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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 1921)
K VOL. LX-XO. 18,946 Entered at Portland (Orejron) PoBtoffice an Second-Class Mutter. PORTLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, . 1921 PRICE FIVE CENTS CRATER ROCK AGAIN REPORTED STEAMING SAND AX'D HOT WATER SAID TO BE POTJRIXG OUT. ES GANG RULE CHARGED BY GOVERNOR SMALL HOSPITAL AID TO WAR VETERANS IS ASSURED DEFINITE PROGRAMME IS AN- XOUXCED BY FORBES. AMERICANS PUSS I RUN BORDER HARDIMG JAPAN IS REPORTED OFFICIALS ACCUSE BUILDING HUGE DIVERS "S FAIR ILT-EVOIS STATE'S ATTORNEY OFFERS CHANGE OF VENUE. SUBMARINES SAID TO BE ABLE TO CRUISE 20,000 MILES. OV SWEEPING CHANGE. IN TUXES SLATED Increase in Family Ex emption Scheduled. ' PORTLAND MATES ALASKA V K V Red Cross Extends Help to ex-Prisoners. RAID MADE ON FOOD SHOPS Soviet Guard Twitted Gaily After Line Is Passed. NEW CLOTHES OBTAINED Six Just Out of Communist Jails Declare Famine Is Worst Ioe . of Lenlne's Rale. REVAL, Augr. 10. ("By the Associ ated Press.) The six Americans re leased from Moscow prisons who ar rived here this morning: passed a happy day shopping; and outfitting: themselves after shedding: their prison clothes and undergoing the cleansing necessary to comply with the health regulations. The men who, have received .their freedom were: Captain Emmett Kil patrick of TJniontown, Ala.; William Flick. H. J. La Marc and Dr. V. B. Estes of New York; X. B. Kalmatiano of Racine. Wis., and Russell Pattln ger of San Francisco. All decided to remain In Reval for several days before groin-? to Rica, and sent cablegrams to relatives in the United States asking for replies in care of the Red Cross at Reval. Food' Shopt Amaie. Relieved of their shaggy bearda, fur caps and bedraggled Russian uni forms, the Americans assumed a dif ferent appearance. They were all greatly reduced In flesh and raven ously hungry, and were unable to pass a food shop without stopping in ap parent amazement. The Russian bolshevik! sept the Americans by special car from Mos cow to Narva, where the barbed wire gates dividing the soviet republic from Esthonia swung open and per mitted the car to be transferred to ' Esthonian territory. When the dis heveled and ragged Americans looked from the car windows and saw the half starved bolshevik guarding the east side of the line, while well-fed and well-uniformed Esthonians con trolled the west side, they chaffed the bolshevikl, telling them that that' is what communism does for people. By courtesy of the Eethoritan gov ernment, the Americans were stopped at the border, but were brought to Reval for cleansing by the American Red Cross, which will care for them until they are rested and ready to travel home. Soviet Held Firmly Seated. ' The Americans are unanimous In their belief that no group is develop ing strength likely to upset the bol shevik government, but that famine may achieve its overthrow, because the masses belittle the goverament for the reason that It has abandoned the first principles of communism and failed to execute its decrees. In the opinion of the ex-prisoners, famine conditions are exaggerated. They say it is Impossible to differ entiate between famine and the mis ery which is rampant throughout the whole of Russia. They were enthusi astic over American relief, and advo cate the sending of all foreigners pos Bible into Russia so as to advertise to the world the actual conditions. Xenophon B. Kalmatiano, who was In prison for about three years, was the mosti composed and best dressed in the group, resembling- the conven tional American tourist. In his new raiment he showed little effects of his imprisonment, although under sen tence of death for more than a year Owing to his knowledge of the Rus sian language he was able to ingra tiate himself with the prison officials and render great assistance to the other prisoners, who are loud in his praise as their chief comforter. Captain Kilpatrlck and Mr. Estes appeared to be the worst sufferers from their hardships and are in highly nervous state. Kilpatrlck said he had only two baths in a year. He intends to proceed to some European cure for a long rest. Papera Are Slorned. Russell Pattlnger of San Francisco was captured near Vladivostok while serving as a private in the American army. He waa shuffled gradually westward until he reached the