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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 1918)
s THE 3IORXIXG OREGOXIAy, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1918. PORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland (Oregon) Fostoffica as second-class mail matter. f Subscription rales Invariably In advance: (Bv Mail.l Xaily. Sunday included, one year ...... .$8-JJ 4.25 ! .Many, Sunday included, six montns ...... Pally, Sunday Included, three months.... Dally, Sunday included, one month...... JJally, without Sunday, one year ........ Daily, without Sunday, six months Daily, without Sunday, one month.. ..... Weekly, one year 2.25 .75 son 3.25 .60 1.00 2.50 runuay, oil; ji";tr ...................... T Z bunoay and Weekly o..v (By Carrier.) Pally, Sunday included, one year ..$9.00 Pally, Sunday included, one month 75 Dally, Sunday included, three months . 2.25 3 ally, without Sunday, one year 70 Pally, without Sunday, three months 1.95 pally, without Sunday, one month....... -65 How to Remit Send postoffice money or der, express or personal checlc on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at own er's risk. Give postoffice address in lull, in cluding county and state. Postage Rates 12 to 16 pages. 1 cent: 18 to 82 pages, 2 cents: 34 to 4 pages, 3 cents: AO to 6U piges, 4 cents; 62 to 76 pages, 5 cents: 73 to e2 pages, o cents, foreign post age, double rates. Eastern Business Offire Verree & Conk lln, Brunswick building. New York.; Verree & onklln, Hteger building. Chicago: Verree & Conklin, Free 1'rens building, Detroit, Mich.; Gan Francisco representative. K. J. Bidwell. MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. The Associated Press is exclusively enti tled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited to this paper, and also the local Hews published herein. All rights of republication of special dis patches herein are also reserved. rOBTLAND, TUESDAY, DEC. 24, 1918. ANOTHER INDUSTRY THROWN DOWN. Builders of wood ships are not the only citizens of Oregon who have been "thrown down" by the Govern ment after having come to the aid of the country in war. Miners of chrome ore are in the same class. They, too, in Southern and Eastern Oregon, re sponded to appeals for increased pro duction to meet war needs. Chrome is much needed as an alloy in steel and in chemicals, but, the emergency having passed, they encounter many obstacles in obtaining relief from the loss which they face through their patriotic efforts. Chrome has hitherto been Imported from New Caledonia and Rhodesia. Large deposits were known to exist in the United States, but the ore could not be produced in competition with the coolie labor of those countries. In order to economize shipping, the War Industries Board desired to have the American supply developed. It therefore caused an embargo to be placed on imports and induced Con gress to pass the war minerals act, whirti provides a revolving fund of $50,000,000 for the purchase and sale of chrome and many other minerals. But in May, 1918, long before that bill was passed, a committee of the Shipping Board called upon American miners not to await its passage, but at once to increase production, saving that "every ton mined here will save a ton of material that otherwise would have to be imported." Trusting to the Government to enforce the embargo and protect the market, the chrome miners went ahead to increase output. But they reckoned without the con sumer, who in this case is not the humble individual who receives scant attention at Washington and who has nothing to do but pay the bills, but is the Steel Corporation and other pow erful steel companies, which have rep resentatives in the councils of the War Industries Board, the War Trade Board and their various committees. The consumer wanted cheap ore, and perhaps had an interest in the New Caledonia and Rhodesia mines. On the pretext that ore was needed as ballast, they obtained license in spite of the embargo under which they imported 85,000 tons in September. This broke the market, for the year's total con sumption is estimated at 95,000 tons, while in the nine months ending Sep tember "domestic production was 48, 690 tons and imports were 74,708 tons. Still, the miners looked to the war minerals act for relief. They are in a. fair way to get it in the neck. The war minerals act was approved by the President on October 23. It gives the President authority to facili tate the production and distribution of chrome and other minerals as to which he determines that there is "a present or prospective inadequacy of supply." He may buy and sell, and, In order to prevent loss to the United States, may fix such rate of duty on imports "as shall be sufficient to ade quately protect the United States against such loss." Power is given to requisition and operate mines and smelters and to form a corporation owned by the Government with the revolving fund of $50,000,000 as capi tal. The act expires two years after peace is proclaimed, but winding up of business may continue after that date. Importation of ore was prohibited on November 2, this prohibition being retroactive, and ores in transit were to be held in bond. On November 5 restrictions against purchase of ore were removed and a move was started to put the act in operation. Chairman Baruch, of the War Industries Board, apparently foresaw trouble with the steel manufacturers and did not de sire the job, so he "passed the buck" to Secretary of the Interior Lane by asking him to undertake administra tion of the law. The President signed an order to that effect on November 11 and handed it to Mr. Baruch, who