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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (March 23, 1918)
I - '-' . - rnE WEATHKM V V ITS ALL TRUE- fjV I ) VOL. XVI. NO. 270 oPEine of President Signs Order Granting .Secretary Lane the Power to Order Railroad Grant Lands Thrown Open for Settlement. Formal Opening of Agricultural Sections of Grant Lands Now Expected; Classification Has Been Made by Land Office. WASHINGTON, March 23. (Washington Bureau of The Journal.) President Wilson has signed the order authorizing Sec retary Lane to proceed with the opening of the Oregon . A Cali fornia lands. This formality was Jieoesaary because of tha. general . . .withdrawal order made ' r the president two years ago. Opening of portions of the ag ricultural lands is expected speed ily to follow. This action of the president la pre liminary to formal opening for entry of all the agricultural portions of the- land grant, according- to Claude McCulloch, who has been following the progress of the long fight to reclaim the lands for settlement. Classification of the agricultural por tion of the 2,600,000 acres of the grant ; has recently been completed by the field ! division of the general land office, and, : while reports have not been made pub- : lie in all points covered. It is the com- mon understanding that fully B0 per cent of the lands are rated as aerlcul- t taral. ARE TO BE POOLED Director General McAdob Pro vides Vast War Chest by New Order. Washington, March 23. (I. N. S.) A vast railway war chest is being created mo itbuii ui h revolutionary oraer j , Mauea today by Railway Director Mc Adoo. The order provides that all cash, ' AmmmrxA Inan. and il.nAslt. t company's books at the close of busi ness December 81, 1917, were for rail way purposes and therefore subject to the control and audit of the director general. The effect of this" order will be to place at the disposal of the director general vast balances to be used for the unification and mobilization of the lines under federal control. Large sums may be shifted from one company for the use of another by simply making a bookkeeping entry of the transaction. "Full accounting for the protection of the companies' rights will be made," the order makes it clear, when such trans actions are found to be advisable. Also, the director general will entertain any applications from companies which may desire to ahow that any of the funds . - on hand December SI were not for . railway purposes and therefore not un ' der his control. The order provides that the funds on hand at the Close of business December SI can v be expended by the railways only tor the payment of Interest matur ing up to July 1, 1918 ; payment of dlvi- . denda not In excess of the regular rate during the three years ending June 30, 1917; payment for material and sup plies for railway use and other ex- . penses of operation and for taxes. ; Secretary Baker Is " I Arrival in London (- f . V London, March 28. (U. P. ) Secretary ...of:. War Baker has arrived In London. Ha was met at the station by American Ambassador Page. Secretory, Baker visited the Belgian front Friday and had a long talk with King: Albert, it was announced here today., . , 1 i s AUTHORITY HUH FOR .-. n RAILROADS FUNDS 2&000 FAKE EXTRA SAYS PARIS IS SHELLED PARIS, Mareh U. P.) Paris wai raided by enemy air forces today, it was officially announced. There were several victims. This Paris air raid . Is probably the explanation of a rnmor that Paris Is being bombarded by 149 millimeter (nine and one half Inch) shells from a distance of tt miles. Washington, March ft. (r. P.) Wild reports circulated through, ont today broaght sharp recom mendations from officials and em bassies to beware of hoaxes and German propaganda. Informed of a rnmor that Paris was bombarded by long range Teu ton pieces, General March, acting chief of staff, declared that such a feat by the German general staff was beyond the bennds of reason. Not only dld that the Ger mans conld not have advanced so rapidly (the general staff laughed at the Idea of any gun carrying S miles, as reported), but that the British and French would see that they did not advance In the future. There was a distinct air of con fidence about the war department In the situation. Portland was given Its dose of pro-German propaganda today by the Telegram, which In Its recent mad effort to become "yellow" has stopped at nothing which It regards as sensational. It Issued aa extra at noon declaring "Huns Shell Paris" and claiming, In aa As soclated Press dispatch, dated