Moscow prison camp, where the bolshevikl forced him to sign papers, he said, admitting that he was a communist. He signed various statements in as sumed names, one being Hazenbladt, which appeared in the bolshevik list submitted when the releases were an nounced. The Americans, discussing the failure to release Royal C. Keeley, an American engineer, declared that unquestionably he should have fallen in the list of American prisoners, as he left prison on condition that he would assume the direction of a bol shevik factory and consequently is legally a prisoner doing-enforced work outside of prison. Work la Refused. Several other Americans were of fered work under similar conditions, but refused, lest they be regarded as bolshevik sympathizers and efforts to release them should slacken. The bolBhevik commissars asked (.CouciuiKd on Pa. 2, Column 2.) Telephone Message From Peak Declares Phenomenon Is Not Violent. A resumption of the eruption of hot sands and steam from Crater rock, on the southwest slope of Mount Hood, was noted yesterday by per sons at Government Camp hotel, according- to a long-distance telephone report from L. F. Pridemore, pro prietor of the hostelry. Although the eruption was not so violent as when first discovered last Sunday night and Monday, It was still plainly discernible through the hotel telescope, Mr. Pridemore said. "Sand and steam are-again coming out from the same point directly be low Crater rock," he said. Guides who left the hotel to make an inspection of Crater rock and the peculiar phenomenon! had not re turned to the hotel last night. . Mr. Pridemore said he Intended making the trip today in order to make a minute examination. So many con flicting reports have been spread broadcast that he desires to see for himself Just what there is to the. re ported eruption. According to members of the Ma zama club. Crater rock has, so far as is known, always been extremely hot. Some members of the organization who have scaled Mount Hood many times have reported the rock hot enough for the frying of eggs or boiling of water, while others said yesterday they had never found it that hot, although It was warm enough to be uncomfortable. ' Sulphur fumes arise from - that point at frequent intervals, indicat ing that subterranean influences are continually at work near that point. The vent in Mount Hood was still pouring out sand and water last night, according to word received from Mr. Pridemore, who was leaving for the. timberllne and early this morning was to climb the mountain for the purpose of making a personal nvestigation of the flow from the old crater. AID OF SCIENCE SOUGHT Transatlantic Flight of Big Dir igible to Be Safeguarded. NEW YORK, Aug. 10. (By the" As sociated Press.) Science will be called upon to do Its utmost to pro tect the dirigible ZR-?, latest addi tion to America's navy", on her flight trls month from England to the United States. ' While no string of destroyers will be flung across the Atlantic ready for possible rescue work, as was done when the three American naval sea planes hopped 'off for the old world It 1919, four battleships, a cruiser and a special' weather bureau vessel will furnish forecasts which will guide the giant gas bag in dodging storms. Storms at sea, which mean nothing to a modern battleship and are brave ly weathered by destroyers, may mean death to the crew of a balloon flying the Atlantic Even should the aircraft escape destruction. It might be .blown hundreds of miles off its course. NARCOTICS ARE STOLEN Soldi Promises to Confess Theft at Camp Lewis. TACOMA. .Wash., Aug. 10. Narcot ics valued at $25,000 have been stolen at Camp Lewis in the past two days. it was revealed here today. Charles Kirk, a soldier, and alleged "brains" of the drug ring s camp, today prom ised to confess after two associates made- aUeged confessions to the po lice. The operations of the ring were dis closed when a package containing $10,000 worth of drugs was -discovered in the T. M. C. A. building here. It had been checked by William F. Gar man and Joseph Levitt, two soldiers, who said the drugs have been ob tained at Camp Lewis. Large quanti ties of -narcotics have been received at the camp lately from other camps that have been closed. It was said that at least $2500 worth of narcot ics are missing there, and that the loss may total $50,000. CAR RUNS DOWN MAN, 60 Check Book Indicating $10,000 Account Gives No Clew to Name. A man about 60 years old was run over by an automobile at Sixth and Morrison streets late last night and was removed to the emergency hos pital in a semi-conscious condition. He was unable to tell hospital em ployes his name, although papers in his pocket indicated that his name was Bartelow. 