did not deliver it to Mr. Lane till November 19. What he did in the meantime may be surmised from -the fact that promptly opposition arose among steel manufacturers to application of the act to relief of the chrome producers, on the ground that it was designed for actual war conditions - and . for necessary minerals which were insuffi- clently produced in this country. By their evasion of the import embargo they had taken care that there should . be no shortage, though the Shipping Board had said there was. Mr. Lane called a conference for November 27 of the heads of the Government boards concerned, the Pacific Coast chrome committee, the American Mining Con press, the committees on mines of Senate and House and representatives of consumers. At the conference chemical manufacturers refused to participate in any arrangement for purchase of ore produced in this coun try, and no constructive suggestion was made, though Chairman "Vance McCormick, of the War Trade Board, acknowledged that "there is no ques tion about the Government having assumed a moral obligation." A committee of chrome producers has since obtained from Mr. Lane a statement that the act can still be used for their relief, but that on ac count of criticism of expenditures he would not use it without being so directed by Congress, though he favors liquidation by the Government of pro ducers' losses. Accordingly, a resolu tion is being prepared for passage by Congress, this action being the more urgent because the embargo on im ports is not expected to hold more than thirty days. This story of the return received by the chrome producers for the response which they made to the call for help reveals a sudden change of front on the part of the Administration. A few months afro they did not hesitate to ask the Congress for billions; now they refuse to spend the money which it had already appropriated unless they are given new and express au thority by Congress. The reason given is the armistice, but the actual reason is the result of the election and the fear of criticism. Though the war may be actually ended, it is not formally so, and the moral obligations which it has imposed on the Govern ment should be respected.' The chrome producers, like the wood shipbuilders, should not be left holding the bag. WHO SHALL FORM ITT Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria will have their represen tatives at the Paris peace conference. It is pertinent to ask if they are to be included in any plan for a league of nations. China, Serbia, Montenegro, Poland, Brazil, Cuba, Siam, Portugal, Persia, all are to be represented at the Paris conference. It is pertinent also to ask if the league of nations is to in include them. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland and Spain are not to be represented at the Paris peace conference. It is pertinent to ask if a league of nations Is not to include them. Is the league of nations for the great powers, or for all powers? Or is the league of nations for the present allies alone? Or is the league of nations for some of the present allies? The Paris peace conference Is to make peace. Is it unreasonable to suggest that it first make peace and then consider the formation of a league of nations or leave it for such nations as may desire to form such a league and control It? WHY SCCH A DISPUTE f The Oregonian has from a respon sible citizen the following letter: Is It a fact that The Oregonian Is going to remain silent and allow the National Guard In Portland to be demobilized at this time? Does Lu P. Campbell, through his connection with the Multnomah Guard, or as commander thereof, receive a salary? If so, how much, and by whom is it paid? As a taxpayer of the city of Portland, I would like to have an expression from The Oregonian. The Oregonian understands that the commander of the Multnomah home guard receives compensation at the rate of $3600 per year from the city of Portland. There is an Implication in the above letter that there should be no such pay. That is a matter of opinion, perhaps; but there can be no two opinions that the Multnomah Guard as an organization, volunteer ing for home service for the period of the war, has served its purpose ad mirably. Its members are first-class citizens, very many of them with mili tary experience. They have sought to perform a patriotic duty, and they have performed it. Shall or shall not it be acknowledged? Moreover, the cost to the public has been almost negligible. There were a few items, such as uniforms, and various incidentals, and the salary of the commanding officer, who doubt less has given his whole time to the work; but on the whole only a com paratively small sum has been spent. The National Guard is not a tem porary military organization. It is a part of the permanent military estab lishment of the United States. The units of the National Guard that were in existence in April, 1917, are now in Prance, and have served their coun try well. There has been a doubt in the minds of some citizens and it is a doubt in which The Oregonian has shared as to the policy of creating here a substitute body to take its place, and in effect and in fact to do home service in war time which an other organization was doing; but there has been no question with The Oregonian that the structure of the National Guard ought to be main tained for development in event the National Guard policy shall be re tained by the Government. Under the existing military plan the Home Guard has a limited function: the National Guard a distinct field of its own. It appears to The Oregonian that the differences between the organiza tions are in a large measure