VOL. LVIII. '0. 18,071.
PORTLAND. OREGON, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1918.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
E
HINDENBURG JOINS
OVER 2,000,000 U.S.
ALLIED GOVERNMENTS
IN PERFECT ACCORD
POSSIBLE ARMISTICE TERMS
AJSt AGREED OX.
MAJOR A. B. RICHES0N,
IN PEACE OFFENSIVE
PORTLAND, WOUNDED
MEMBER OF 9 1ST CABLES "MAK
T
DESPERATE BOCHES
FIELD MARSHAL RECALLS HIS
DATS OF SCCCESS.
ING GOOD RECOVERY."
YANKS
BIG WEDGE ill
THROUGH FOE LINE
HOOPS EMBARKED
TERMS FOR KAISER
Peace Door Open to German
People, Says Wilson.
ARMISTICE PLEA SUCCEEDS
President Will Confer With Al
lied Governments and Mil-.
L itary Chiefs.
ENEMY ASSUMED SINCERE
No Action Will Be Taken That
- Does Not Effectually End
; Foes' War Power.
WASHINGTON, Oct 23. President
Wilson has submitted the German plea
for an armistice and peace to the
allies and at the same time has in
formed Berlin that there can be no
armistice except on terms that would
make it impossible for Germany to re-
sew hostilities.
While consenting to deal further
with the present authorities in Ger-
many the President has given them
this warning: "If it (the United
States) must deal with the military
masters and monarahial autocrats of
Germany now, or if it is likely to have
to deal with them later in regard to
the international obligations of the
German empire, it must demand, not
peace negotiations, but surrender.
Nothing can be gained by leaving
this essential thing unsaid."
Virtual Surrender Demanded.
The President's reply to the last
German note was handed to the charge
of the Swiss Legation tonight for
transmission to the German govern
ment. It accedes to the request that
he take up with the allies the pro
posals of the new spokesmen of the
German people, but does it with notice
that virtual surrender of the Teutonic
armies in the field will be the price
demanded for interruption of the
beating now being administered.
In transmitting the matter to the
allies the President says he has sug
gested that if they are disposed to ef
fect peace on his terms and princi
ples now accepted by the present Ger
man authorities, the American and
allied military advisers be asked if
they deem such an armistice possible
from a military point of view to sub
mit such terms as willfully protect
the interests of the people involved
and insure to the associated govern
ments the unrestricted power to en
force peace on the conditions accepted.
Explicit Assurances Accepted.
The President says he feels he can
not decline to take up the question of
an armistice, having received solemn
and explicit assurances of the German
government that it accepts the terms
of peace enunciated by him, that the
desire to discuss their application
comes from Ministers speaking for an
overwhelming majority of the German
people, and that the German armed
forces will observe the humane rules
of civilized warfare on land and sea.
He ignores entirely the German pro
tests and denials in response to his
statement that an armistice could not
be considered while the German army
and navy continued their atrocities.
Plain Words Spoken.
As to the authority of the new
spokesmen of the German people, he
speaks, as the note says, "without any
attempt to soften what may seem
harsh words," and tells the men with
whom he is dealing and through them
the German people why such extra
ordinary safeguards- must be de
manded before hostilities can cease.
Significant and important as the
proposed constitutional changes seem
to be, he declares, it does not appear
that the principle of a government re
sponsible to the German people has
yet been worked out, and it is evident
that the people have no n-eans of com
manding the acquiescence of the mili
tary authorities.
He reminds the Germans that tha
power of the King of Prussia (the
Kaiser) to control the policy of the
empire is unimpaired, and concludes
with the warning that if this power
it to be dealt with the United States
.German War Chief Warns Officers
and Men to Avoid Po
litical Activities.
WITH THE FRENCH .ARMY IN
FRANCE. Oct. 13. (By the Associated
Press.) Field Marshal von Hlndenburg
la an order to German officers in the
field, referrlnr to negotiations for an
armistice, declares be approves the
peace move and is obliged to support
the government. He asks that the con
fidence reposed In him in the days of
success be continued.
The German Crown Prince In an or
der to the group of armies under his
command reminds the officers of the,
responsibility they incur when they
lose a position or modify the line in
any way without orders. Copies or
these documents have fallen Into the
hands of the French.
"Political events of the last few
days," says von Hlndenburg, "have pro
duced the most profound impression
upon the army, notably upon the of
ficers. It is my duty to support the
government instituted by his majesty.
'I approve the steps taken toward
peace. The German army nas a superi
ority over all others in that the troops
nd officers have never engaged m
politics. We desire to adhere to that
principle. I expect that the confidence
that was accorded me In the days of
success will be all the stronger now.