1 The man carried a bank book showing that he had an account of more than $10,000. There was noth ing in the book, however, to indicate his identity. His injuries were . not considered dangerous. At an early hour this morning the police had not checked up on the name of the driver of the machine which struck him. FALL DOWN GORGE FATAL American Educator Dead as Result of Mishap in Japan. KARUIZAWA. Japan. Aug. 10. (By the Associated Press.) William Hyde Price, professor of political economy at the Japanese Imperial university and a prominent figure in the Ameri can colony at Tokio. was killed acci dentally yesterday in a fall down a gorge near here while on an ex cursion trip. - Inviting World to Par ticipate Signed. ALL CITY TO CELEBRATE Bells and Whistles to Pro claim Joy at Noon Today.. PEP INSTILLED IN PLANS "Iiet's Put It Over" Is Mayor Bak er's Slogan; Ore-on Spirit la Called Into Action. THE OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Washington, D. C. Aug. 10. With a freehand flourish of the pen for which he is becoming famous) In signing state documents. President Harding this morning at 10:30 o'clock affixed his signature- to the Joint resolution which authorizes him to invite all the nations of the world to participate In Portland'3 1925 expo sition. Standing by the president when Tie signed the Important document for Oreeron were Senators McNary and Stanfield and Representatives Haw ley, Sinnott and McArthur of the Or egon delegation and W. D. B. Dodson, manager of the Portland Chamber of Commerce. Representative Slnnott's 9-year-old eon, seeing the president at clese range- for the first time, stood In front of his father and at the president's elbow. Hoover Invited to Join. As the Oregon delegation assembled at the executive office of the White House for the occasion, Secretary of Commerce Hoover emerged after a long conference with President Hard ing. When he aw the array of Ore gonians, representing the state where he lived for some time, he was urged to join the party as a true Oregoniac yet, but press of business prevented his remaining. President Harding had the Joint resolution on his desk when the Ore gon men e-ntered. A photographer was' setting his machine in position for the occasion. With him the pres ident joked as he proceeded to his task. tlr. Meter to Get Pen. As the work was finished, Sacre tary Christian notified the president that Senator McNary was to get the pen he had used, and the chief execu tive Jocularly remarked that the Ore gon senator "gets everything that he wants." To this the senator repl ed that, like the pen, what he got was to be passed on, as the pen was to go Concluded on Page 2, Column 1.) I AND GOSH! WHAT AN APPETITE THEY HAD. j Executive Accuses Iavrles-s Ring Total of $ 6,1 1 0,000 to Be Expend of Prostituting Authority 9! ed Immediately for Needed Ex- People to Frameup. SPRINGFIELD. 111., Aug. 10. Offers by State's Attorney Mortimer of a change of venue for Governor Small, a vicious assault by the governor upon his political enemies in Sangamon, county and an announcement that Ed ward E. Miller, state treasurer, had turned In $385,071.21 interest money to the treasury for the first six months of his term, were the principal devel opments of today in the seething cap ital of Illinois. Monthly earnings on state money put out at Interest by Miller, as de tailed in the statement, follow: Janu ary, $30,099.06; February, $49,514.68; March; $56,153.75; April, $51,774.33; May, $58,636.04; June, $55,335.23; July, $83,558.12. The governor's statement, in part, follows: "The governor of Illinois ha been falsely indicted and falsely arrested through the machinations of a gang holding In utter disregard the consti tution and laws of this state. ' "Contrary to the accepted princi ples of our government and at the behest of corrupt conspirators, the authority of the people has been prostituted to the purposes of a law less ring. This ring, composed of the most vicious elements In Sanga mon county, is aided