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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (March 12, 1918)
MEATIIFIt Bain; moderate southv.eierl ly winds. 0W DAILY EDITION i - : v :.. ; II Jl SIXTV-SKVKXTII YEAH XO. .iiM) ! ' ' 1 ' " SALKM. QKEttOX. .ITKSUAx MOHMXG, MARCH 12, 1018 " ' " . . H PIUCE FIVE CIlMt PROPERTY IN U.S. OF HUNS TO BE SOLD Senate Approves Legislation to Uproot German Commer cial Influence; Hoboken a Docks to Change KAISER SAID TO OWN AMERICAN PROPERTY Treaty of 1799 With Prussia Not Regarded Mere Scrap of Paper WASHINGTON March 11. Leg islation authorizing the sale, of all enemy property In this country, re quested by tho alien property cus tpdian to permanently uproot Ger man ronmercia influence, was ap proved today by the senate and add ed to the urgency deficiency appro priation "bill. An amendment em powering the president to ' acquire title to the German steamship com panies dorks and wharves at Ho boken, N. J., also was accepted. The vote on the provision for sale of enemy property was unanimous. 4 to 0, and came after several hours scathing denunciation of Ger man koltur and intrigues for world domination. Enemy property within the mean ing of the law is property owned In an enemy'country, and official assur ances have been given that there is o intention to interfere with the property or: money of Germans or Asttrlans living In thir. country. The purpose Is to break the hdid of Certnans in Germany upon vast com mercial and industrial enterprises in the United States, which nave been closely connected with the kaiser's government and prevent their serv ing as outposts of the Teutonic movement for world domination. Ownership to Be Provided. - Under the trading with the enemy Pt the alien property custodian takes possession of and administers the properties, but its without au thority to dispose finally of them. The new legislation will empoerJ him to place them in American hands. 1 Virtually the only questions raised in today's debate were the: possibility of violating the treaty of, 1799 be tween Prussia and the United States and of too hasty action by congress. Expected opposition to the provision for purchase of the Hamburg-American and North German Lloyd docks at Hoboken failed to materialize. Prompt approval of both provi sions by the house Is expected as soon as the senate finally disposes of the $2,000,000,000 urgent defi ciency appropriation bill, to which they are added. Before the senate iacted Ttemo cratic Leader Martin, presented a memorandum from the state depart ment's legal bureau declaring that the 1793 treaty was not regarded as applicable." ---- Kaiser Ifiti Property Here. What is to be done with the pro ceeds of the sale of German inter ests which some senators today sug gested are owned in part by Kmperor William himself is a policy to be de termined later. Senator Martin said; "Speaking for myself, and. I think the American people. If the German people ever get any compensation, it will he after they have compensated the American people for the millions I would even say billions -of dol lars' worth of properly they have wthlesgTy destroyed." Quoting from statements of A,, Mitchell palmer, the alien pioperty custodian, when he appeared before the senate appropriations eonmlttee in urging the legislation. Senator Martin said many of the German owners had returned to Germany "tad now arc waging war on this, country. -w "It Is Inconceivable," he added, "if we sre to make any accounting that it shall be made without an ac counting from Germany for the de struction made of property of Arucr citizen. God forbid that J honld protect Interests of the Ger-, man reoofe any more than I am compelled to." i Treaty Held Xt Applicable. That Germany regards the 1799 treaty as a."mer scrap tf paper" was asserted by Senator Underwood of Alabama, who said the treaty does lot Interfere with the sale of Ger man property proponed. "Let the junker know that. Amer ica is flghtin in earnest," said Mr. tnderwod. "It is certainly proli ne that the German emperor him elf. holding In the names of other Persons, owns a large part of the Property involved." Senator Stone of Missouri, chair man of the foreign relations com mittee, said that examination of the treaty of i:s? and various authori ties on international law convinced jlm that the amendment authoriz- the sale-of enet! y property w-as Proper. He said his purpose in ask ing that consideration of the amend nt when called up last Saturday Postponed was to permit hint to .