lines of communica
tlon and Important towns, consider
able portion of the Czechs forces east
of the Urals are required. Included
in this number is the contingent com
manded by General Dietrichs.
It Is declared that there Is sufficient
food and supplies in Siberia for the
maintenance of a large 'army. The
Winter period Is quite suitable for
military operations in south Russia
from the Volga to the Ukraine.
"We are all impatiently awaiting the
arrival of allied troops,", declared Gen
eral Gaida, "and the moment when we
shall fight side by side on a far larger
scale than previously on a new Russo
German front."
BY BEN HUR LAMPMAN.
The first wallop of the fourtjj liberty
loan was delivered in Oregon yester
day, when some thousands of volun
teer men and. women laid aside their
own personal affairs to enter the pre
liminary pledge campaign as cham
pions' of world freedom...
First reports from the various dis
tricts are that autocracy is groggy in
the opening round.
"At 11 o'clock, ran a message from
Chairman Barnum, of Sherman County,
to State Manager Robert E. Smith.
"over 25 per cent of our quota had been
pledged. The morning of September 28
will find us ready to report a success
ful finish."
Vigorous Action Necessary.
Similar reports from many sections
of the state serve to remind Portland
that the local campaign, which opens
tomorrow morning, must be launched
with vigor and prosecuted with ardor
If the city is to vie with the country
In the Joint achievement of an esti
mated quota of 540,000,000 approxi
mately half to each. "
With letters of marque to cruise Ore-
(Concluded on Page 8. Column 3.)
BRIDGEPORT. STRIKE ENDS
President's Warning Brings Recal-
. cltrant Workers to Terms.
BRIDEPORT. Conn.. Sept. 16. The
strike of machinists and tool makers
In Bridgeport munition factories was
ended today, many men returning to
work lndenendentlv. whtlA fhn larrn
body of strikers In mass meeting, after
hearing read, the letter of President
Wilson, voted to return as a body.
The strikers. In reply, told the Pres
ident they would take up their griev
ances with the Taft-Walsh War Labor
Board and asked his Influence to get
them an early hearing. The manufac
turers took back all their former employes.
PORTLANDER HUN PRISONER
Edward A. Smith in Hands of Ger
mans at Raastadt.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16. The War
Departmer-announced today, held pris
oner at Camp Cassel, Burt Eaton, El
lensburg, Wash.
The following were reported at Raa
stadt: Charles A. Heise, 4601 Lucille street.
Seattle, Wash.
Edward A. Smith, Portland, Or.
HOUSES FOR SHIP
II
WORKERS ASSURED
Machinery Setin Motion
at Mass Meeting.
REPRESENTATIVE" MEN ACT
Immediate Building of 2000
Dwellings to Be Undertaken.
MUNICIPALITY AIDS PROJECT
United Effort of Citizens Is Urged
by Mayor Baker -Housing Qucs- -tlon
- Is Considered From
Every Possible Angle.
PORTLAND'S HOUSING
COMMITTEE.
Ex-offlcio members George
L. Baker, Mayor of Portland; H.
L. Corbett, president Portland
Chamber of Commerce; Lloyd J.
Wentworth, district ' supervisor
Emergency Fleet Corporation;
W. F. Woodward, chairman State
Council of Defense.
Ira F. Powers, H. C. Wortman,
J. C. Ainsworth, James B. Kerr,
F. ,E. Tayldr, Ellis F. Lawrence,
Eric Y. Hauser, John H. Burgard,
G. F. Smith, C. F. Waters, John'
F. Daly, B. W. Sleeman and Otto
Hartwlg.
Progress of the War.
(By the Associated Press.)
THE United States has turned its
back on the Austro-Hungarian
peace proposal. Secretary Lansing, by
authorization of President Wilson, an
nounced that the United States "can
and will entertain no proposal for a
conference upon a matter concerning
which it has made its position and
purpose so plain."
The British Secretary of Foreign Af
fairs, Mr. Balfour, also has stated,
though unofficially, that he was ut
terly unable to see that such a con
ference as proposed by Austria could
have the desired end, adding:
"It is incredible thatanything can
come of this proposal."
While the German newspaper com
ment on the proposal as if Germany
had no part in it, the Vienna news
papers declare emphatically that all of
Austria's allies had been Informed of
Austria's Intention, though the action
itself was Austro-Hungary's own.
Meanwhile, In the various theaters
of the war the fighting Is going on
steadily and with added impetus in
Macedonia, where the reconstituted
Serbian army, co-operating with
French forces, has stormed the
strongly fortified positions and occu
pied Vetrenik, Dobropolje and Sokal
considered the most Important part of
the Macedonian front.
Farther east on the Doiran-Vardar
front the first and second-line Bulgar
ian positions have been captured by the
allies over a 10-mlle section. This suc
cessful operation, according to Mr. Bal
four, Is "the prelude to an Important
offensive."
SOLDIERS AID IN HARVEST
Men In Uniform Help to Gather
California Prune Crop.