and abetted by commercialized newspapers, such as the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Dally News, Attorney-General Ed ward J. Brundage and United States Senator MedlU McCormick. "I desire to say I have never evaded arrest upon the framed-up charges in my indictment in the many counties of this state which I have since vis ited. No molestation has been at tempted except in gang-ruled Sanga mon county. "Notwithstanding pretensions of decency, my enemies maliciously staged a spectacular arrest under cldcumstances Intended to humiliate. me and disgrace the people of our state. Even though the sheriff stated he had no thought that I would evade arrest, nevertheless th capitol of the state was besieged anil surrounded by an army of deputies drawn from the slums of the city of Springfield and when I was finally arrested In the executive mansion the sheriff peremptorily refused to ex amine or accept a bond with ample surety which I presented and ford bly took me from the executive man sion. and paraded me through a mob which had been assembled to jeer and insult the governor. The bond finally was accepted without change. "My innocence is known to me. "Proceedings thus far have been founded on untruth. The next pro ceeding must reveal the truth." BATUM OIL WELLS ABLAZE Fires Rage in 18 Huge Gushers of Great Russian Field. London, Aug. 10. Fires are rag ing in 18 oil wells in the suburbs of Batum. the great oil center in Asiatic Russia, according to advices received today from Reval, Esthonia, by the Central News Agency here. '. tensions and Improvements. WASHINGTON, D. C. Aug. 10. A definite hospital programme for war veterans, involving immediate ex penditure of $6,110,000 out of the $18, 600,000 available, was announced to day by Colonel Charles R. Forbes, di rector of the new veterans' bureau. The new programme,- Colonel Forbes said, which haa the approval of Secre tary Mellon, was drafted by an ad visory board of physicians and specialists In hospital architecture. By January 1 hospital facilities of 6800 new beds are to be placed in use, ac cording to the plan. . j The new programme calls for ex-. ..u.lui c ui fa.iu.uuu i run xaara, N. M. ; $500,000 at Perryvllle, Mi; con struction of tuberculosis hospitals at soldiers' homes at Leavenworth, Mil waukee and Dayton, O.; an additional building at the Marlon, Ind., sani tarium; remodeling of Fort Walla Walla. Wash., for 150 beds; $600,000 at Whipple Barracks, Prescott, Ariz., and at least nine additional projects to be determined later. ACT OF 1780 IS UPHELD Original Constitution Supreme Law, Says High Court. BOSTON, Aug. 10. The original state constitution of 1780 is the su preme law of the commonwealth and not the rearranged constitution adopted by the voters November 4, 1919, according to a majority decision of the supreme court handed down today. The court in a previous decision also held that the constitution of 1780 was still in force and that articles adopted by the constitution conven tion two years ago should follow as amendments and not be incorporated Into the rearrangement document. MASON TO RETURN HOME Idaho Man Who Has Been Missing Recuperates In Denver. DENVER, Aug. 10. Roland R. Ma son, Idaho Falls. Idaho, insurance man, found in a local hotel last night following a search of more than a week, planned today to return to his home as soon as he feels able to travel, he told friends. His father, A. O. Mason, Missouri Valley. Ia., arrived today and prob ably will accompany his son home, it was said. ,-- BEATING GIRL CHARGED Gust H. Zelsler Arrested and to Have Trial Today. . Charged with assaulting and beat ing Ethel, the young daughter of Mrs. A. G.. Abbott, Gust H. Zeisler, 63 years old. was arrested on warrant last night and released on $50 ball. Zeisler is a grocer at 715 Clinton street. The women's protective division was instrumental in handling t he-case and declined to give out Information priot to the trial, which will be in munici pal court today. SOFT DRINKS ARE AFFECTED Heavier Levies on Corpora tions Agreed On. BILL TO BE READY SOON New Jersey Republican Proposes to Lift Burden on Married and Single Men. WASHINGTON. Aug. -J.0. Even more extensive changes in tax levies than were agreed upon at the White House conference between President Harding and republican leaders of the house of representatives were voted tentatively today by - the majority members of the ways and means com mittee. As summarized in a formal statement,' the committee action in cluded: Repeal of the excess profits tax ef fective January 1, 1921. An increase of the income tax on corporations from 10 to 15 per cent, with the $2000 exempt!