needless. They should be reconciled. There are wise and cool heads in each organiza tion, all desirous of the best results for community, state and country, and they should try to find a solution to the troubles. It is not an affair of the politicians. GERMANY'S ATTITUDE IN DEFEAT. "Defeated but defiant" describes the attitude of the German troops return ing to Berlin and of the people receiv ing them. Playing of "Deutschland ueber Alles" and preservation of dis cipline by officers over men indicate no renunciation of militarism, no re pentance for the many unspeakable crimes of which Germany has been guilty. In the eyes of the Berlin populace the men who ravaged every land they invaded are heroes who have defended the Fatherland from a like fate. Surrender after defeat seems to bring no shame, but to be re garded as a prudent act to preserve Germany from suffering In the way she has made other nations suffer. This mental viewpoint of the Ger mans does not bode well for their con duct at the peace congress and after peace, has been made. It leads us to expect the pose of a brave, heroic nation which has been overpowered by superior force In defending its country, an assumption that the only crime of which Germany has been guilty is failure, an air of the unfor tunate In the hands of ruthless power. The soldiers who have deserted and cast off discipline may be assumed to be those who have renounced alle giance to militarism and who are sin cere converts to the democratic order of things. They are scattered and un organized. The only organized mili tary force remaining is likely to cherish ideals of monarchy and con quest, with its Hun accompaniments of murder, rapine and lust. It may approve deposition of the Kaiser and banishment of the C'own Prince be cause they have failed, but it may still do the bidding of the Junkers and the military caste. This situation contains menace of a parallel with the history of France after Waterloo. The Grand Army still lived in the affectons of the people, and they kept alive the memory of Napoleon s victories but forgot his de feats and the misery and humiliation which he brought upon France. After two more revolutions, the second of which resulted in an abortive attempt to establish a republic, France again became an empire under Napoleon III, whom Victor Hugo named Napo leon the Little, but in whose hands the Napoleonic legend was potent, and not until he met disaster at Sedan was a republic finally and firmly established. There are materials In Germany for a rough duplication of this chapter French history. Moderate and radical Socialists are struggling for suprem acy, and reactionaries aggravate the strife in order that confusion and weakness of the government may give them a chance to return. These possibilities raise doubt whether the allies did not act too hastily in granting an armistice be fore the German army was totally destroyed and before the war had been .parried to the heart of Germany, where it would have brought home to the German people the reality and the awful consequences of defeat. They impose on the peace congress the duty to take such ample security that renewal of the world-wide Ger man conspiracy and revival of Kaiser ism will be impossible. Nor until Germany shows a change of heart as well as a change of government will that nation be a fit member for a League of Nations. WAR'S DEATH TOTAL BI MCKDEB. Appalling as is the total of men killed in battle, it may be exceeded by the number of deaths otherwise caused by the war. The Turks have massa cred Armenians estimated as high as a million, and hundreds of thousands of Greeks. The Bulgarians have been little behind them with the massacre of Serbians, and the Austrians and Hungarians have shown like ferocity. The Germans have killed non-combatants by tens of thousands, but their murders have been chiefly effected by starvation, brutal treatment and overwork of prisoners and civilians. But the greatest mortality has prob ably been due to famine, starvation and exposure of the millions who fled from Russian Poland, Serbia, Rou mania, Italy, Belgium and France be fore the invaders. To these must be added the hosts who are now dying of famine or malnutrition in the for mer empire of the Hapsburgs, and the many who are starving or being slaughtered In Russia- One can only guess at the number of children who have died for lack of proper food. -and decrease in the birthrate of all belligerent countries must also be added. By comparison with the Kaiser, Attila, Genghiz Khan and Tamerlane were small offenders. rENALIZrNG PATRIOTISM. Thousands of men and women have gone to Washington to work in the departments during the war. The services of many of them are no longer needed, and they are being dismissed. They have not been able to save any thing, and the Senate has passed a bill providing that the Government shall pay the traveling expenses of those who are discharged before March 31. That seems fair enough, but Senator Curtis brought up the case of many Kansans who had been induced by agents of the Labor Department to go East to do war work by promises of a year's employment, not for the Gov ernment but for men who had Gov ernment contracts. Many of them had less than a month's work, some only a few days work, when they were discharged because contracts were can celed. Employers refused to pay traveling expenses back to Kansas, and some of these men had to telegraph home for money. Mr. Curtis offered an amendment that the Government should pay the traveling expenses of such men if they had had less than ninety days' work, but the Senate voted it down In the name of economy. There is