Ih order of the Crown Prince is
shorter and almost curt. It says:
The exchange of diplomatic notes
gives me the occasion to recall my
order according to which each' officer
In command engages his responsibility
when he loses a position or modifies
his lines of resistance without express
orders."
Another order which emanates from
the German high command says:
"Diplomatic negotiations with a view
to terminating the war have begun.
Their conclusion wift be all the more
favorable in proportion as we succeed
in keeping the army well in hand, in
holding the ground conquered and In
doing harm to the enemy. These prin
ciples should guide the direction of the
combat in the days that are to follow."
All these documents were taken from
the fifth Bavarian division.
Baker Reports Figures to
President Wilson.
LOSSES EXCEEDINGLY LIGHT
Efficiency of Convoy System
Formally Recognized.
BRITISH AID APPRECIATED
PHONE EMPLOYES GET RISE
Xcw ATace Increase will Become
Effective October IB.
Employes of the Pacific Telegraph
A Telephone Company are to be given
wage Increases effective from October
1. A bulletin conveying only this in
formation was posted yesterday lr the
telephone company's main office.
Officials said last night that wage
advances are to come as a result or the
conferences held In San Francisco. Be
yond the ftct that they are to be put
nto effect as of October IS the local
representatives assert they are in
Ignorance as to details of the Increases.
BARN TURNED INTO SALOON
Proprietor Has Complete Monopoly
In One Texas County.
VINTON, Tex., Oct. Z3. Three hours
after the news was received that the
Texas state-wide prohibition law had
been declared unconstitutional, a saloon
opened for busness here in a barn.
The proprietor is said to be the only
man in El r"aso county wno am noi
cancel his license when the state-wide
law went Into effect and will have the
only saloon In the county.
Wilson, on Receipt of Intelligence,
Congratulates the War and
Jfavy Departments.
WASHINGTON, Oct 23. Embarka
tion of 2,008,931 American soldiers to
participate in the war overseas was
disclosed by correspondence between
Secretary Baker and President Wilson
given out at the White House tonight
at the same time that the President's
reply to the German note was made
public by the State Department.
"I am sure that this will be a matter
of deep gratification and assurance to
the country," said the President, reply
ing to a letter from Secretary Baker,
reporting on the number of men who
have sailed from American ports to
October 21.
Movement In Detail Given.
The correspondence follows:
"War Department, October 22, 1918.
My Dear Mr. President: More than
2,000,000 American soldiers have cailed
from the ports In this country to par
ticipate in the war overseas. In re
porting this fact to you I feel sure
that you will be interested in the fol
lowing data showing the progress of
our military effort.
"In my letter of July 1, 1918, I In
formed you that between May 8, 1917,
and June 30, 1918, ove. 1,000,000 men
had either been landed In France or
were en route thereto. Since July 1,
1918, embarkations by months have
been as follows:
"July, 306,185: August,' 290,818; Sep
tember, 261,415; October 1 to 21, 131,
398. Total, 939,818. Embarked to July
1. 1918, 1,019.115. Grand total, 2,008,931.
Pew Hem 'l.ot.A '
"In our overseas operation, I feel
that we have good reason to be proud
and thankful of the ' results obtained.
Our losses have been exceedingly
small, considering the size of the force
transported, and this Is due to the ef
ficient protection given American con
voys by the naval forces.
"We also have been greatly assisted
In the dispatch of troops abroad by
the allocation of certain vessels from
our allies, principally those of Great
Britain.
"NEWTON D. BAKER.
"Secretary of War."
Wilson Acknowledges News.
The President replied:
"My Dear Mr. Secretary: I am very
glad to have your letter of this morn-
ng reporting that more than 2,000,000
Xaval Questions, Hiterto Untouched,
Are Regarded as . Being of
First Importance.
LONDON, Oct. 23. Router's, Ltd.
learns that the' allied governments, as
result of continual communications.
are perfectly acquainted witn ana
agreed on the terms under which It
will be possible to enter into nego
tiations for an armistice.
It should be observed that naval
questions have never been dealt with
in any negotiations between the United
States and Germany, and they are of
first importance from the allies' view
point
"The idea of the freedom of the seas,
i understood by Germany,'' says the
Renter dispatch, 'is not a matter that
any allied government can accept at all.
It would appear that the conditions
precedent to an armistice must include
the question of sea power as well as or
land power, but hitherto Germany has
alwava limited her remarks to land
power.