- retained, ef fective January 1, 1921. Repeal of all taxes on the transpor tation of freight and passengers and on soats and berths, effective January 1, 1922. Exemption Increase Planned. An increase in the exemptions to the heads of families on account of dependents to $400 for each depend ent, instead of $200 as at present, ef fective January 1, 1921. Repeal of the so-called luxury taxes on clothing apparel, effective January 1, 1922. Exemption from income tax of the first $500 of income from stock held in building and loan associations. Revisions of existing taxes includ ed: . ' Repeal of the tax on fountain drinks and ice cream and the substi tution of a flat tax of 10 cents a gal lon on all fountain syrups to be paid direct by the manufacturer or maker. Repeal of the stamp taxes on per-" fumes, extracts, tooth paste and other toilet preparations and propri etary medicines and substitution of a manufacturers' tax of 5 per cent on the price. Beverajces Are Affected. Removal of the 15 per cent manu facturers' tax on cereal beverages and the levying of a manufacturers' tax of 15 cents a gallon. Substitution of a manufacturers tax of two cents a gallon for the present 10 per cent on the sale price of unfermented juice beverages and carbonated waters or beverages or other soft drinks sold In containers. The levying of a mannfacturers' tax of three cents a gallon on certain classes of grape juice and two cents a gallon on other classes In lieu of the present tax of 10 per cent on the sale price. It also was agreed to levy five cents a pound on carbonic acid gas sold to manufacturers of carbonated gases. Members of the committee estimat ed roughly that these changes would result In a net reduction of $556. 000.000 in the total yearly tax bill. This 'is $45,000,000 below the estimate .reached at the White House confer ence, but it was explained that the estimated revenue from corporations would be $45,000,000 greater than heretofore reckoned by reason of the repeal of the excess profits exemp tion of $3000 plus an amount equal to the 8 per cent of the invested cap ital for the taxable year. Bill to Be Ready Soon. The tentative changes agreed upon today constitute the great Wilk of those proposed to be made, and house leaders were more confident than ever tonight that the bill would be com pleted in time for presentation to a caucus of bouse republicans next Monday. Some other minor, changes in levies are understood to be contemptated and after -all finally have been voted upon there will remain the task of re-writing the present law. Several new proposals were put through today and other changes were quite different from ' those agreed upon at the White House con ference, particularly the repeal of all transportation taxes next year In stead of half of them. . The question of lightening the bur den of men havirg small Incomes waa brought up by Representative Bacha rach of New Jersey, who proposed that both ' single and married men whose net Income was below $4000 be granted an additional exemption of $500 a year or else the rate on their Incomes be lowered from 4 to 3 per cent. This proposal was voted down, but tentative agreement was reached to Increase the exemption of heads of families to $2500. This action was reconsidered later, however, and the exemption for dependants was dou bled. Members opposing the other changes were understood to have ar gued that this would relieve those more In need of relief than would the other proposals. Representative Garner. Tex., the -.Concluded on Page 2, Column .) Diesel Engines of More Than Dou ble Power of Any in Exist ence Ordered, Says Report. WASHINGTON, D. C. Aug. 10. (Special.) Naval experts were much Interested today In a report that Japan is building the largest sub marines ever launched by a .naval power and that they will have an estimated cruising radius of 20,000 miles and be capable of crossing the Pacific and returning to home bases without refueling. The navy department Is without of ficial information regarding the new Japanese submersibles. Among other things, it is