no essential difference be tween the cases of persons who are employed directly by the Government and those who are employed by others on Government contracts. Many of the latter left their homes to work at distant places In response to an appeal to their patriotism. The Government is under the same moral obligation to send them to their homes as to send home the men, women and girls who work in the departments, or the men who were drafted into the Army. Not to do so Is to penalize patriotism. The House should undo the injustice done by the Senate. The people want economy, but not at the cost of justice. A PROBLEM FOR THE PEACEMAKERS. An example of the difficult ques tions which will come before the Peace Congress for solution Is the dispute I which has broken out in Dalmatia and j Istria between the Italians and the Jugo-Slavs. The latter objected to Italian occupation, and joint occupa tion by the other allies with the Ital ians was necessary to prevent open war. Each party to the controversy supports its claim by appeal to the principle of self-determination of peo ples, but Italy relies more on history, as to which it goes back more than a thousand years. If the population Is considered on racial lines alone, the Jugo-Slavs have the better case, according to statistics which they have published with a map of the disputed and adjoining terri tory. Dalmatia and the islands have 611.211 Southern Slavs to 18,028 Ital ians in a total of 645,666; Istria 223. 319 Slavs to 147.417 Italians in a total of 403,566. Only in the cities of Trieste and Flume do the Italians ap pear to have a majority, Trieste having 59,319 Slavs and 118,959 Italians in a total of 229.510, and Flume 13,102 Slavs and 24,212 Italian" in a total of 46,458. In all the southern prov inces of the defunct monarchy there are 6,233,354 Slavs and 398,735 Ital ians in a total population of 8,562,694, but this includes areas In Northern Styria and Carlnthla which the Slavs admit to be domlnantly German. The Jugo-Slav committee demands the union of all these provinces with Ser bia and Montenegro in a single state of about twelve million people, ex cluding parts of Styria and Carinthia, where about a million Germans out number all others. The statistics given may not be re liable, for the only figures available are those of the Austrian census, which are doctored for political effect. Any person who can speak the lan-; guage of the dominant or favored race is counted as a member of that race without regard to his actual origin. In towns of mixed population the races learn something of each other's language, and many Italians may thus have been recorded as Slavs. On behalf of Italy it Is contended by Dr. Paolo Parlsi, of the University of Rome, that Dalmatia was Italian from the time of Augustus Caesar to the invasion of the Slavs in the seventh century, and that then the Slavs "were held back by the highly cultured and powerfuL-marltlme republics of Italy which ruled the coast cities." In 998 Venice completer! the pacific occupa tion of Dalmatia, and almost continu ous war between Venice and Hungary from 1105 to 1409 ended in its re mainlng to Venice, which held It, ex cept the little republic of Ragusa, till 1797. Napoleon then gave it to Aus tria, which has retained It till this year. The Hapsburgs have done their utmost to invalidate Italy's claim, by suppressing the Italian language, lit in'erature and schools, by persecuting the Italians, crowding them out and encouraging -immigration of Slavs. To this policy is attributed the Slav ma jority in the back country, while Italians predominate in the ports. The claim of the Jugo-Slavs to Dal matla was not made, according to Dr. Parlsl, until 1911. and he ascribes lit to anti-Italian agitation by agents and tools of the Austrian police. He says: There la no such thing as a Jugo-Slav na tion; no history, no language or literature which bears the name. He calls Jugo-Slav a newly-coined word and continues: It -Includes Bulgarians, Serbians, Croats, Montenegrins and Slovaks. That would com prise five histories, three languages Bul garian, Serbo-Croat and Slovak, written with two distinct alphabets; two distinct religions; five separate national consciences. He says the Jugo-Slav leaders are still In league with Vienna and Berlin and that the Croat and Slovak troops proved to be among the staunchest supporters of Austria. Both tle Italian and Slav Inhabi tants of the Eastern Adriatic Coast are victims of Hapsburg tyranny, and the downfall of the Austrian monarchy has left them in such a position that it seems impossible for one race or the other In some sections to escape from falling under alien rule. If the Peace Congress should decide in favor of the Slavs, it would perpetuate the wrong done to the Italians by Austria; If in favor of Italy, It would punish the Innocent instruments by which that wrong was done. Any settlement will probably be a compromise, which both races may try to upset, provid ing work for the League to Enforce Peace. TNT ON THE FARM. The glad day may be dawning when every owner of a patch of cutover land can have a supply of TNT for ! the asking, to be used in lifting stumps out of the ground and transforming a wilderness of slashings into a gar den, but the thought somehow ob trudes itself that it is a subject for mature consideration. There is noth ing academic about the behavior of these high explosives. We are willing to listen to the theorists while they expound the proposition that the num ber of foot-pounds of energy which would demolish a Rheims cathedral ought to cleat- so-and-so many acres of stump-infested land, but when they begin to put their