'America, Great Britain, France and
Italy owe so much to sea power in car
rying on the war and in national de
velopment that they cannot omit con
slderatlon of seapower from the dls
cussions concerning an armistice.
"The president never assumed that
his conditions would be limited to the
evacuation of occupied territories, . as
the Germans always argued. He puts
number of questions to Germany
after receiving the first note as a pre
limlnary to placing the matter before
the allies."
FURNITURE MAKING IS CUT
Drastic Restrictions Ordered by War
Industries Board.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23. Restrictions
on the manufacture of furniture, elim
inating all new patterns for the dura
tion of the war and curtailing active
patterns 50 per cent, were announced
today by the War Industries Board. .
Beveled mirrors are eliminated, bed
room mirror plafe curtailed 25 per cent
and the manufacture " of dining-room
chairs and toilet table chairs discon
tinued.
(Concluded on Pago 3. Column 2.)
RUNAWAY AUTO KILLS MAIM
Car Gets Away From Woman and
Flanges Down Steps.
TACOMA, Oct 23. Plunging down
the steep -concrete steps on tho south
side of the Elks' Club building at
Seventh and Broadway, a runaway
automobile struck and instantly killed
S. T. Palmer, special guard for the
Northern Pacific Railroad, at 6 o'clock
this morning.
The motor got away from Mrs. Harry
Craig.
BRUGES BELGIAN CAPITAL
Administrative Departments Are to
Be Established la City.
HAVRE, Oct 23. The whole of the
province of Western Flanders and part
of Eastern Flanders and Hainaut
having been recovered from the Ger
mans, the Belgian government has de
cided to establish its administrative
departments in Bruges.
Terrific Struggle Rages
' West of Meuse River.-
FOE HURLED FROM TWO TOWNS
Grim Fighting in Woods Sees
Americans Gain Ascendancy.
ENEMY FIRE IS INTENSE
Doughboys Force Way Forward De
spite Opposition of Germans, De
termined to Hold Ground.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY
NORTHWEST OF VERDUN, Oct 23.
(By the Associated Press, 11 P. M.)
The Americans tonight are fighting
north of Bantheville, Hill No. 297, Hill
299 and Hill 281,- Bantheville having
changed hands several times In the
last few days. Brieulles also has been
cleared of the enemy.
Hill 281 has been the scene of severe
fighting for four days, the Germans
having numerous machine gun nests
on. its summit The capture of this hill
gives the Americans command of Clery-
e-Gran and the valley along the
Landon river.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY
NORTHWEST OF VERDUN, Oct. 23,
9 P. M. (By the Associated Press.) '
The American troops captured th
Bellejoyeuse and Talma farms and the
ridge between them after an all-day
fight today. These positions are situ
ated northwest of Grand Pre.
' Americana Regain Ground.
Early Wednesday the Americans
launched an attack with the deter
mination of cleaning up Grand Pre
and that region. This was apcom-
pushed, but the Germans, counter
attacking, drove back the Americans
at places. v
The Americans later regained their
ground and advanced despite desperate
machine gun defense. .
The German losses in . dead and
wounded were heavy.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY
NORTHWEST OF VERDUN, 5 P. M-,
Oct 23. (By the Associated Press.)
The stiffest fighting of the American
offensive west of the Meuse was under
way today. Tha line Is swaying back
and forth.
In the regions of Grand Pre, on the
western end of the front the Amerl
cans threw back repeated violent Ger
man counter attacks.
On the northern edge of Grand Pre
the Americans captured 52 prisoners,
including three officers. They also took
eight enemy machine guns.
'Huns Are Confident.
With their backs to a great series of
woods, the Bois de Bas and the Bois
de Bourgdfene Included, the Germans
are fighting for their lives. Prisoners
(Concluded on Page 2, Column 3.)
THE VERY LATEST GERMAN LINE OF DEFENSE.
72 DIE AT SAN FRANCISCO j
New Influenza Cases Number 1S72
for one J.'ay.
SAN FRANCISCO. Oct 23. Seventy- 1 t
wo deaths from influenza ana 13 12 new
cases had been reported here today to
the health office up to 5 P. M. This
was the greatest gain since the appear-
ance of the epidemic.
Masks are appearing on the streets I
and in all public places In ever-lncreas- I
nir numbers. Unmasked men and ,
women are In the minority.
THOMAS W. LAWS0N HURT
Financier and Senatorial Candidate!
In Anto Mishap.
MARLBORO. Mass.. Oct 23. Thomas I
W. Lawson, the Boston financier and I
ndependent candidate for United States I
Senator, was injured when his limou
sine was overturned on the State road I
in Northboro late today.