( Continued on Page 3.). WAR SECRETARY BAKER ARRIVES ABROAD SAFEY Reports of Military Mission to Battle Zone Closely Watched TRIP IS MADE TO LEARN Direction in Which U. S. Is to Exert Energy to Be Determined WASHINGTON. March ' 1 1. Safe arrival in Kranee of Secretary Baker and hi party having been formally announced today by the navy de partment, press "reports about his movements on the other side are being watched closely here. Many officials think It possible that the etory of his activities. If permitted to pass the censor, will throw inter esting light upon the object of his mission to the theater of war. Kmphasis laid by the war depart ment upon the fact that Mr. Raker's trjp was purely a military pilgrimage without diplomatic significance has directed attention to the known de sire of President Wilson to sec an energetic campaign waged by. the allies. With American troop3 hold ing a constantly Increasing sector of the battle lines, the wishes of the Washington government will have even greater weight than heretofore with the allied chieftains. It is assumed here tbat the secre tary is gathering first hand info--matlon on conditions at the, front for the president, and h l!l be able to give as well as to receive impo--tant information. . The great question of the direc tion in which the United States is to exert its greatest effort in the rar may be decided on the result of these conferences abroad, There have been a constant conflict: not only as to the use of ship tonnage as between the shipment of troop and the shipment of supplies for the allies, but also as "TV the priority rights of various armysuppliea and equ ipments. Expansion of Marine Corps and Navy Planned WASHINGTON, March 11. The house naval committee today began consideration of the annual naval appropriation bill, as framed by the navy department and a naval sub committee. The bill parried approx imately $1,300,000,610 for the navy for i the next fiscatTyear, but tb-3 amount would be made Immediately available so the navy can' meet promptly any emergencies that may arise. The measure provides for an increase of the enlisted force of the navy from 150.000 to 187.000 men and an increase in the marine corpi from 30.000 to 50,000 officers gad men. Some members favor Increasing the marines to 60.000 officers and men with a view to putting a full division In France, The bill does not change the thre-v year building program adopted by congress three years ago. Increas es in the number of destroyers, pa trol boats adn other special types of craft, made necessary by the war. have been taken care of in special appropriation bills. Bill Wayward Falls K- in Portland Hotel , l'0RTi,ANr. March 11. William Hayward, athletic coach of the uni versity of Oregon for the past fif teen yearscollapsed in the lobby of a hotel bere today and was removed to a hospital for observation. Hav ward has been indisposed for som tune, and had come to Portland to ccnsult a specialist. Senator Lodge Advocates Policy of Truth in War BOSTON, March 11. United States Senator Henry Oabot I.odge advocated a policy of dealing with the American people according to the standards of truth that charac terized George Washington, at ft Pa triotic mmass meetlnsr here tonight in Tionor of the Most Uev. Cosmi Gordon Lang, archbishop of York. "We have had enough of telling what we are going to do." he said, "what we want to'know is what we have done. Let the people know th truth and if the truth Is bitter and disheartening, they'll set their teeth as they did in the civil war and win. The road to victory is the road. to truth." ;-- National Wrestling Meet ' j Will Be Held on April 12 CTHICACO. March ll.The Na tional wrestling championship con tests will be held on April 12 and 1 at! the Chicago Athletic ossociation t'pder the auspices of the A. A. it was announced today. The events will bo divided into nlao classes, TRANSPORT IS RIDDLED BY SHRAPNEL Ship Alleged Put in Danger of Attack; From Submarine Through Tampering With "Zig-Zag" Clock 23-YEAR-OLD RUSSIAN, EDWARD OTIS, IS UP Details of Perilous Voyage Show Actual Clash With U-Boat AN ATLANTIC PORT. March 11. In connection with the case