- ' . - " - - - - , ' Belgium Under the German Heel, by Whitlock, Begins Tomorrow in The Sunday Journal Rain and. slightly warmer tonight;; rain and strong southeast v winds Sunday. Humidity 92. : VOL. XVI. NO. 240 PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 16, 1918. FOURTEEN PAGES. PRICE TWO CENTS ON TRAINS AND RtWt STANDS riVK CENTS '. - - ...... . . ., ... ,: , - I : 5 LI Americans, Forced to Wear Masks for Three .Hours by Fairly Steady Stream of Shells, Hope for Attack but None Develops. Artillery Reply to Teuton Bom bardment Is Vigorous; Hun Bombing and Fighting Planes Are Driven Off Three Times. By Newton C. Parke WV, 1T1I the American Army in ranee, Feb. 16. (I. ,N. S.) Following . a three days' lull, tliere was a shift of the wind on Thursday night and the Ger mans suddenly opened with a gas attack. The boches sent over a fairly steady stream of shells, forcing our men to wear their gas masks for three hours. The Yankees were hopping mad, too, and all' hoped that the shelling would . be followed' by an Infantry attack to give them lit chance to make the 'enemy pay Ivj or tn uncomfortable time they S were havlrnr. Hawvpt nn in fantry aUack t developed. The American artillery replied .vigor ously, rounding- the German line with both. "75a" and six Inch pieces. The enemr brought hla heavier pieces into action and there waa quite a lively J, "strafe until Friday morning-. Tho clear Weather gave opportunity for considerable use of artillery work, In which the Germans were especially active. Three attempts were made during- the afternoon to pass over Our tinea with both bombing and fighting planes, but all were driven .off by well directed shrapnel fire which drove the hostile machines . to an altitude of 15.000 feet, (Oonelcded on Pace Saves. Culnma Two) Fire Breaks Out on Scandinavian Liner An Atlantic Port. Feb. 16. (L N. 8.) A cargo of general merchandise val ued at about $750,000 was almost total ly destroyed today when fire of unde termined origin, broke out in the hold of the Scandinavian-American liner Minsk at her pier. Two . companies of United States In fantry kept back the spectators who CEpwded close to the pier to watch the black smoke curling from the liner. Hi ver patrol boats and crews of several fire companies battled with the blase. - Unable to quench thV flames, which started In a hold containing- cotton-i firemen opened the ship's seacocks and sunk the Minsk at her pier. The Minsk was loaded four months go destined for Copenhagen, but. did not sail because her agents were unable Blockade Minister On Proposed League London, Feb. 11. (I. N. S.) High In terest ' was aroused today by the de clarations of Lord Robert Cecil, minister of blockade, on the proposed league, of nations after the war. Lord Robert said it would be possible to begin 'with a restricted number of powers and develop the league gradually. The minister added that there is no desire to establish an economic boycott . against Germany, although the scars left by the conflict may have consider able Influence In directing the course of trade. SUNDAY JOURNAL FEATURES TOMORROW '..r BIG ARTICLES BY BIG WRITERS BRUSSELS AT PEACE By Brand Whitlock. WILSON'S MORAL LEADERSHIP By Frank H. Simonds. ' ' - PLANT A DOLLAR AND WATCH IT GROW By James H. Cojlins. " COPPERHEADS OF '61 AND TODAY By Emerson Hough. X . . . . THE WAR IN PICTORIAL REVIEW Pictorial. WERE THE WEST FRONT IN OREGON Map. . .' WAR ZONE LETTERS FROM OREGON BOYS. -tomorrow' Five Cents the :Gopy Everywhere , GERMANY TO KEEP TROOPS rON THE EAST R' OME, Feb. 16 (TJ. P.) Ger- many has countermanded her transfer of troop from the ait to the west frost, because or tho fall are of the". Brest-Lltovsk peace negotiations, according to a dispatch from Bsssla, published Is the Idea H ailoaale. TJkralaans Defeat Bolshevikl Copenhagen, Feb. 16 (I. S.) Bolshevik troops were reported today to have been defeated by the TJkralaant la a bloody battle at Kiev. It Is belleTed that the Anstre German array has plaeed trained officers aad gnns at the command