Paris, that the Germans had been firing I4f mUUneter shells at In tervals ef a quarter of aa hour, Into Parpr. Th shef test distance freed the 'German lines to Paris Is Cl miles. The statement that a att inch gun could fire miles Is absurd, say authorities. BRITISH LINE WILL STAND, PREDICTION "Captain Peg," Canadian Vet eran, Declares Germans Must Fail. "The Germans can bend but tbey can't break the British line. The British troops were never so well prepared as now to hold German assaults, no mat ter of what magnitude." This is the expert view of Captain A. J. Pequegnat of the Fourth Canadian infantry, who arrived in Portland this morning. Captain Pequegnat, better known . as "Captain Peg." was "gassed" on the scene of today's struggle. Three years of trench life made him intimately familiar with the situation that la commanding the breathless attention of the world today. He was an officer of the first Canadian division to leave for the front from Canada, six days after Great Britain declared war Against Germany. During the period of his recupera tion, the Canadian government has re leased him from service to explain the war situation under the auspices of the Y. M. C. A. He is accompanied by W. J. Sherman of .the Y. M. C. A. war work organisation. Several audi ences will hear Captain Pequegnat while he is here. He speaks to sol diers in the Y. M. C. A. auditorium at 9 o'clock Sunday morning and to a .general audience In the same-room at 8 p. m. Sunday. He delivers the ad dress at the White Temple Baptist church Sunday morning at 11 o'clock Mr. Sherman will speak at the West minster Presbyterian church Sunday (Concluded on Pas Two, Column Thro) Redmond's Son Is Chosen Successor London, March 23: (U. P.J Captain William Redmond has been elected to parliament to succeed his father, the late John Redmond, leader of the Irish Nt tionallsts. Captain Redmond defeated Dr. White, Sinn Fein candidate. . PHONE YOUR HELP WANTED ADS to The Journal Mam 7173 A-6051 Reaulta at little .expense. . PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 23, 1918. FOURTEEN PAGES. MEN DRAFT LIT HIPMSIER MAY INCLUDE FORGES TIE MEN UP TO flfflW CITY Senator Chamberlain Says In crease in Age May Be Found Necessary; Hoke Smith Wants Size of the Army Doubled. Upper House Sidetracks Ail Other Business to Exclusive Consid eration of Bills to Strengthen America's Force of Fighters. Washington, March 23. (I. N. S.) With bulletins of the German drive be fore them, the senate this afternoon side tracked all other business to devote its energies exclusively to measures for strengthening America's fighting arm. Returning to the caplto from their; weekly conference with the .war council, the members of the senate military af fairs committee Immediately brought up the bill for the drafting of all young men who have attained the age of 21 years since registration day. The measure, it was estimated, would add 700,000 men annually - to the list available for the draft. Senators -sounded the gravest warn ings to urge unhesitating action. Senator1 Chamberlain, ' chairman of . the . commit tee, declared that the reports being re ceived today made -KVPear that It might become necessary to advAo tn age-limit for the draft to bring tn men past ai and as high as 45. Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia de clared that the strength of tha army should be doubled. Senator Smith said that the number of men 'should be doubled as well as the supply of powder. "And what's more, we should get some force and drive and real administrative ability behind our artillery program," ne aeciaroa. Senator Hardwlck of Georeia tried to have the bill amended to let out draft ed men as they attain the age of SI years. This was advocated by Secre tary or war Baker, but rejected by me senate military axiairs committee. The amendment wan shouted down by an overwneuning enorus or "noes." senator New or Indiana took advan tare of the crisis to ralTv the uivn. cates of universal mfUtary training. He proposed to make tne 21-year-old regis tration m permanently operative. This would be, In effect, universal mil itary training. He declared he would Insist upon a record vote on the measure. Bootleggers Robbed Him of $410, He Says Walter Xoble Appeals to Police After Visit to Three Men Whom He Said He Thought Were Reputable Bootleggers. Walter Noble of Buxton. Or., was robbed of $410 Friday night In a "boot leg" parlor near First and Main streets, after he displayed a roll of bills, he told the police this morning. roble was introduced to three boot leggers, he says, by a friend. He said his friend soon fell out of an expensive drinking contest, leaving him to pay for each round. He carried his money meticulously In a handkerchief bound around hi leg, and every time he paid for a cir cuit of the bottle' he untied the impro vised wallet, he said. 