SAN JOSE, CaL, Sept 16. Two hun
dred soldiers from Camp Fremont were
put to work through the Santa Clara
Valley today gathering the prune crop.
which was said to have been damaged
badly, by recent rain storms.
TBey will be paid the wages given
this class of labor.
Portland's housing programme was
started on its way to successful realiz
ation at an enthusiastic mass meeting
held In the auditorium of Lincoln High
School last night. With the selection of
the committee to take charge of the
vast undertaking, the movement has
been given a head made up of, repre
sentative business . and professional
men, all of whom have their hearts' In
the accomplishment of the task of mak
ing comfortable the army of men who
have responded to the Nation's call for
workers in the shipyards.
There was no opportunity last night
for any doubting Thomases to toss
wrenches into the machinery before it
had been put into operation. Mayor
Baker saw to that; and in the general
discussion that followed the addresses
of the occasion, the city's chief execu
tlve held the throttle in a grasp that
could not be shaken.
Meeting Accomplishes Object.
"I think the object of this gathering
has been accomplished," said the Mayor
in reply to one who sought to seek
consideration for investors not affiliat
ed with the housing body. "If any of
you are able to think of anything that
has not been presented to he commit
tee already, you are dandles."
The appointment of the committee
French troops, in their advance
toward the Chemin des Dames, have
gained two-thirds of a mile on a two
and one-half mile front northeast and
east of Sancy, where they captured an
additional 600 prisoners.
(Concluded on Pas 3, Column 1.)
THE ANSWER IS DIG, YE TERRIERS, DIG.
MELBOURNE. Australia. Sept. 16.
The seventh Australian war loan cam
paign was Inaugurated enthusiastically
today. The first bond sold went to the I
would have no knowledge ofthelr fate j Lord Mayor. It is hoped to raise 40,- I J
I AAA AAA . fr Y. ' Aamnnln ' .
American and German patrols are
doing the major part of the work on
the Lorraine front, but there are re
ports of a possible great attack by one
side or the other In the Vosges.
All reports Indicate a marked in
crease in the work of the airplanes
along all the fronts. The Germans, who
quite recently appeared to lack ade
quate air forces, have now sent aug
mented forces into the air and there
have been numerous engagements. As
an Illustration of the severity of the
fighting the British airmen on Sunday
accounted for- 37 German planes, while
they themselves report 16 missing.
While the Czecho-Slovaks have been
courageously and successfully carrying
on the war against the Bolshevik!, steps
nave Deen taKen looking to the organ
ization of a Polish division, under Pol
ish officers, to wage the fight in Sibe
ria westward to their latherland as in
tegral units in the American Army. It
is estimated that one hundred thousand
trained men can be made available at
once in the regions of Harbin, Nikolak
and Vladivostok.
FRENCH DRIVE ON
IN SANGY DISTRICT
Town of Vailly East of
Soissons Captured.
600 MORE PRISONERS TAKEN
Enemy Makes Plans to Coun
ter Attack Americans.
ALLIED PLANES ARE BUSY
RETURN TO POST, IS PLEA
Premier Lloyd George Appeals to
Strikers From Sick Bed.
LONDON, Sept. 16. Greatly con
cerned over the cotton strike, Premier
Lloyd George tonight from his sick
bed issued an appeal to the strikers
to return to work and leave the de
cision In the matters under dispute to
the government after an Inquiry bv a
special tribunal, to be immediately appointed.
The Premier bases his appeal on the
fact that the strike will seriously In
terfere with the production of wal material.
The spinners in the Yorkshire and
Lancashire cotton mills quit work Sat
urday on the question of abolition of
the rota system. The Amalgamated
I Association of Cotton Spinners has a
I medium mup or su.uou, but Indirectly
j the strike will affect 300,000 ope ra
' tives.
.(Concluded oa Fas 2, Column l..
(INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 90
degrees; minimum, 00 degrees.
TODAY'S Fair and continued warm; gentle
' War.
Hun towns bombed. Page 1.
British advance line in Flanders. Page 2.
French drive on in Sancy district. Page 1.
Serbs win heights. Pago 2.
Siberians declare war on Huns. Pag 1.
Official casualty list. Page 3.
Polas will fight. Page 2.
Yankees hold key to allied success. Page 3.
American destroyer commanders discover
Page f1"'11'11 Admiral Is no quitter.
Austria's peace scheme falls. Page 1.
Killings by "Red Terror" continue. Page 7.
Renewed drive on enemy to be answer to
peace proposal. Page 4.
National.
Milk producers allege unfair treatment at
hands of Food Administration. Page 0.
New Army draft call summons 181,838 men
to colors. Page 3.
House upholds war revenue bill as drawn
Page 15.
Domestic.
Sixteen die In Boston of influenza. Page 4.
Body of Mrs. C. E. Chapln. wife of New
ortt eauor, louna aeaa In bed. Page 8.
Pacific Northwest.
Yellow Deai on jdrlving like tank In liberty
loan campaign. Page 8.