of the TJkrlnan government. HOOVER SUPPORTS LOW WHEAT RATE rOOd Administrator TaVOrS 3O.DU i it pi i rer ion; mcnary nopeiui of Hurley. Washington, Feb. 16. (WASHING TON BURBAU OF THE JOURNAL) Food Administrator ' Hoover has given Senator McNary full support In his fight to secure an ocean rate on wheat from the Pacific Northwest which will yield approximately the Chicago price. Hoover believes the rate should be made $3.50 per ton instead of the shipping board figures of something in excess of $11.60, the latter based on actual cost of the present enhanced rates. Hoover and Chairman Hurley of the shipping board appear to have reached a virtual H 1 rwk In th riinMlMtnn. Knfl tordcNary Is still hopeful that Hurley will see the Justice of the Northwest contention and the advantage from a national standpoint In malting a rate to move the wheat surplus by water. Sena tor McNary, . with Northwest wheat rep resentatives, will see 'Hurley this after noon to make a full presentation of the situation. Local Inspection , Arranged Washington. Feb. 16. Senator Cham berlain's protest against the cumbersome system whereby good-manufactured aX Portland for army blankets, overcoats , and clothing are shipped back and forth to San Francisco for inspection has brought results. General Goethala, act ing quartermaster general, reports that the depot quartermaster at San Fran cisco has arranged for factory and mill Inspection of materials instead of in specting at San Francisco. 'Raise a Hog' Plea Fails to Move Court Ii. V. Hallt Fined 17.S1 for "Violation of Health Laws by Maintaining Barnyard Toe Near Hone of His neighbors. Horses, cows, chickens and pigs. ' The keeping of these barnyard denl sens in a building at 28 Sandy boulevard contrary to the city's health laws led to imposition of a fine of $7.60 against L. V. Hunt, who lives at 160 East Twenty-seventh street north, by Munici pal Judge Rossman this morning. , Hullt In his defense cited the Hoover slogan of raise a hog. . "Not under the very windows of your neighbors, however," said Judge Ross man. Neighbors testified that Hullt took no cognisance of the proximity of their residences to his "barn." Joe Singer, lnspectqr of sanitation of the bureau of health, said he made four protests to Hullt, first for keeping horses, second for cows, third for chick ens and-fourth "for pigs. "He removed, the horses, the cows and the chickens when ordered to by the bureau, but declined to dispose of the pigs. He did not keep all the animals in the barn at one time, but after dis posing of each set of animals would ac quire another kind." Kansas Carpenter Invents Detector St Joseph. Mo.. Feb. 16. L N. S.) H. A. Cooper, a carpenter of Sabetha, Kan., received word today from the navy department that his invention for detecting submarines under water Jiad been favorable considered by the de partment and stated transportation would be furnished him for a trip to Washington. Cooper calls his Invention "the eye of the submarine." The principle follows out that of the iC-ray. he says. $30081645 Assessor Reed Reports Actual Cash Value, of All Property to Be $458,951,821.66 j Total Tax to Be Raised $8,475,773.98. Levy This Year Is 28.6 NHIIs, of Which City Gets 10.8, School District No. 1 6.5, County 4., State 3.2, County' School 1.6. The total taxable value of all prop erty In Multnomah county, according to the tax rate sheet Just compiled by Henry E. Reed, county assessor, amounts to J305.981.645. This includes all land, Improvements, personal property and public utility company values noted on the tax rolls of the county. The taxable values of land, as esti mated by Assessor Reed, equal 75 per cent 6f thg actual cash value, while Im provements and personal property are valued at 60 per. cent of their cash value, and public utility property at 60 per cent or Its cash value. Land Vain Is $224,69 1.S7S.S3 The total taxable value of Multnomah county land is given at $183,016,405, wnicb would make the actual cash value $224,021,973.33. The taxable value Of improvements is given at $55,576,005, making the cash value $111,150,010. while the taxable Value of personal property is $34,358,640 and the actual value $68. 