He was brought to a hospital In this I
city. Hospital authorities- refuse to say I
how badly Mr. Lawson was hurt
CARGO STEAMSHIP SINKS
American Vessel of 3550 Tons Fonn-
ders After Striking Rock.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23. Sinking of
the American cargo steamship Lake I
Borgne off the coast of France with-1
out loss of life was announced today I
by the Navy Department The ship
foundered after striking a rock.
Ten officers and 48 enlisted men
composed the crew and all were saved. I
The vessel was of 3550 gross tonnage.
GERMANS - LEAVING GHENT
Evacuation of City by Enemy Is Said
to Be Under Way..
AMSTERDAM. Oct 23. The evacua
tion of Ghent Belgium. Is in full swing, )
according to a dispatch to the Telegraaf I
from Sasvangent
The last boats In Ghent are being I
hastily towed toward Selzaete, nearl
the Dutch frontier south of Sasvangent I
i
t I' tE"w ..3m.aeS
1 1 mmmzimtmm
I -- -sjsw. .
1 : : :
.
Former Newspaperman- and Regular
Army Man, Sends Word "Don't
AYorry" to Wife.
"Wounded. Making good recovery.
Don't worry. RICHESON."
Further evidence that the famous
91st Division, which left Camp Lewis
this Summer for the war front has
been in the thick of the fighting was
Indicated last night by a cablegram
received from Major A. B. Rlcheson, of
Portland, by his wife here, that he had
been wounded.
Mrs. Richeson had not heard by let
ter from her husband since August 1.
though she received a cablegram from
him while visiting in Seattle, about
September 1, that the then Captain
had been commissioned a Major.
Major Richeson is a former regular
Army man, having .seen service in
the Philippines after the Spanish
American war, and later was stationed
for several years at Schofield Barracks
Hawaiian islands; is a graduate or tne
first Officers' Training Camp at the
Presidio, going directly to Camp Lewis,
where he was assigned as Adjutant to
Colonel French, whom he knew In the
Philippines. Major Richeson then Cap
tain, was dubious about ever seeing serv
ice in France and longed for the time
when he might be ordered "over there,"
"before the war would be over," as he
often expressed it. Major Richeson
formerly was a member of The Ore
gonian news staff. .
Mrs. Richeson, who has been visiting
In Seattle and Tacoma since the Major's
trip across the Atlantic, now will re
side with her parents, Captain and Mrs.
G. J. Stuart, 488 Williams avenue.
LOAN" PAYMENTS PILE UP
Receipts Pour Into Treasury at Rate
of $150,000,000 Daily.
WASHINGTON. Oct 23. Payments
on v the fourth liberty loan now are
pouring into the Treasury at the rate
of 3150,000,000 a day and several hun
dred millions are expected tomorrow,
the last day allowed banks to report
their loan subscriptions, together with
initial payments.
So great is the task before the banks
that many -will probably not be able to
complete their reports In the allotted
time, thus delaying the Federal Re
serve banks in making up their totals
which will show the exact amount of
the subscriptions to' the loan.
Thousands of Prisoners,
. Many Towns Taken.
WHOLE FRONT IS MENACED
Enemy in Valenciennes Sector.
Swept Back More Than
Three Miles.
MONS, MAUBEUGE IN RANGE
RACE WITH DEATH IS LOST
. W. Gillian Arrives at Spokane to
Meet Child's Funeral.
SPOKANE, Wash.. Oct 23. (Special.)
Hurrying from the Union station to
the Great Northern station to meet his
wife and son, who were returning from
a visit in Montana, C. W. Gillian, rate
clerk for the Union Pacific Railway
Company, of Portland, arrived in time
to see trainmen placing the body of
his boy, who had died near Columbia
Falls, Mont, into a waiting hearse. The
child, aged 6, had been suffering with
heart disease and the high altitude of
the mountains through which the train
passed brought on the fatal attack.
FOREIGN TRADE MARK GOES
September High Record Places Ex
ports at $550,000,000.
WASHINGTON, Oct 23. New high
records for September foreign trade
were announced today by the Depart
ment of Commerce.
Imports were 1262,000,000, an increase
of nearly $26,000,000 over September,
1917, and exports 3550,000,000, an In
crease of about 3100,000.000.
In Fighting of Desperate Na
ture Germans Suffer Big
Losses jn Killed.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE AND BELGIUM, Oct. 23.
(By the Associated Press, 6 P. M.)