declared Japan has or dered Diesel engines of more than double the power of any now in existence. It is regarded that likely the Jap anese are building large cruising sub marines of the latest German type, butsuch craft would not require Diesel engines of double the power of those now used in fleet subma rines. It is conceded that Japan may be building' something far in advance of any submersible yet turned out. In either event the new submarines would be capable of remaining at sea for four or five months at a time, alone or with the fleet. There is some doubt that the Jap anese have been able to go so far ahead of known engineering develop ment in constructing fleet subma rines. In fact, ' the new fleet sub marines of the American navy are considered the last word in this type of construction to date, and little is being said about them. They use Diesel engines. Information regarding the big Jap anese submarines was received from a well-known engineer, who divulged the fact that his firm had negotiated with Japan for monster Diesel en gines to be built in Switzerland. MAN TRIED BY TELEPHONE Prisoner Fined $5 0 for Starting Fire in California. A trial and conviction over a long distance telephone, with the princi pals stationed at four separate tele phones, was arranged and carried thro.ugh recently by E. H. McDaniels, supervisor of the Siskiyou national forest. G. S. Case, ranger at Smith creek In the Siskiyou forest, arrested- a ma non a, charge of starting a forest fire below the California line. That night the supervisor at Grants Pass, the ranger at Smith creek, the pris oner at the bar in his own home in Grants Pass and the justice of the peace at Crescent City, Cal., debated the case by telephone. "The fine will be $50," said the justice. ALLEGED SWINDLERS HELD Jlore Arrests Made in Connection With Mail Fraud. NEW YORK, Aug. 10. Postoffice Inspectors who yesterday arrested four men In connection with alleged mail frauds involving $500,000 today pressed their campaign by arresting two more,- William J. Zuckerman and Jacob Levinstein. Frederick Stelfle, manager of the prosecution bureau of the New York Credit Men's association, charged that Zuckerman operated In Chicago and St. Louis. Zuckerman was held in $25,000 bail and Levinstein was re leased on his own recognizance. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 78 degrees: minimum. SS degrees. TODAY'S Fair, northwesterly winds. Foreign. Americans pass Buwlan border. Page 1. National. Sweeping tax changes slated. Page 1. Hospital aid to war veterans assured. Page u Harding approves Portland fair bill. Page 1. Mark Sullivan says democratic senators want arms conference to -succeed. Page 2. Democrats to make Mellon taxation bill party Issue- of 1022 campaign. Page 5. Famine in Russia beyond reach of charity, declares Hoover. Page 2. President and republican leaders agree to adjourn. congress for 30 days. Page 7. Japan reported building huge submarines. Page 1. Domestic. Alaska life toll now put at 33. Page 1. Governor Small at Illinois charges arrest to lawless ring. Page 1. Paclfle 7-orthwest. Washington state coat strike aettlement falls. Page 3. James E. Mahoney charged with murder of woman dragged from lake. Page 4. Hawley charges supreme court erred In divorce decision. f-ase 3. Sports. Los Angeles gtrl recovers lost form and Is again awimtnlng contender. Page 12. Davia cup for tennis champions is prize 12 nations strive tor. Page 12. Pacific Coast league results: At Portland 0, Sacramento 3: at Seattle 9-2, Salt Lake 6-3: at San Francisco 6. Los An geles 5: at Los Angeles, Vernon 9, Oak land 1. Page 12. Commercial and Marine. Spring grain crops affected by dry weath er. Page 1U- Wheat gains lost on profit taking sales. Page 1. Steel corporation stock only steady feature of New fork market. Page lit. Portland wheat trade draws four ships of one company- in single monm. .fags - 18. Portland and Vicinity. Phone rates soar despite corporation sav ings. Page 7. Operators planning to replace Alaska. Page u. Auto tire factory Is expected here. Page 10. Crater rock again reported steaming. Page 1. July bond market best for nine yeara Page 10. Idlers to be driven out of city as step toward elimination ox crime wave. Page 4. Oregon boosted as tourist mecca. Page 6. Charge of . Negligence to Be Filed Today. SCIENTIST HAS NEW THEGHY Strange Ocean