777.280. " tThe taxable value of public service company properties is $33,001. 695 and tho actual value $55.002, 658 J3. This gives total actual cash value of all listed - property - in the county of 458,Sol,821.66. The total amount of taxes to be levied in Multnomah county for 1918. is given at. $8,475,773.98, jan increase of 4.4 per cent over 1917. Of . this total,- the sum of $979,141.26 is- for state purposes $489,001.01 for county schools ; $152,812.83 for county 4 library ; $1,375,315.49 for County governmental purposes;' $447, 462.65 for Port of Portland : $3,939.05 for Union high school district No. 1; $13,- 903.1O- for- Union hrghr hclfomMlstrtcfUoi 2 r $14,252.84 for county high shfcool tui tion fund, and $31,729.88 for the towns of Gresham, Fairview Troutdale- and school districts throughout the county. "' City Will Get $219,7176 ! The amounts " included in the total but raised for city, of Portland activi ties are: $2,819,717.65 for city of Port land taxes; $256,337.96 for public docks. and $1,872,154.80 for city schools. The state levy was 8.2 mills; the county school, 1.6 ; the county, 4.6 ; the library, .5 mill ; Port of Portland, 1.5 school district-No. 1,- 6.5 mills ; -city of Portland, 10.8, a total of; 28.6 mills. Sommer and Drake Pass Resolu tion; Prevailing Rate but Time and Half. v Why should the taxpayers pay double time for all overtime on school construc tion, while the prevailing rate is time and a half? ' This question arises as the result of a resolution adopted by the school board Friday evening, providing that future contracts for the construction of school buildings shall stipulate that the con tractor is to pay double time for all overtime above an eight-hour day. Only three of the five members of the board were present, and only two of the three present voted for the resolution. The two votes In favor of the resolu tion were cast by Directors Sommer and Drake. Dr. Alan "Welch Smith, chairman of the board, opposed its adoption and urged that action be de ferred until . all members were present. He . was overruled,.', however, and the matter was forced to immediate vote. Bids for the construction of the Haw-thorne-Buckman . school are to bo opened next Thursday and It was the evident purpose of Directors Sommer and Drake to. have the new regulation in effect before tne contract is let. The obvious' result will be to increase the cost of the building. Taxpayers whose attention has been directed to the action of the board are likely to enter protest. ! Pennsylvania Town j Is Raided for Flour a-V:- i Unlontown, Pa., Feb. 16. (I. N. S.) j Nearly 1000 pounds of hoarded flour was confiscated today by agents of the food j administration in a raid on 12- resi dences in Kelster, a mining town near here. Sacks were concealed behind false ' walls and ' between mattresses and ) springs of beds. . In one bouse the flour , had .been sewed inside a mattress. ' , i" Bolo Pasha Held Tinder Strict Guard DIRECTORS ORDER DOUBLE OVERTIME , Parts, Feb. 16. I. N-. S.) A strict and constant guard is being maintained over. Bolo Pasha, who was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. Bolo Is very nervous,", but ' expressed confi dence that his appeal from the decision of the .courtmartial would be successful. ' ' OFFICIAL LIST OF PART OF DEAD LOST ON THE TUSCANIA Washington, Feb. 16. (U, P.) On the honor roll of America's hero dead the war department today wrote the names of 82 American soldiers who perished in the sinking of the transport Tuscania. Of the 2179 officers and soldiers on board the Tuscania, when she set sail for France, the war department has received to date the names of only 1894 who escaped death, not including the 21 who were taken off the ship sick at Halifax, on the way over. This leaves 264 still to be accounted for, although the war department has nothing official to show that tha list of dead will