of Kd ward Otte, the 23-year-old native of Riga. Russia, formerly quartermas ter of a I'nited Stated transport, who is charged with espionasre and is be ing held under $23,000 bail, have become known the details of the perilous voyage overseas of the transport, which, riddled with Hun shrapnel, bears silent testimony,, of an actual clash with a German ub-ma'-'ne. Otis, it Isilleeed. tampered with the iiiechanMm which controls the transport's course in the submarine zone. It Is charged also that he ran the American flag up side down and that he reported a false reading of the carrier's lop. Chwk Shifts fourw. At . Otis' trial here last Saturday It was brought out that the alleged tampering with what is known as the "7.i-zag" clock of the transport had shifted the zig-zagging course of the vessel to a material decree and that the ship was placed thereby In grave danger of submarine attack. The transport, safe it her berth, brings with it a crew, the members of which tell of the ' brush" with the unc'lrsea vessel and of the cour ageous conduct under fire of those who manned the American guns, fighting against great odds, had won the day. A!l stand readv to brave the submarines again and tfie morale of the unit is unimpaired. The transport made but one trip overseas. After clearing from an Atlantic port she joined her convoy and beran the trip across the At lantic without social incident until she neared the hostile zone. Then things began to happen. First her engine "went wrong" and she was compelled to drop behind the! con voy, believing the. trouble could be corrected in a short time. Put this was not the case and when the re pairs were made the transport was stranded, but ; not alone, for pro ceeding along her course the lookout sighted a submarine dead astern, less than a mile away. Shrapnel Dropped on Transport. The gun crew of, the transport was thrown into action and the stern gun was opened up at the enemy craft. At this time the undersea boat showed fight and. remaining on top of the water, began to drop shrapnel shells on the transport. Closing her shrapnel guns, the submarine crew let loose one of her torpedoes, but the transport maneuv ered lis time to let it pass, starllingly close to her stern. Iettlne loose with shrapnel, the German worked effectively, several again crew shots flndinr their mark. The crew of th transport was having trouble with the range. To add to tne transport's predicament, the chief gunner had his clothing nearly stripped from his body in a hall of small shell. Ho was wounded In the leg. 1 ".Year-Old Volunteers. As usual, there was an Amer an present wh Jumped Into the breach, took the place of the wounded chief guier and proved himself equal to the occasion. The volunteer was a 17-year-old routh. In the meantime the enemy craft had pulled tip to within 900 yards and jnt up the signal "surrender we are overhauling you."' The gun crew on the transport answered with their first hit. Again came the signal "surrender, we are overhauling you." from 1hs than 800 vards, but the transport replied with another hit. and the men swore they would die fUhtlng rather than give a satisfactory an swer to the Hun challenge. The shot that closed hostilities was a direct hit, which landed fairly on the periscope deck of the sub marine, and with its bursting the undersea craft was ccrn Vn dive or sink. The crew, exhausted but en thusiastic, dlt not linger to Investi gate the fate 6f the enemy ship. Vanconi;er Longshoremen -i Have Returned to Work VANCOUVER. B. C March 11. Longshoreuttn. who quit work Sat urday nlht because one of their number was arrested as a suspecK ft draft evader, returned to work to dav. The men voted to return to wo'rk at a meeting held yesterday. The longshoreman arrested proved he was abovo draft age and was re leased, , ALLIANCE DIDN'T WANBIUNITIONS SENT TO ALLIES German-Amerian Organiza tion in 1915 Urged Con gress to Act PROHIBITION IS OPPOSED American Money Sent to Ger many for Relief Work Before War WASHINGTON. March 11. Polit ical activity of the German-American alliance and its subsidiary organiza tions was described In the senate In vestigating comittee today by E. Lowry Humes. United States district attorney at Pittsburg and Joseph Kel ler of Indianapolis, vice-president t f the National Alliance. The ccninut tee is holding a hearing on a