The British third and fourth armies to
day smashed through strong German
defensive positions south of Valen
ciennes. They gained ground to a
depth of more than 5000 yards on an
extended front, - capturing many im
portant villages and several thousand
prisoners, together with numerous
guns, and driving a wedge into the
enemy positions at what probably is
the most vital point of the lines the
Germans are holding.
Enemy Loses Heavily.
The fighting was of a desperate na
ture, the German machine gunners
holding out to the last. Large num
bers of the enemy were killed.
The advance continues and the men
ace to the Germans to the north and
south of the front is hourly growing.
Further retreats are expected.
NDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature,
S3
degrees; minimum, -43 degrees.
TODAY'S Cloudy; probably rain; south
westerly winds.
. War.
Great wedge driven through German line.
Fag-e 1.
Over 2,000.000 V. S. troops have embarked
tor feurope. Page 1.
Foreign.
Reichstag approves Prince Max address.
Page 3.
Austria relinquishes control In Poland.
Page 4.
One of Cavell slayers to pass on German
atrocities in Belgium. Page 6.
Allies all In accord In regard to armistice
terms. Page 1.
Hlndenburg says he Is ready for peace.
Page 1.-4
National.
Senator Lodge criticizes Wilson's reply.
Page 2.
Wilson says peace door, open to German
people, is closed to Kaiserism. Page 1.
Domestic
Formation of new Mid-Europe union of na
tions planned, page 4.
Sports.
College athletics to be compulsory. Page 12.
Camp Lewis battle center of interest.
Page 12.
Pacific Northwest
War conditions make Increase in state reve
nue Imperative, page 7.
State police work lauded by Governor.
Page 6.
Commercial and Marine.
Grain dealers ask for separate classification
tor Oregon oats. Page 17.
Rise in Wall-street stocks is checked.
Page 17.
Pacific Steamship Company locates offices
at comer Third and Stark streets.
- Page 13.
- Portland and Vicinity.
Major A. B. Richeson, Portland, wounded In
France. Page 1.
Pierce checks pile-up on draft board. Page 6.
Chamber of Commerce passes on measures
to be submitted to voters. Page 10.
Industrial welfare committee to consider
women's work tonight. Page 10.
Oregon dairy council will form permanent
organization. Page Jl.
War work campaign plans taking shape.
Pago 18.
Rigid regulations to combat Influenza.
Page 18.
Weather report, data and forecast. Page 17.
North of the third and fourth ar
mies the British first army continued
its attacks and reached positions well
to the northeast of Valenciennes,
which is gradually being squeezed out.
It is probable that the Germans have
already evacuated that town.
Le Quesnoy Is Approached.
The British are approaching Le
Quesnoy and were only about three
miles from the gates of that place, ac
cording to latest reports, and were
still advancing.
The heaviest fighting seems to have
been in L'Ebeque wood, which is still
being cleared" up, although the Brit-
ish have passed completely around it
and are before the great Mormal for
est. On the edge of this the Germans
were reported to be concentrating at
Preux. 1 -
Catillon was taken early in the
fighting by assault. Ors is in Brit
ish hands. The Germans before re
treating blew up all the bridges over
the canal between Catillon and Ors. .
One corps holding the center of the
fourth army front opposite Le Cateau
had taken 500 prisoners early in the .
day.
Troops Advance Swiftly.
The infantry massing for the at
tack was supposed to be a target for
the German artillery, which concen
trated a heavy fire on, two points east
of Bazuel and east of Le Cateau, just
before midnight. The infantry, how
ever, moved forward on schedule and
soon had jumped the Germans clear
out of the first of their hurriedly
constructed defensive positions.
This was about 1:30 this morning.
Since that time the fighting has been
continuous and shows no signs of
quieting down.
To the north of the active battle
zone slight gains were made today.
The Escault Canal has been crossed at
more places and patrols are pushing
out. This movement undoubtedly is
being hastened by the wedge being
driven south of Valenciennes. The re--.,
treat from the canal, if it actually has
begun, on a wide scale, will, of course,
have its effect northward to the
Dutch border.
Defensive Lines Built.
According to the best information
the next line the Germans intend to
stand on is through Amougies, which,
under normal conditions should be
reached in two days. After that they
have a line west of Brussels, which -may
be reached before the end of the
month. Further back there is a line
on the other side of Brussels on which
much work seemingly is being done.
Ten prisoners just taken here were
in the hospital at Ghent a few days
ago. They say the hospital and all the
war material behind the entire front
(Concluded on Page 6, Column 1.)
(Concluded en Face 3. Column L)
the dispatch adds.