be larger than its original estimate of 113. The list, the first Installment of the official revised records here from Lon don, follows : Anthony Abbonl, Detroit, Mich. Fred K. Allen, Ade, Minn. Homer Llewellyn Anderson, Cumber land, Wis. Stanley Augspurger, Dayton, Ohio. Cless Bergerstock, Marlenviile, Pa. Beq Barker, Forestburg, Texas. Henry O. Bates, 2421 B street, Baker, Of. Russell F. Bennett. Plainfield, Wis. William E. Bennett. Rogers, Ark. John B. Bishop, Foster, Okla. ' George Nelson BJork, St. Helens, Or. Claude Bradley, Swaty, Ark. Jack J. Byrne, Butte, Mont. James J. Buckley, Minneapolis, Minn. Roceo Callabrese, Mount Solo, Wash. Harry Carpenter, Potomas, 111. Otto Ray Coleman. Texas (previously reported as a survivor). John W. ChesBlercXaeas, Wash. Frank A, Church, Providence, R. L "Arthur W. Collins, Appleby. Texas. Stanley L. Collins, Knights Ferry, Cal. . Marcus B. Cook, Como, Mont. Aimer C. Cown, Victor, Mont. .Walter Crellin. Virginia. Minn. Jennings B. Crow, Appleby. Texas. Frank Drachta, Jackson, Minn. Everett H. Duffy, SUoam Springs. Mo. Alexander S. Gillespie, Los Angeles, Cal. Winston , A. Hartsook, Rapldan, Va. .James P. Hawley, Neenah, Wis. Elmer A. Honston, Held, Or. Raymond T. Hurst, Procassot, Okla. Wesley W. Hyatt, , Lebmm, Wash. : Delbert E. , Englehart, Santa. Monica, Cal. ' John C. H. Johnson, Big Falls, Minn. : John ' A. Laakko, 2I(S Bnrongh street, Atorte, ,-Or. . . DAUGHTER KILLED Edward Brune, Driver of Automo bile, Arrested; Had Whiskey in Possession at Time. Geraldine Alderson, daughter of Wil liam C. Alderson, Multnomah county superintendent of schools,' died at the Good Samaritan hospital at noon today as the result of being hit by an auto- mobile, driven by Edward Brune. at 11 o clock Friday night. j Brune was attempting to turn a com- plete circle at the intersection of Second and Main streets when his car struck Miss Alderson, who could not get back! on the sidewalk after starting to cross i the street. She screamed at Brune, who, j it is said, did not make any attempt to stop his car. He was arrested on the charge of driving an automobile while Intoxicated. Four pint bottles of whiskey were fount! in his pockets. Miss Alderson waa run over by B rune's machine. Her skull was frac tured. She was taken to the Good Samaritan hospital by the -Ambulance Service company. Miss Alderson waa a senior at Reed college. She had taught at various schools around Portland and had been prominent in playground activities. Police records show that Brune has been arrested before on charges of vio lating the prohibition law and that he has been freed by Juries," on his de mand for trials in that manner. Miss Alderson's is the fourth death by automobile accident so far this month. Tacoma Would. Own Electric Railways Tacoma. Feb. It (I. N. S.) A proposition to vote 16.500.000 worth of ntilitv bonds for the acquisition of the entire electric street railway system of the Tacoma Railway tc Power company by the city, will be put up to tne people at the next municipal election, April 2. Commissioner of Public w or its unaries D. Atkins. Friday morning autnonzea City Attorney U. E. Harmon to draw up an ordinance for presentation to the city council, placing the proposition on the ballot. v ROLL OF HONOR rwa Ontario. Feb. 16 iu. tr.) -reqsr rnin Mauaitv lit cooteins the aam of W H. 'Earlea., South Bllinthm, Waafa.; killed ia action. ' Wiwhlnirton. Teb. 1. ( I. N. S Geprml Perilling iita this afternoon reported tha death in action of roar mora xanni aoiaien, u noanding of on and th (act that two are miaa inc -Those killed ia action wet: PRIVATE FEWHNASD SACERS, Infantry, February 8. Waahington. D. C PRIVATE JOHX . WHITE, Infantry. Feb raary 8, Ejnrorth. Iowa. PRIVATE JAMES KOVASCONT. Infantry, February 9. Anray, CoL PRIVATE IJEWIS W. SPACER. Infantry, February 1. Oklahoma City. Okla. PRIVATE EDWARD ROBERTS. Infantry, February 8. 