'I thought they were reDutable boot. leggers, but Just as I was getting radv to leavd they lumDed on m .m Noble, from between bruised lips. The .police are working on descrip tions given by Noble. He said he nnt several, months in a logging camp near ouxion oerore coming to Portland Fri day. ROLL OF HONOR , ,y"w' Ontario. Jlireh 28 U. P.) Th. following Americans ar mentioned la tod'a Onadian casualty Hat: ' Killed 'in action: J. E. NEWTON. Detroit. W. BENNETT, Butt. Moat. Gaaaed: , 8. BATEMAK, Cincinnati. FOUR BIG WAR FEATURES IN THE SUNDAY JOURNAL T&E GERMAN INVASION OF BELGIUM By Brand Whitlock, United States minister to Belgium. . THE PURPOSE OF TRENCH RAIDS By Hilaire Belldc, England's foremost military critic. WASHINGTON IN WAR TIME A graphic picture of the national capital today. ' THE WAR IN PICTORIAL REVIEW A page of striking photographs. TOMORROW Fortified City of Irkutsk Falls Before Advance, Say Official Dispatches to Tokioj Force of 160,000 Being Raised. Japanese War Minister Oshima Says Supplies at Vladivostok Safe So Far; Activity of Pris oners Is Being Investigated. By Frank II. King Tokio, March 23. (1. N. S.) Eighty thousand Germans, formerly prisoners of the Russians, have -captured the great fortified city of Irkutsk, capital of the province of that name in Siberia, ac cording to official dispatches received here today. The dispatches gave no details. It is not known whether there was any loss of life. The Germans are organizing a force of 160,000 men in Siberia, according to dispatches. The 80,000 men who occu pied Irkutsk comprised two picked di visions of 40,000 men each. War Minister Oshima, in commenting on the situation in Siberia; declared: "The supplies at Vladivostok are safe so far. Japan Is Investigating now the activities of the war prison era.", Tha emperor has returned to the capital, and, .with the . arrival f th alder statesmen, what Is regarded , as on of the most important councils ever held will be opened. Doubt Is Expressed Washington, March 28. (I. N. S.) Reports of the capture of Irkutsk, capi tal of the Siberian province of that name, by German prisoners of war now organized Into an offensive force, were received with great interest by officials here today. Every effort was made to secure confirmation of this report from the American ambassador, Roland S. ( Concluded on Page Three, Column Two) BARE I. W. W. PLOTS Prosecutor Says From Time of Organization Purpose Was to Overthrow United States. Chiearo. March 23. (U. P.) The government renewed its charges of die loyalty, sabotage and revolutionary ac tivity on the part of the I. W. W. m a petition filed with Federal Judge Lan dls here today for an Impounding order to retail papers seised In the wholesale I. W. W. raids of -September 5, 1917 This request by the department of Jus tice was a counter-move against an I. W. W. petition for return of these pa pers, on .which were based Indictments of 166 members of the organization. Uncovering most of the artillery he planned to use against the indicted X. W. W., Special Assistant Attorney Gen eral Frank K. Kueheker today sub mitted a lengthy outline of the evidence and exhibits which now fill three rooms in the federal building here. The letters show, Kueheker declared, that from the time the I, W, W. w organized in 1905 it has had as its prin cipal objects a general and . elaborate scheme to defraud employers of labor, overthrow the government in this coun try and disloyally oppose the United States in Its war with Germany." If the papers are returned to the I. W. W- Kueheker stated to the court, they will make the same use of the property in tha future. "Ever since the Indictments,' he added, "the organization haa pub lished and circulated aJarge number of pamphlets, leaflets, circulars and news papers in which they threatened to con tinue the same activities. (Concluded on Pace Two, Column One) GOVERNMENT LAYS CAPTURE OF s AMD 400 CAMMON - MAP OF GERMAN DRIVE ON ALLIES THE REGION from the Arras-Cambrai road to St. Quentin, where the Germans are attacking the British lines. The Germans are driving in near Bullecourt on the north and Honnecourt on the south. They have broken through the Brit ish lines near the latter point. Bjy M X ysJr- GUCMAPPi '4'' rTEPGHY V. 6St I'. H .MiLUr - CROlSlLLtS snooStS- lyC ' S'raNC.Hi SS?