proposition to the test, we prefer to keep a respectful distance. This is not to say that the potential force imprisoned in a three-inch shell ought not to be utilized industrially if possible, but only to suggest that there is so great a difference between most war explosives and the compara tively low-pressure stump powders and diluted dynamite as to warrant conclusion that special training ought to precede any extensive substitution of the former for the latter. A little knowledge may be a very dangerous thing where the science of explosives is concerned, and even the . obvious benefits of land-clearing are hardly worth a big casualty list. There is something more attractive in the proposal to utilize 10,000 tons of mustard gas In the extermination of rodent pests. It seems a little safer, but even this will bear investigation. It is a fine idea to beat our swords into plowshares and our spears Into pruning hooks, but when it comes to monkeying with the highly specialized forces which have been employed in this war, there are many who would rather regard it as merely a metaphor. Still, the bare idea contains possibili ties. To turn our munitions works into manufactories of safety-first stump explosives and rodent extermi nators might be entirely feasible, and we would like to see It tried on a scale befitting the needs of the occa sion. It !s a Joy to receive the Christmas number of the Seattle Argus, for that paper is always a pictorial delight. This year it abounds in beautiful half tones of the metropolis of Pugct Sound, of its shipyards, business buildings, piers and dock. Great features are made of the pleasure resorts. Rainier National Park, cutting of airplane spruce and of the big timber of the Pacific Northwest. It is worthy of a place on any man's library table. The best woman you know Is your mother, if she's alive, otherwise your wife. You are lucky to have both. If you have but the one, luck Is still with you. Make it a check or a big bit of currency and let her do the buying. Man cannot realize the pleasure In indecision and final triumph of the purchase. It's a dreary old world at best, but it can gloriously be lightened in spots. Try It once. . Tls the day before Christmas, and all through the city. If there's a woman at home it's a wonder and pity with all the last-day bargains and everybody with money to spend. The North Pole still has its lure. and the adventurous whom peace has put out of a job may swarm to know all the secrets at which Peary only had a peep. Do yon recall the good. old. peace ful Democratic days of twenty-five years ago when you did not have the price of a turkey? There are lots of people on the small-paying Jobs, Janitors, elevator men, office boys and the like. Loosen up a bit today. The ex-Kaiser will hold elaborate religions exercises tonight as part of his Christmas programme. The old hypocrite! Everybody Is feeling good today In anticipation of a merry Christmas to morrow. Do nothing that will Jar the hopes. The saying of fifty years ago. "All's quiet on the Potomac," will now give place to "All's quiet on the Rhine." This will be the last 60-eent turkey for years. The whole world will be raising them next year. Illumine tonight. It will be some what different from the old-time "lit up" affair. All restaurant restrictions are off except that of decency of the "hog." Have you ever thought your mail man may smoke in his off hours? Last chance to get a Red Cross button today. Attend to It early. Americans patrol the Rhine, eh? Well, that's a reliable watch. Last day to remember some one you might have overlooked. The science of eugenics takes a back seat after a war. Those Who Come and Go. Clarence L. Reames, special assistant to the United States Attorney-General, arrived In Portland yesterday on his way to spend Christmas with his moth er, at Medford. Ho la accompanied by Mrs. Reames. Mr. Reames, who was formerly United States Attorney for Oregon, was recently the victim of an automobile accident In which he sus tained four fractured ribs, with other Injuries. His eyes are still discolored. Yesterday the association of hotel men in Portland agreed again to fur nish the Christmas dinner for the In mates of the Louise Home, and will send out five turkeys, celery, sweet po tatoes, mincemeat and cranberries. Hotel men feel that they have prob ably inherited the .Christmas dinner for the girls at the home and will have to make good as each holiday season ar rives. It began last year when the Multnomah crowd agitated the matter successfully and was heartily joined by the other leading hotels. Mr and Mrs. Law Joyce, of Kerry, arrived at the Perkins yesterday to do some Christmas shopping. H. B. Thornberry. of Spokane. Is at the Benson. Mr. Thornberry is a breed er of fancy saddle horses. C. A. Burden, accompanied by Mrs. Burden, Is at the Imperial. Mr. Bur den is a partner of Dave Graham, Rep resentative for Lane County in the coming session of the Legislature. They are in the shoe business Major and Mrs. E. G. Greggs. of Te coma, are among the Benson arrivals. Outside of military matters, the Major is a prominent lumberman. Mrs. and Mrs. J. Williams, of Rainier, are In town for Christmas. They are at the Perkins. Mr. Williamscm is in the timber business. C M. Keep, a dairyman and rancher of Washougal, Wash-, is at the Hotel Oregon. J. N. Burgess, vice-president of the newly formed Oregon Chamber of Com merce, former State Senator, wool man and sheepowner of Pendleton, is at the Imperial. F. H. Burroughs, of the American railroad administration at Tacouaa, is staying at the Benson. A. M. Conard, a real estate operator from Los Angeles, is at the