'w Tork. .:-.,.. PRIVATE JOHX wY HI! Infantry. Jan nary SO, Berry, Ala. Silently wounded: - - j - Print Uanhall BV Firaraa." infantry, Febru ary 8. Inkatar, N. U George Lankenau. San Francisco. Leo P. Lebron, Guthrie, Okla. " Theodore H. Lewtoi, Forest Grove, Oregon. Alf io Licari, Eureka, Cal. Fred M. Llntow, Lamoing, Cal. William S. Mathews, B. F. D. No. t, BeUlngham. Wash. Roy W. May. LIndale. Texas. George Moreno, Pearsall, Texas. William P. Horin, 897 Gantenbeln ave use, Portland, Or. Riley F. Mnrray, 865 West Fonrth street, Eugene, Or." Henry Oxford, Turnerville, Texas. Angel Perex, San Antonio. Texas. . David C. Benton, Jiorth Bend, Wain. . Samuel P. Riggs, San Francisco. , Lewis Roberts, Nachidoches, Texas. Clarence W. Short.- Wellsboro, Pa. Nathan B. Sohrt, Stephens, Ark. Irvln Sims, Alto, Texas. Henry A. Skinner, Rockford, 111. Oscar L. Smith. Winters, Texas. William V. Smith peter, -Fort Cobb, Okla. James F. Sparkman, Frisco, Texas. Tulla B. Thompson, Mad ill. Ottla. George Q. W. Tomlins, El Reno, Okla. William L. Trageser, Cottonwood. Minn. Daniel Webster Trobridgej Strawn, Texas. Terry Tnttle, Elgin, Or. William E. Vickers. Southwest City, Mo. Bobert F. Warren, 1627 Terry avenne. Seattle, Wash. Bert O. Weeks, Modesto, CaL Ethan White, Arnett, Okla. Walter L. WTiittington, Sherman, Texas. Bell M. Williams. Glenwood, Ark. William R. Wilson, Canton, Texas. James C. Wood. Yantis, Texas. William W. Wright, Bismarck, Okla. Edward F. Young, Gilmer, Texas. La Grande Man Lost La Grande, Or., Feb. 16. Terry Tuttle, believed to have lost bis life when the Tuscania was torpedoed, was a brother of Lee L. Tuttle, editor of the Elgin Recorder. Young Tuttle, together with James Hallgarth of Elgin, who ,1a be lieved to have been saved, volunteered for service in -the army in November. They were seftt-at first -to Vancouver barracks and: later, transferred, to -Washington. D. C. where they became mem bers of Company F, Sixth battalion. Twentieth Engineer. v . SOON. IS REPORT X mm President Wilson's Speech Said to Have Impressed Austrian Foreign Minister. ; Geneva. Feb. 16. (L N. S.) "Presi dent Wilson's speech constitutes a step towards a general peace, and I shall act at the earliest possible moment," said Count Czernln, the Austrian foreign minister, after reading a copy of the address, according to the Journal today. iuv cuuuia j American statesmen are said to have made a very favorable impression in Vienna. ConHictlng reports continue io arrive as to' the date of the war aims speeches expected from Count von Hertling. the German chancellor, and Count Czernin, It is now saia mat me uerman cnajicei lor will reply to President Wilson on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week and that the, Austrian foreign minister will not speak until next week. Russians Out of Galicia Zurich, Feb. 16. (I. N. S.) The Russians have withdrawn from- North east Galicia. allowing the Austro-Hun- garlan forces, to occupy Brody with out any opposition, according to in formation' from the Austrian frontier today, The foregoing dispatch indicates that all of the Austrian province of Galicia is now clear of Russian troops for the first time since the war began. Brody is 50 miles northeast of Lemberg and about five miles within the Galictan frontier. The Russians occupied the town in their last drive against Lem berg. Germans Receive Garbled Speeeh Amsterdam. Feb. 16. (I. N. S.) The German people were given a garbled account of President - Wilson's latest speech to the American congress, ac cording to information received today from the German frontier. Two versions of the speech were printed one supplied by the semi-offi cial vvoiri Dureau ana uie otner Dy a private news agency. Part of the address, referring to Count Cxernin, was reported- to have been omitted. : Turk Accepts Wilson Speech Amsterdam. Feb. 16. (U. P.) "President Wilson s speech offers the possibility of further developments, if Turkey's territorial Integrity is not re- I stricted and its sovereignty is nre- served." Talaat Pasha. Turkish premier. declared in an interview with the corre spondent of the Neue Freie Presse. . "Premier Lloyd George's speech does 1 not allow