-'V i couiiaucmt . coLtiauf sAv: MALIMCOURT fCMUOGCCURT I " nSkilllX' J HstoitbuT COMtlQl I 0 p,hV VjEStk CATrtTT lr? , , vreli'4i' a - i. - ii i - : i i t a 1 m. k I --ssssaBuaa-w BRITISH RETIREMENT NOT ALARMING, IS VIEW TAKEN BY THE MILITARY EXPERTS By J. W. T. Masoa New York, March 23. (U. P.). The British retirement west of St. .Quentin is not an alarming symptom. St. Quentin marks the southern end of the Hlndenburg line and is one of the natural strategic points where the Germans might concentrate their at tack to Improve their defensive posi tions south of Cambrai. It is possible to devastate a large area of any bat batUefront by concentrating enough ar tillery fire on It. The entire trench system can be obliterated, thus de stroying tha shelters of the opposing forces and compelling. a liberal retreat. This is what apparently has happened In the St. Quentin area. No. belligerent has enough munitions, however, to en gage In so extravagant a devastation over a wide front. Elsewhere the Brit ish line- is holding and gives assurance of permanent stability. The principal fact in the situation Is the enormous slaughter of Germans that .the present Operations make inevitable. It would Enemy Front Line Was Apparently Lightly Held and Occupants Wiped Out. By Fred 5. Ferguson With the American Army in France, March 21. U. P.) American soldiers who Wednesday night raided German trenches, repeated the raid early this morning. Trenches and dugouts had been smashed during the night by artillery fire. . The enemy front line apparently was lightly held. All , the occupants were wiped out. Italian Front 1$ Active Rome, March 2. (I- N. S.) While German and Austro-Hungarian guns are throwing shells across the Piave river against the Italian positions, the enemy patrols have increased their activity along practically the entire front, according to advices received to day from the battle zone. In the Frenaea valley some German troops succeeded in gaining a footing in an advance Italian position, but were soon put to-flight when the Ital ians made a counter attack. In the mountains between the AsLago plateau and the - Upper Piave there has been an increase tn both the in fantry and artillery operations. With the American Army in 'France, March J3.U. P.) Four members of an American patrol captured a- lone German ; who occupied a listening" poet AMERICANS ENTER GERMAN TRENCHES I ttUNt'tttTltUHt lOM15 sissisassii-roaMfJt. atti .ihu o -r even be strategically worth while for the British to make other small retire ments along the front if by this means Hlndenburg could be enticed into con tinuing the killing of his men. The Germans have not succeeded in pinching off the Cambrai salient, as yet. which is the principal purpose of their attack. The small gain at St. Quentin is of secondary Importance to the op erations west of Cambrai. It may be that the St. QuenUn concentration was ordered by Hlndenburg so, that a trifling victory might be shown to the German people In place of the expected Cambrai ' autfeess. j The Versailles war council has under its .command a reserve force composed of French. British and probably Amer- ! lean troops, for use in an emergency at any part of the west front. There is yet no indication that these special reserves are needed by the British. But. If sud den danger - should threaten any part of the British front, there la this force under the supreme allied command to come to the rescue. Sixteen Factories to Produce Large Caliber Cannon Are Well Under Way. Washington,. March 23. (U. P.)- America is well on the way to turning out by the thousand military cannon whlcl shall rain death dealing shells over the Teuton lines. An official summary of progress by the ordnance bureau's gun division today showed that It "haa arranged for the production of many thousand cannon and the erection and complete equipment of 18 plants for their manufacture. All" these plants are "well under way," and a number are practically complete. America, sadly behind In artillery at the outbreak of the war, and slow In developing for a time thereafter. Is now doing a vast task toward supplying this highly vital portion of tha war material. England and Franca promised to supply artillery at first. but the ordnance di vision's stupendous task is designed to relieve them of this burden by tha close of the year. Acting Chief of Staff March. unUl recenUy artillery chief abroad, to of the opinion that big guns are extremely necessary from now on, so tt is certain he and tha gun