bill to revoke the charter of the alliance on the ground that it is unpatriotic. Mr. Humes, who came Into pos- i session oCJbe records of the alli ance organization in Allegheny coun ty, Pennsylvania, through a grar.d Jury investigation c,f the activities of German organizations opposing prohibition, .testified that the Alle gheny County alliance urged it3 members to support C. K. Hughca in the last presidential election. Hi? defeat was attributed by the alli ance's executive committee as due to the support "by that sabre-rattling Hoosevelt." acording to the witness. The Allegheny organization adopt ed a resolution in 1915 urging a special session of congress to pas a law prohibiting the shipment of mu nitions to the allies, Mr. Hume said. k The district attorney testitied that the records of the organization that it bad collected $16,000 for German war relief before the United Statea entered the war and had sent to the German and Austrian embassies. It was brought out at the hearing larl Saturday that a sceat part of moro than $800,000 collected in this coun try by the National alliance was turned over by Count von Perna torff, former German ambassador, to Dr. Bernard Dernberg, who was hetd of the German propaganda system in i in this country for some time. Mr. Keller who recently complet ed a four-year term as a member of the Indianapolis school board,' and has two sons in the army, admitted to the committee that the alliance activ ely supported measures and candi dates opposed to prohibition in Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. Lieutenant Killed in Airplane Collision SAN ANTONIO. Texas. March 11. Lieutenant Ioron L. Mitchell. En dora. Miss., was instantly killed; Cadet Joseph C. Wakefield seriously Injured and Cadet Pemberton sligh lv injured in an airplane collision at Kelley field No. 2 tonight. It was the most spectacular acci dent since establishment of the fly ing fields here. It Was witnessed by several hundred cadet flyers. Mitchell and Wakefield were re turning from a cross-country flight r t;d Pemberton.'f lying alone, appear ed from another direction. Thre- hundred feet from the ground the two machines collided, locked and fell In a twisting spiral.. Lieutenant Mitchell 'wa dad when the cadets reached the scene of the crash. Wakefield suffered both thighs fractured and serious cuts about the body. Pemberton received only brulres. Pigeon With Mrs. Wilsons Message, Does Not Arrive NKW YORK. March 11. The homing pigeon released in Washing ton today with a message from Mrs. Woodrow Wilson expressing regret that she could nc attend the mili tary and naval show to be held here next week, had not arrived at its J home tonieht. The owner of 11e feathered messenger said the pigeon undoubtedly had .been blown off its course by the strong head winds and that there was everv reason to believe it would reach its home in good shape some time Tuesday. Government Inspector of Textiles in Salem) ' i J. W. Thorburn. I'nited States In- i spector of textiles, is in the city and will remain here for a month or more. It Is his duty to inspect all wool ens for use of the war department, and he can reject or pass any and all cloths offered under contract o the government. Tho Thomas Kay Woolen mill; are now and have been for souietim past turning out monthly a larg quantity of goods for manufacture in to uniforms of soldiers in the arm, and Mr. Thorburn, who is also in spector of woolens made in Califor nia and Washington, said last nigh, that he had seen none better than the goods niado here in Salem. AMERICANS PENETRATE i, GERMAN LINE Second Line of Enemy Trench es Reached in Lorraine Sec tor; Gas Shells Used With Good Effect ATTACK ON BRITISH LINE PROVES FAILURE Trotzky's Resignation Said to Be Due to Quarrel With Lenine r (fly The AsfHriated Pre American initiative has asserted itself on the Lorraine front in France. Three savage raids on the German line have been made by the American, who succeeded in reach ing the second line of enemy trenches before being ordered, to re turn. During their stay In German held territory tbey destroyed" care fully built defenses and picked up much war materials. The American artillery ably assist ed the infantry In the operatipri. A heavy barrage fire was laid down in front of the advancing Americans and the Germans had fled before the wave