the possibility of discussion.' I ' Nauseous Odors End I Stockyards Inquiry Chicago, Feb. 16. L N. S.) Nause ous odors and great changes In temper ature in passing from one plant to an other . forced Judge Alschuler. federal umpire in the. wage controversy between packers' and . their 100,000 employes, to cut short his investigating tour of the plants Friday. ' After being twice over come, he said he could stand itno longer. Before this, however, he was - able to question closely many of the workers. CZERNIN TO REPLY NEAR REVOLT AGAINST HUNS Justices of Court of Appeals at Brussels Deported to Germany; Crowds Storm the City Hall at Malines as Protest. Official Dispatches to Belgian Legation in Washington Tell of Situation in Occupied Cities Termed "Close to Revolution." Washington. Feb. 16. (U. P.) Seri ous popular uprisings against the Ger man yoke in cities of occupied Belgium were reported to the Belgian legation here today, in official dispatches from the Belgian government at Havre. Crowds have paraded the streets of Ant werp, MaUnes and Brussels and the Ger man authorities have been forced to order out troops to restore order. The manifestations have been precipi tated by the activities of the new Ger man political party, the activists, toward political autonomy for Flanders. The chief Justice and two associate justices of the Belgium court of appeals at Brussels were arrested by the Ger man authorities on February 9, follow ing action of the court in ordering pro ceedings against the activists. All were ordered deported to Germany. On Feb ruary 4, 600 activists at Antwerp were mannanaiea hy an inrurlated crowd and had to be rescued by German troops, which dispersed the crowd. Last Sunday crowds paraded, the streets of Malines. A delegation of 600 citizens stormed the city hall. "Tha sitnation was characterised by the Bel gian legation as "close to a revolution." i ne. iseitrtan parliament has protested to uie uerman imperial chancellor against -the "shameful abuse of power oy mo activists. ' . Swedish Warship to Aland Stockholm: 1 Feb. ' 16. rr. -"? tt iw Vorpvsky, rapresai4T-hjBol.The -.flrin . began -abit-U:30 Jridsry nueviK. government ac StocRnoIra, has gone to the Aland. Island on a Swedish warship to try to stop the acts of Vio lence which Bolshevik' soldiers are aatd to be committing. there. An interview was printed here today with General Mannerhelm, . commander "of the Fin nish white guard. In which he aska for aid to overcome the counter-revolution aries. Arrest Relchsrath Member Amsterdam. Feb. 16. (U. P.) Van Bertollnl, member of the relchsrath from South Tyrol, has been arrested in Trent, In connection with alleered widespread Italian espionage plots, ac cording to copies of the Tageblatt, re ceived here today. Socialist Gets -Long Sentence Amsterdam. Feb. .16. (U. P.) A prominent German Socialist, Horn, has been sentenced to 15 years' imprison ment for participating in the recent German strikes according to dispatches reacning nere today . f rem Berlin. Warsaw Under Martial Law Copenhagen, Feb. 16. (U. P. War saw has been placed under martial law by the Germans as a result of the high feeling of the Polish population against the central powers, dispatches received here today declared. Police Raid Socialists Geneva, Feb. 16. (U. P.) Mnv Ra cialists were arrested in police raids at tseriin, leipsig and Mannheim, accord ing to reports reaching here today. No reason for the raids is known. Snowfall Is Heavy In Wasco County Wasco. Feb. 16. Durincr tha naaf 94 hours additional snow to that which fell earlier in the week has covered this part of the state to a oepth of 18 inches. The temperature is moderate. Bulgars and Russ Resume Relations Amsterdam. Feb. 16. (V. P.i The Bulgarian government has resumed din. lomatfc relations with Russia, according ro a aispatcn received from Sofia today. Famine Stalks Powers, Despo German Ar By William P. Slmms Copjrrifht. 