division will press for completion of tha big work already pro ceeding. r The. ferocity of the German artillery Are in the latest drive, undoubtedly mainly-' responsible tor tha dent In tha British lmea. furnishes 'amnU nrnnf J to -the offiialsof the value of, artillery; MAKING BIG GUNS EAST IN AMERICA JbiCLOCK v4iv PRICE TWO CENTS HUI1S BREAK THROUGH ID G01PEL BRITISH: TO RETIRE, 16 SAYS : "-" " " : SMiaaBBaaBwasaBBSBBBBaaaaBBBaaBaBBBMiaaBaaMBaBieaBBBBBBBBWBw y -.. Great Weight of Infantry and Artillery Is'; Hurled Against English West of St5E! Quentin; on Northern Portion of Bat-: tie Front "We Are Holding," Says Haigl . .,. -, Terrific Assaults Are Sent Against the French and Slaughter of Germans at Roiseltincourt Is Said to Be Appalling; Every Available Gun Is Put in Action:; BERLIN, via London, March 23--(U. P.) Crown- Prince Rupprecht'a forces have captured 25,000 prisoners, 400 V cannon and 300 machine guns, the Berlin war office an- ! nounced today. j By William Philip Simms X T r ITH THE-BRITISH ARMIES IN. THE FIELD-.March A 23. (U. P.) Between 60 and DO German divisions " are opposite the battlefront. The British withdrawal need cause no panic. The army . commanders are confident. All is working out smoothly. The new battle positions are strong. Stupendous fighting keeps up on the whole new battle front. The Germans are desperately endeavoring to breaks through. Although outnumbered, and with the weather and ground conditions favoring the enemy, the British have withstood' the shock splendidly. They are gradually wihdrawing in, the most perfect order. The heaviest fighting continues opposite the southern half of the British 'forces, where 30 divisions of Germans came on in masses. The British guns never had better targets, firing point blank. British airmen hurled bombs on the enemy and turned machine ' gun fire upon them, while flying at low heights, throughout the day. During the afternoon the visibility was perfect. The guns - on both sides opened up full blast, and the world's most mighty':, artillery chorus was, heard. t - Personally, I have heard French. drumfire on the Champagne,1 V German drumfire at Verdun and British drumfire at Arras, Mes". sines and in Flanders, yet there was none to be compared with the - triple drumfire just before sundown. It was continuous like the roar of wind and sea in a storm, r There is no doubt that the coming battle of the Titans is now ".' on. The Germans are attacking in unprecedented masses. Ther . British are keyed to perfect fighting pitch. In the next 24 hours the battle will probably develop consider ably. Hindenburg is rusTiing up new divisions. ' Extraordinary fighting has taken place in the region of Roiscl- . lincpurt, where Germans made a mad effort to break the line, butv British guns dampened their enthusiasm. " . 1" - The attempt was abandoned. - i Pressure was continuous from the Scarpe to the Oise. There, were also fierce engagements around Athies and Jussy. J An unsuccessful attempt was made to cross the canal at Jussy5'" to Tergnier. -."'. LONDON, March 23. (U. P.) The Germans have broken t' through the British defensive system west of St. Quentin,,'" Field Marshal Haig reported today. The British are falling - back in good order to previously prepared positions. i "Powerful hostile attacks with a great weight of infanfry and' : I artillery broke through our defensive system west of St. Quentin . yesterday afternoon," the statement said. " "Heavy fighting continued on the whole battlefront until a late - hour last night. ' ' -t i, : "West of St. Quentin we are falling back in good order, across tfrf devastated area, to prepared positions farther west. "On the northern portion of the battlefront we hold our posi" tion. ' ' ' ' s "Very heavy fighting, with fresh hostile forces, is progressing. i . . - . London, March 23. (U. P.) French forces to the right of the ' British lines are now engaged, dispatches from the British front v declared today. The slaughter at Roiseltincourt is appalling. . ; . Every available gun has been concentrated against the soHd) . masses of the efiemy. , Washington, March 33.4-(I. ft. S.) Estimates of casualties, in; the great battle now in progress reaching the British embassy to day; and covering the period tip until last evening, were that the German losses totaled at least 150,000 and the British less than 100,000.: -C - , . i , u (Concluded on Page TMrtetm, Cotmna . Tonight and Sun day rain; moder ate southeasterly winds. ON TRAINS AND HW ' TAW D FIVC OUTI , In tha Toul. sector. , s ' ' ' ' ' - ft , r- J-