Non-partisan leader suspected of disloyalty
Page 5.
Oregon artillery men may have been in big
drive, says Major Williams. Page 13.
Commercial and Marine.
Hay crop of Northwest almost equals last
years. Page 19.
High prices on all classes of livestock
maintained. Page 19.
Scarcity of offerings strengthens corn at
Chicago. Page 19.
Stock speculation checked by tight money
situation. Page 19.
Women Join ranks of Standlfer workers.
Page id.
Sport.
Boxers of class to be seen Friday night.
Page 14.
Sky Huntington named university coach
Page 1.
Hugo Bezdek has hard task ahead. Page 14.
Portland and Vicinity.
First telling blow In Oregon's fourth liberty
arive aeuverea. rage 4. .
Oregon organises to raise (770.000 for united
war work tuna, rage 4.
Democratic lever brought into play. Page 12.
Idlers must work or serve In Army. Page 20.
Houses for shlpworkers assured. Page 1.
Weatheir ztgot eVata and forecast. Page IS.
More Than 17 Tons of Bombs Are
Dropped at Dozen Points.
Yanks Seize Additional
Gnns and Stores. ,
PARIS, Sept. 16. To the northeast
and east of Sancy (northeast of Sois
sons) French troops today advanced
about a kilometer on a front of tour
kilometers, according to the War Office
announcement tonight. Six hundred
additional prisoners were taken.
The town of Vailly on the north bank
of the Alsne east of Soissons was cap
tured by the French.
The French also continued their
progress through the Olso and Alsne,
and captured Mont Des Singes.
AMERICAN FORCES ON THE LOR
RAINE FRONT. Sept. 16. (By the As
sociated Press, 1 P. M.) Aside from
slightly increased artillery activity
this morning, the day thus far has been
largely devoted to patrolling by both
sides. -
Patrolling Is Active.
The Germans seemingly are holding
the Hlndenburg line, from which they
are sending out patrols, while the
Americans and French encamped a few
miles on this side, continue to feel out
the line by the same method.
Germa ninfantry has been observed
consolidating positions at La Chausree
as if in preparation for a counter at
tack, but none so far has developed.
Near this point the enemy Is occupy
ing sheliholes.
The German artillery fire is limited
chiefly to guns of the 77 and 105-millimeter
caliber, but many of the shells
are "dubs."
The Germans also are active In con
structing machine-gun nests at vari
ous parts of the line.
(By the Associated Press.)
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
THE VOSGES, Sept. 16. (9 P. M.) Ar
tillery activity of an Intensity to sug
gest a possible attack or an expected
attack occurred in the Vosges today.
It was accompanied by an extraordi
nary amount of signaling. Enemy air
planes were unusually active. Ten
flew over St. Lie and 20 over Gerard-
mer.
PARIS, Sept 16 While the Ameri
cans are operating in Lorraine toward
the northeast, the battle has extended
far down Into thd Vosges region.
Allied Lines Are Stronger.
The German staff is seeking to rec
tify its lines there. The forced re
treat at St. Mihiel caused a backward
movement along the heights of the
Meuse. This double recoil will estab
lish the allied lines In stronger posi
tions over a very wide front.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
LORRAINE. Sept. 16. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) Allied night bombing
airplanes Sunday night dropped more
than 17 tons of bombs on Courcelles,
Ehrange, Saarbrucken, Boulay Buhl,
Conflans and other points. The bombs
dropped on Conflans were directed
against the railway yards, the center
of the German communications in this
region. The roads crossing the Moselle
also were attacked by the airmen.
Many direct hits were observed. An
enemy train was hit at Longuyon.
Pursuit groups, protected by a bar
rage, carried out numerous raids and
scored victories In several engage
ments. Attempts of German aviators
to cross the American line, were un
successful generally.
More Booty Is Taken.
Reports from different points along
the line show that the number of guns
and general material captured by the
Americans is increasing. An entire
artillery park was captured at Jaulny.
AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS IN
LORRAINE. Sept. 16. (Reuter's.) It
probably Is not an underestimate to as
sume that the Americans In obliterat
ing the St. Mihiel salient reduced the ,
enemy's strength by the equivalent of
four divisions. The victory of the
Americans was due to German infer
iority in numbers and a greater in
feriority in morale.
The enemy was so busily occupied in
getting out of the salient that he did
not have time to remove his dead.
Effect of Drive Noted.
The statement coming from the Ger
man high command that it is glad t
be rid of the salient may be believed,
but It may be doubted If the command
also is glad to have lost 13,000 men,
more than 100 guns, an Innumerable
quantity of machine guns, trench mor
tars, tons of ammunition and telegraph
material, as well as railroad equip
ment, rolling stock, clothing and sup
plies which either were burned or cap
tured by the Americans.
False conclusions must not be drawn
from the results of the operation. To
put it briefly, the Germans did not
fight and the trifling damage they did
to the French and Americans proves it.
The Germans may have done the
(Concluded on Page 2, Column 2.)