191S. nr tha United Press Berne. Swltseriand, b. 16. Htnden burg is squeezing Germany like an oc topus a sponge. Even if there is little complaint in the army over the food, Germany , and Austria are starving. I Just beard a most remarkable story, illustrating the case in point, which was reported at both the British and Ameri can .war offices, A German officer, through an intermediary, approached a mail with whom he was personally ac quainted, : J A meeting was arranged aboard a ' boat on Lake Constance. Punctually, the acquaintance and the officer kept the appointment. Tho Ger man offered to sell Prussian military submarine kills cjiild in the Night J L05D03T, Feb. 16a. 2T. 8.) A German sahmarlae bombarded Dover at night, killing m child aad wonndlng seven persons. It was officially anaoanced this afternoon. The bombardment lasted severai missies, and In all abost rounds were fired. The annonneemeat of the attack was made by Lord French, eommander-la-ehlef of tha home defenses. . " Several honses were damaged. Dover Is an Important British sort In Kent aad has a population of abont 69.M9. 'Strong Forces' Were Destroyed Says Official Statement, by Torpedo Boats. Berlin. Via London. Feb. 16. (U. P.) The destruction of "strong forces guard ing the English channel" was reported today by the German official statement. 'Thursday night German torpedo- boats, commanded by Captain Helnicke, surprised and attacked strong forces guarding the English channel," the state ment says. - "The forces consisted of a large guard ship, numerous armed fishing boats and several motorboats, which were forced to give battle. The major part were destroyed. We suffered no losses and no damage." An official statement issued Thurs day by the British admiralty reported the destruction of an armed trawler and seven drifters by a raiding German flo tilla. . Raiders Worked With Speed London. Feb. 16. (I. ' -N. a) Ger man " torpedo destroyers which' sank seven "drifters" and a trawler in the Straits of Dover on Friday morning, presumably operated from the German submarine base at Zeebrugge. the Chronicle stated today, h - morning and' continued for about" an hour. ' The sound- of the' shooting could be) heard on' land and flashes of flame could be seen from high ground. Thar fleet 'of trawlers, and drifters was engaged in hunting for mines and submarines when suddenly attacked. The Germans operated swiftly and after the attack their ships fled north ward at top speed before they could be fired upon by British warships. The sailors on' the attacked ships be haved with conspicuous gallantry. One drifter was set on -fire by a shell and the crew took to the boats. After the Germans had fled the sailors returned to the vessel, put out the fire and took the boat into port. The raiders were assisted In their treacherous attack by the thick dark ness and a slight haze that overspread the water. Chief of Staff of . British Army Quits t . Loadoa, Feb. 11 (T. P.) Sir William Roberttoa, ehlef-iof-ttaff of the British army, has resigned. It was aaaoaaeed this afternoon. He will be saeeeeded by Sir Henry Wilson. The official press bareaa annonaeed that aa extension of the fnnetlom of the permanent military representative at the Versailles interallied war confer enee limits the special pewers of the chlef-df-staff. The government offered Bobert son kit choice between permanent representative at Versailles or his present position nder the new conditions. , Both propo sltlons were rejected. The new representative at the Ver sallies conferences will be anaoanced within a few days. Draft Evaders Are Trapped in Arizona WIllcox. Aris.. Feb. 16. (TJ. P.) John and Tom Powers and Tom Sisson, draft evaders, charged with the mur der of Sheriff McBride of Graham county, Arizona,, and two deputies, have been trapped In the Chlricahua moun tains near Two Heads by a posse of deputies and cowboys. A desperate right is expected. Through ndent ' GERMANS REPORT CHANNEL VCTORY I Tells secrets for $20,000, the' allies to Judge i their value before paying. ! The acquaintance closely questioned the officer, who was of high rankv con cerning his motives. ..j i ,The officer broke down and wept like a child, declaring his mother and father were old, poor, broken in health and unable to get sustaining food. He wanted the money in order .to send his parents to a neutral country, after which be would return to the front and try to get killed. If he failed, be would commit suicide. As America and Eng land had not acted at the expiration of the officer's short leave, the matter was dropped. The Incident shows the trend of events. - REFUSE TO Between 8000 and 10,000 Men Employed in New York District Idle, According to Organizer of the Marine Woodworkers. Joint Commission Takes Over Negotiations to End Trouble and Immediate and Drastic Action Is Anticipated, N EW YORK, Feb. 16. (1. N.S.)" Between 8000 and 10,000 workmen employed In shipbuild ing plants in the New York dis trict refused to return to work today, according to John Stew art, organizer of the) Marine ' Woodworkers' district council His reports were incomplete. " New York, Feb. 16. (U. P.J Employes . of a big shipyard at Edgewater, N. J., returned to their work today after having walked : out when their , employer offered -1 to pay them the $6.60 asked' by. V the unions. This scale, he aid ' will be adjusted to the govern- . ment scale, if the government reaches an , agreement with the' By John Edwin ICevln , - Washington, Feb. 16 I. X. S.) The labor situation throughout the United States is most serious today. Center' ' lng, as it is, In the striking shlpwork- . ' era, the discontent has spread until It -affects many other industries which are closely allied with the national defense plans. The very success of America's part In the world war is today imperilled, officials say. Imme diate and drastic action is considered '' certain and the" situation is such that a united congress. President Wilson I and all or his advisers are giving it ' . their personal attention. - ir The Joint commission of 10 made np . of five from the National Council for Industrial Safety and five from the American Federation of Labor took over ' negotiations to- end the shipbuilding.' trouble early today. They were in direct communication with the heads of the various organizations which ordered the present strike from New York Friday trdght. , ., The complete report of the wage ad- Justment board dealing with the de- -mands of the ship workers in the so- ' called Delaware district was in the hands of Chairman Hurley this after noon. It will be made publio tonight. Officials of the shipping board indi cated that they were somewhat doubt- ; ful whether the decision of the board will serve to end the various strikes and labor troubles in the several plants. Ordered AU Members to Strike This strike, ordered by the executive , at the Marine Woodworkers' Council of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters - (Cooeradad cult's r Tea, Column roar) Supply of Rice . Ample for Needs Washington, Feb. 16. fL N. S. There Is no, shortage of rice in the : United States and lower prices are in prospect by April 1, tho food admlnls- -tnUion announced today. Rice mills have been, running to full capacity in order to' supply the demand, for 1.000. 000 bags for our fighting forces and the allies. Deducting this amount from the available supply leaves a surplus of ap proximately ISO. 000,000 pounds, which . the food administration believes is -ample. ' ' Central Officer of a The situation was bad six months ago. It U Infinitely worse today. The last cabbage crop was a failure. Next to the potato, the cabbage is the German masses' standby. Like an Egyptian plague, caterpillars destroyed the crop, stalk and all. It is said that a wind blew butterflies from France, produc ing the devastating army of caterpillars. The plum crop likewise was a failure owing to the weather. , The ' Germans boast a plum tree for each man, woman and child. Marmalade . is one of the mainstays of Ihe masses. Now there is practically, none. The last grain crot was below normal despite reports to the (Concluded on I'agt Bares, Column Thm) Friend