Hotel Port land, and finds nothing the matter with the Oregon climate. Edgar Ayers and Carl Rhea, both Heppner boys, arrived at the Imperial last night on their way home from the East, where they were discharged from the Army. The young men had made a fair start for France and action when the armistice was signed, then were recalled and discharged. George H. Graves, a Salem business man. Is among the arrivals at the Hotel Oregon. IL S. Mason, who was formerly In the retail clothing business In Port land, but Is now operating a success ful grill at St. Helens, is at the Benson. F.. P. Stanley, the big- irrigatlonlat of Deschutes, In Central Oregon, is at the Multnomah, accompanied by his son. Frederick. Jr. They are doing a little Christmas shopping. C. P. Dorian, who travels for an In surance company, came off the road yesterday, registered at the Imperial. proceeded to look up Santa Claus and is awaiting the annual convention of his company. Mr. and Mrs. William Service, accom panied by their daughter. Miss May. are in town from Stlverton for the shopping season and are at the Hotel Oregon. E. J. Man Ion. representative of the National organization of telegraphers. returned to the city yesterday and will be at the Multnomah for some time. Letters to Returned Soldiers. CORNELIUS, Or., Dec 22. (To the Editor.) Could you tell me where to write my brother. We saw where he had landed In New York. His ad dress "over there" was "156111 Aero Squadron, care United States Service, 35 Eaton Place, London, England." We heard from him November 2S. He was well then, A READER. No Instructions for the mailing of letters to enlisted men when they reach this country have been Issued. It is best merely to wait a message from the man himself. He will prob ably be sent to Camp Lewis to be mustered out The process of segre gating the men in the East and of forwarding them for discharge re quires time. Company L. 125th Infantry. MOSIER. Or, Dec 22. (To the Edi tor.) Can you give me any Informa tion about Company L. 125th Infantry and 67th Company, 164th Depot Bri gade? Are they listed to come home soon? How would a person address a letter to a soldier in 67th Company, 164th Depot Brigade? SUBSCRIBER. The 125th Is In the 32d Division, Army of Occupation. We understand the second unit to be the Depot Brigade of the 164th Regiment, last reported a part of the 41st Division. If this Is correct you need make the address in this style: "Private Arthur Sims. 67th Company, 164th Depot Brigade, Amer ican Expeditionary Force." 315th Supply Train. WALLA WALLA Wash, Dee. 21. (To the Editor.) Please tell me what division the 316th supply train Is In. Where Is it located and Is it among those coming home soon? What does "P. M. T. Replacement Park" mean? ANXIOUS FRIEND AND SUBSCRIBER. If where It naturally belongs the SlOth supply train Is with the 90th Di vision. Official location is lacking. The 90th is In the army of occupation. The "park" Is unquestionably a motor transport replacement park, where the motor cars are repaired and cared for. The "P." may be for "provisional," "post," or some similar term. Fifth Regiment. Marine Corps. PORTLAND. Dec. 23. (To the Edi tor.) Kindly tell me where the Fifth Regiment of the Marine Corps was sta tioned when the armistice was signed. Is it listed for return? Where Is Base Hospital No. 49 located? Will the unit disband? A READER.. The Fifth Marines were In the Ar gonne November 11. Now In Army of Occupation. Neither location of Base Hospital nor plans for Its future have been announced. Certain base hospi tals, now least used, are expected to return soon. I end quart era. 322 d Infantry. HOOD RIVER, Or.. Dec. 22. (To the Editor.) Kindly Inform me where Regimental Headquarters Company. 322d Infantry, is located. In what divi sion Is It, and when to be returned to the U. S. A.? MRS. E. A. F. Not positively located, but doubtless in the 81st Division, about which no announcement has been mad. WEED DEFENSE PICKED TO PIECES Writer Finds Xoikiw and Contradic tion in Eulogy on Tobacco, CAMP 7-B. Taquina, Or.. Dec. 21. (To the Editor.) The writing of this letter Is actuated by an article written by Mr. Drain under date of the 19th Inst., in reply to an article of a slightly previous date by Private Anderson, of Vancouver BarracKs, on the subject of tobacco and reasons why a man should smoke. As the writer Is a man who has been In constant contact with tobacco and tobacco users all his life and knows of not a single member of his numerous male relatives but uses tobacco, he is not entirely ignorant of tobacco and its effect upon the human system. As a man who has gone through high school and college and participated in all lines of athletics (where clean living counts ace high) and as a non-user of tobacco In any of its forms, the writer was much interested in the article by Private Anderson and watched the pa per with eagerness to see what at tempt would be made to give him a reason why he should learn to .smoke or why any man should smoke. Mr. Drain has made that attempt, but his would-be reasons consist of a few bare statements, which are absolutely con tradictory, groundless and fictitious, and offer no evidence or proof that he has ever derived any benefit from his use of tobacco during the last 20 years. It is quite apparent that Mr. Drain Is not a member of the medical profes sion (neither Is the writer), although he evidently enjoys airing his knowl edge of medicine. If he will consult some up-to-date doctor he will discover that the terra "dyspepsia" was long ago discarded along with the "doctors of the old school." and the old dyspeptic is now noted in the modern doctor's history