Current Held Contributory to Wreck. LIFE TOLL PUT AT 38 Dispute Between Passengers and Orrioera of Wrecked Steamer Enlivens Hearing. SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 10. (By the Associated Press.) Charge of negligence contributory to the wreck of the steamer Alaska on Blunts reef last Saturday night will be preferred tomorrow against First Mate William E. McClintock. Second Mate Earl Du Pre and Third Mates John P. Heikklla and M. J. Albern. It was announced to night by government officials follow ing an official investigation today. In announcing, their determination to try the mates, Joseph P. Dolan, United States Inspector of bollersand Frank Turner, United States inspector of hulls, made it clear that they de sired to give these officers every op portunity to defend themselves against accusations said to have been made against them at the investiga tion today. It was stated tonight that every member of the crew, with the ex ception of the boatswain, at today's inquest swore that the lifeboats of the Alaska had been launched and the passengers taken from the ship with all care possible in the brief time before the vessel sank. Testimony to Be Attached. Both Dolan and Turner said tonight they would prefer the charges on the testimony of the boatswain, Fred Helmar, and a number of the passen gers, who charged Incompetency. Thirty-eight persons at least lost their lives in the sinking of the Alas ka it appeared certain here today after the lists of missing and known dead had been carefully checked and corrected. The list of dead totals 20. 18 of whom have been identified. The list of missing contains the names of 18 persons,- all of whom are presumed to have been drowned. Evidence that the alleged inexperience of the crew militated against effective rescue work was given today by passengers of the wrecked steamship Alaska, in the official government Inquiry into the vessel's loss, while ship officers testified that the crew was efficient and handled the emergency well. The inquiry, which waa conducted by the hulls and boilers inspection service, was behind closed doors. Ocean Drift Blamed. A baffling phenomenon of ocean current tendencies, just discovered. probably accounts for the loss of the Alaska, it was announced today by Colonel Lester E. Jones, director of the coist and geodetic survey at Washington, D. C. Winds driving parallel to the Pacific, he said, set up new currents which, unsuspected by navigators, drift inland instead of exactly in wind direction. The tendency and some of the prin ciples governing It have been devel oped by observations from lightships along the Pacific coast. Colonel Jones said, and probably can be worked out further by research for the protection of navigation. The influence has probably been a factor, he declared, in the loss of 100 ships along the Pacific margin in the last 20 years. Current Toward Mainland. These water arifts toward the main land. Colonel Jones pointed out, affect a vessel navigating north or south along the coast, move it gradually nearer and nearer land, when Its of ticers have charted their course out Into safe, deep waters. If fogs or bad weather Intervene to hinder their usual observations the vessel may be piled up on a reef, and even her wire less calls for help would be confusing because the location her captain gives will be miles away from the actual location. If the observation studies of the current can be continued. Colonel Jones said, current tables serving to protect the navigators may be built up. C. L. Vilim, Chicago, a passenger, said his testimony before the federal inspectors was to the effect that members of the crew told the pas sengers that the ship had struck a whale and that there was "no danger," after she had gone on the rocks at Blunts reef. Waiters Give Encouragement. The waiters on the boat were the ones who gave the principal en couragement, and as far as he could judge many of the passengers bad to shift for themselves. Vilim said he believed that Cap tain Hobey wa on the bridge at the time the ship struck. He praised the captain for his coolness, and his apparent disregard of danger while trying to assist the passengers. Sec ond Officer E. Dupree testified that the crew members were at their posts and acted as coolly as could be expected. Fred Helmer, ship's boatswain. (.Concluded on l'ace 6, Coiuma 1.)