o infantry reached the hostile positions. After the Americans had been In the German trenches for a few minutes the German barrage fire was loosed on them but the Ameri can guns answered shot for shot and silenced a number of batteries. The American artillerymen used 5 gas shells with good effect. Near Toul the American heavy guns have been In action. Te"ton Driven Hack. Three raids on the British lines have been attempted by the Ger mans In the Armentleres sector but the British, In spit of a heavy fire from the enemy's gunr. repulsed th Teutons. The fighting ha spread along the Flanders front, the Ypres and Passchendaele sectors- figuring in the official reports. The activities of the contending armies have spread farther south, encounters 'near St. Quentin belrfg mentioned for the first time in recent weekav- Information received from German prisoners are responsible for the dis location of German plans for heavy attackson the British southeast of Houtholst wood. ' I-V. Aft AO A V.nli C w r,,.5 iw eVVffie ?i m W.tme rilt wifnl ? enem cestui Voegreeh L T British on Saturday succeeded In re-estab-1 lishlng their lines. The British forces operating In Palestine have once more advanced north and northwest of Jericho. The resignation of Leon Trotzky, the Bolshevik! foreign minister. Is explained by a report that he acted after a quarrel with Nikolai Lenlne, the premier, who Insisted that the Russia t people agree to the disas trous peace at Brest-LItovsk. while Totzky protested against submit ting without a straggle. The only fighting reported in Russia is in the neighborhood of Kiev, Rasdjelnaia. and along the Shmerlnga-Odessa railway, where the Germans claim to have scattered bands of Russians. AuMrinn Attempt Fails. There has been fighting on quite a large scale on the Italian front. In the mountain sectors of the line, enemy attempts to advance have been checked, while along the Piam river, the Austrian were' defeated (Continued on Page 3.) DRASTIC FOOD ORDER IN EFFECT TODAY BY STEUSLOFFS ORDERS Local Chairman's Authority From Federal Administration Every Sale of Flour, Necessitates Buying Equal Amount of Substitutes Inconvenience Is Admitted, But Time Has Arrived When People Must Do Full Part Uv an or.ler. of tlie food nlminUtrtion piven the people of tlnn loealitV ilirotiRlt F. W. Stcusloff. foo.l almiimt ration for Marion county, no sale of flour can be minle by any lealer in the county tin less an equal quantity of substitutes goes with the order. Ttiis is ef fective bejrinnii! this morning.: The authorities admit that the order is drastic and that it will cause inconvenience to consumers in many; cases, but absolute neces sity is back of the order. ;P !' . The order whs received by Mr. Stcusloff in the, following tele gram received yesterday froinV. IJ. Ayer of -Portland; federal food administrator for Oregon, who' in turn received .the. order from Washington : "Owing to the absolute' necessity' that" this country furnish wheat for shipment to our army abroad and to tlfc people of France, I have positive instructions that no sale of flour can-be male without an equal .quantity of substitutes, and I am putting the order into effect today. This will Undoubtedly cause inconvenience to many of our eople, lnit they must, thoroughly understand that it is au alwo lute necessity, and the time has arrived wheu we are called upon to come through, aud U our full part." ..... PARIS SUFFERS CASUALTIES IN HUN BOMB RAID Sixty Airplanes Cross French Lines ; Several Buildings Demolished ONE CREW IS CAPTURED Artillery Barrage Keeps Many N; Machines From Gaining Objectives LONDON, March 12. German air planes raided Paris Monday night. The first alarm was given at 9:10 o'clock when seven squadrons of German airplanes were reported on their war to Paris. Bombs were dropped at 10:13 o'cJock. LONDON, March 12. A Reuter dispatch from Paris says that cas ualtie and propertr damage result ed from last night's air raid, but details are unavailable. One of the German raiders over Paris last ni-nt was brought down in flames and the crew was taken prisoner, a Havas dispatch from Paris states. The French official statement on the raid says that warning was given at 9:10 o'clock and that "all clear" was sounded at midnight. About sixty airplanes crossed the French lines. Thanks to the artillery bar rage, which