of the patient as having some form of gastritis. He says smoking prevents diseases which are spread by microbes or germs. Does Mr. Drain want us to believe that all the victims of tho late epidemlcwere non-users of tobacco? In one sentence Mr. Drain eulogises tobacco as being "the best stimulant ever known to mortal man." and in the second sentence following he says: "it soothes the nerves and drives dull care away." It both stimulates and soothes two absoltuely antagonistic actions: It both excites and pacifies! The only stimulating effect tobacco has on the human body is to stimulate expectora tion and. In the early stages of its use. vomiting. Did Heidfk or Dobie take their tired and lagging football men into the clubhouse between halves and pass around the smokes to stimulate the athletes to greater effort during the latter half of the game? Rather amus ing that these two experts along this line should overlook "the best stimu lant ever known to mortal man" when it was always so easily obtained. Mr. Drain states: "Tobacco is created along with other things In the medical line and has its own grand purpose for the benefit of man." Where does he get his authority to place the tobacco weed "along with other things In the medical line"? What are its "func tions" which are of so "much benefit to man"? Any broad-minded man knows that the use of tobacco In the medical pro fession is very limited. There are but two commonly known uses for tobacco which the doctors take advantage of. and the more Important of those Is for the production of a certain poison for the extinction of body lice. The recol lection of the writer is that medical au thorities describe tobacco as a narcotic: a powerful depressant which causes the user to become morbid. It is common knowledge that a single drop of nico tine is sufficient to kill a cat and a few more drops (unadulterated) will kill a man. (This must be the soothing ef fect of Its use.) The microcosm In which Mr. Drain dwells is but emphasized by his state ment that a man Is not qualified to speak of either the good or evil effects or results from the use of tobacco un less he is a user thereof. Such a state ment is nonsensical. Does a man have to get drunk to know the effect of whisky on man? Does a man have to commit murder to learn the after effect on the murderer? Does a man have to smoke In order to be qualified to speak of the results of using tobacco? The ridiculous statements set out In Mr. Drain's letter accomplish nothing more than to exhibit again the fatuous ratiocination of all self-confessed con firmed tobacco users when attempting to frame a defense for the habit. J. E. ROAS. Take Your Choice. CATTTLAMET. Wash.. Dec 22. (To the Editor.) Refering to the editorial in The Oregonian concerning the pro nunciation of "Wahkiakum County" everyone agrees that it Is rather an unfortunate and difficult name and how to say it 6eems to depend on one's point of view and the way one is Im pressed with Its publicity. For Instance the old residents speak of It as "Walk I come." the county agent calls It "Wake ye come" and at the countyseat no attempt Is mad to pronounce It. Some would have It "Why come" and still others would cause you to believe it to be "We kick "em" County. In Astoria It Is refered to as "We ketch "em" County and on being In troduced to it recently Seattle found no difficulty In understanding that It was "Why I come," while Olympia is Inclined to say "Whoa Kiakura" County. A WALK COMER. Marine Machine Gun battalion, PORTLAND, Dec 23. (To the Edi tor.) Can you Inform me If the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion, U. S. Marine Corps, was In action after October 20? Where Is It now.? To whom must .J write to get Information of any of the men In this battalion? MOTHER OF ONE OF THE BOYS. The Second Division, said to contain all the Marines which engaged In fight ing, was in action in the Meuse-Ar-gonne advances between October 15 and November 11. On Just what dates does not appear. The Second Division Is in Germany. We do not know how you might most quickly get the Infor mation. The Adjutant-General of the Army. Washington, D. C, could give information about the unit but not about Individuals. Location of Eighty-fourth Division. HOOD RIVER. Or.. Dec 22. (To the Editor.) Kindly inform me where the 84th Division 503th supply train Is lo cated In France and whether they are listed for return home. SUBSCRIBER. The 84th Division was last reported at Neuvle. All its artillery and the 109th ammunition train have been or dered homo. Ordinarily the ammuni tion and supply trains are numbered the same. Co. C. Eighth Infantry. PORTLAND. Dec 23. (To the Edi tor.) Please tell me In what division Company C. Sth Infantry. Is. and If It is in the army of occupation. SUBSCRIBER. Not placed In official reports, but stated to be In the 8th Division by rela tives of men In the regiment. It is not in the army of occupation. The field artillery and engineers have been ordered home. Hospital Train . 52. BAKER. Or., Dec. 21. (To the Edi tor.) Has hospital train No. 53 been ordered home? C. M. R. Not so listed. In Other Days. Fifty Years Ago, From The Oregonian of December 24, 1S6S. Terrible outrages have been com mitted in the state of Texas by armed organizations generally known as the Klu-Klux-Klan, which are most numer ous, bold and aggressive east of the Trinity River. A sum totallying J4.261.240 has been spent in Oregon during the past year solely for intoxicating liquors. Isabella. ex-Queen of Spain, who was recently exiled from her country, has arrived In Paris and is staying at the Pavilion de Koban. H. II. Rives Pollard, editor of the Richmond. Va., Southern Opinion, son of a former high officer of the United States Navy, has been assassinated by a well-known citizen of Richmond named James Grant. "Humpty-Dumpty," though near Its 300th presentation in New York City, continues to draw crowded housws nightly. Twenty-five Tears Ago. From The Oregonian of December 24. Berlin. Great uncertainty prevails here concerning the future of the Ger man government. Old political groups have fallen to pieces and new ones are having serious difficulties. C J. Mulkey, William Dunbar and P. J. Bannon have been declared guilty of conspiracy against the Government as a result of the great smuggling case that for 11 days has occupied the United States District Court here and attracted National attention. No agree ment has been reached on James Lotan and Seid Back, while all the other de fendants have been acquitted. An International fotoball match be tween Victoria, B. C-, and Portland will take place on Multnomah Field tomor row. Large numbers of the poor people of this city are being presented with Christmas gifts of the city at 247 Ash streets, where a general distribution center has been established. NEGLECT OF TEETH 1LLV5THATED Army Dental Surgeon's Observation" Indicate Widespread Carelessness. CORVAIXIS, Or.. Dm. 22. (To the Editor.) After receiving my commis sion as First Lieutenant in the Dental Corps. June 14, 191S, I was ordered to the Oregon Agricultural College to take care of the many cases of bad teeth among the patriotic men who had en listed for special training in auto me chanics, mechanical engineering, radio, blacksmilhlng and carpentry. To my great surprise I found that there were more cases of bad teeth than I could possibly hnndle In the first con tingent of enlisted men who came from the state of California, partly owing to the fact th.it these men remained here only CO days. About August 17, 1918. a new con tingent of enlisted men came from the state of Washington, and these men were in a worse condition than the men of the first contingent in relation to dental ailments. Out of 275 men there were 126 who needed immediate dental service, which was impossible to give, owing to their Fhort stay here. I corrected about luO cases of dental ail ments out of this group, and most of these cases showed long-standing trou ble, caused by foolish neglect. Most of these men wre between the ages of 20 and 23. and It seems a very stious mis take was made in their education in that proper instruction for the care of tho oral cavity was not emphasized strongly enough. Many of these! eases usually ended up by the sad use of the forceps., which could, if a little com mon sense had previously been used, have 'been avoided. I sincerely trust that In the future our young men may be properly instructed in the great caro of the oral cavity, which means good health and life everlasting. On October 1. ISIS, the' college and the military authorities organized tho Students' Army Training Corps at the Oregon Agricultural College. This corps consisted of -7 officers and 15(ii) men. Six men were rejected on account of bad teeth, and out of this number of men two were reinstated, owing to the fact that they met dental requirements after spending $100 or more for profes sional services in Portland. Of these 1D00 men examined 'for dental calrcs, there were found 500 who needed immediate dental treatment; 2i0 of these cases wore completed. Again was shown tho inferior training of college men in care of the teeth. UEOKGE M. HOFFMAN. First Lieutenant Dental Corps, U. S. A, WIIEX HEARTS VROW BOLD, Cherry blossoms shattered o'er green four-leaved clover. Sunbeams spun gold through your hair. The breeze whispered softly, my heart sang it over T love you, I love you, I'll dare!" My heart fain would dare, but you were so guileless' I could but stand staring the time was not near And I sighed to the blossoms that scat tered their whiteness: "Ah. were I but bolder, ah, then Td x not fear!" Away sped the days and the cherries were blushing. Yet fairer your cheeks and your lips rosy-red. And again I stood grasping and fool ishly crushing A branch of the ripest, just over your head. Anon, and 'tis yuletide, and snow-flakes are falling. There's glory without, and within. holly red; There's charm In the firelight and Love teases, calling: "Be bold. lad. and baste, lad, and go where she's fled:" And now I have found you. God bless you. I love you. My dearie, my sweetheart, with eyes starry bright: At my kisses e'en holly"ll glow deep, for above you The mistletoe swaye. waxen-berried, tonight! MARY AGNES KELLY. Fifth Machine Gun Battalion. ALBANY. Or.. Dec 22. (To the Edi torsMy two boys went overseas in Company L. 162d Infantry. 41st Divi sion, and were later transferred to Company D. Fifth Machine Gun Eat talion. Would they still be in tlm 162d? Tho younger son was wounded and in tho hospital. The older one ha? not written since the armistice, the last letter being dated October 2f and postmarked in France November 11. Should we have been notified it' he was wounded? We were rot noti fied when his brother was wounded, what is the date of the casualties now published. A MOTHER. The Fifth Machine Gun Battalion properly . belongs to the First Division and was so located at last report. Tho War Department Is supposed to send notification of wounds which send a soldier to tho hospital. The transmis sion of casualties Is not made with much respect to dates. In a general way those remaining probably cover the last two weeks of fighting and deaths that have ensued 6ince then, but due to delays of identification In sme Instances a few earlier caaual trls art included.