was maintained through ant the entire raid, with great in tensity, a certain number or ma chines were unable to reach their objective. Nevertheless, the statement adds, numerous bombs were thrown on Paris and the suburbs. Several buildings were demolished onset on fire. The number of victims1 is not yet known. U. S. Would Loan Cuba Money to Fight Germany HAVaNa." March 11. The Amer ican government, it is announced, has offered to lend the Cuban gov ernment $15,000,000 to be used in carrying on the war against Ger many. The loan will draw 5 per rent interest and will be guaranteed by the $30,000,000 Cuban bond issue. Last September the republic of Cuba -authorized the announcement ! that half of the Cuban government's $30,000,000 war bond Issue, decided shortly !f,ore that t,ra ad t ""' by Unltef SUteS y' Thomas Hitchcoh, Jr. Is Reported Captured AIKEN. S C., March 11. Thomas Hitchcock, Jr., of Aiken and .West bury'. I. L, who enlisted .In the French aviation service last June, has been cat 11 red by a German air man, according to unconfirmed In formation received here by the young man's father. Major Thomas Hitchcock. Major Hitchcock did not reveal the source of his Information. Aerial Photography School Opens With 560 Students ROCH ESTER. N. Y.. March 11. The United States army school of aerial ph&tography opened here to day with an enrollment of 560 stu dents. More than 700 students are expected to be enrolled this week. PRESIDENT'S IN SYMPATHY WITH RUSSIA Heart and Soul of America Is With People, Wilson Tells Congress of Soviets About to Convene REJECTION OF PEACE ; TERMS NOT URGED Trouble for Germany in East Hoped Until Allies Yin Victory WASHINGTON. March 12. On the eve tf the gathering at Moscow of the, Russian congress of eovlets, which Is to pass judgment upon- the German-made peace accepted by.the Bolshevlkl at Brest-LItovsk, lc; dent Wilson hag gent a message of sympathy to tha t Russian - people people through the congress, with a pledge that the United' States will avail itself of every opportunity to; aid them in driving out autocracy and restoring Russia to her place In the world -with complete sovereign ty anl independence. ' I The United States now recognizes no government In Russia, but tb president cabled his message loathe American consul xat Moscow for; da livery to the congress, which Is made up of soldiers' and workmen's repre sentatives and speaks tor at least a considerable part of the Russian peo ple. The message made public to night by the state department, was as follows: Sympathy Is Expressed. . "May I not take advantage of the meeting of the congress of- the Sov iets to express the sincere sympathy which the people of the United States feel for the Russian people at this moment when the German power has been thrust in to Interrupt and turn back the whole struggle for (freedom and substitute the wishes of Ger many for the purpose of the people of Russia. Although the government of the United States. Is unhappily, not In a position to render the di rect and effective aid It would wish to render, I beg to assurci the people of Russia through the, congress tbat1 it will avail itself of every opportun ity to secure for Russia once ore com plete sovereignty and independence in her own affairs and full restora tion to her great role in the life of Europe and the modern world. Th-3 whole heart of the people of . the United States la with the people of Russia in the attempt to free them selves forever from autocratic govern ment and become the masters of their own life. 1 . (Signed) "Woodrow WHson." Thus in his first formal word to Russia since that revolution-torn country under the leadership of the Rolshevikf deserted the allied caue, the president Indicates the purpose of the United States to disregard the hard terms upon which the German and Austrian war loardi have prom ised peace to the Russians and to demand an accounting upon a v?y different basis when victory at last shall be achieved by America and tbe allies. Rejection Sot Vtged. ? The president does cot urge the Soviets to reject the peace treaty, though the delivery of his messag at this time may be interpreted as suggesting such a couise. In facf, it is conceded In official circles tht there Is scant ground for hope tbat the congress and what remains of a." government in Russia will refuse to give approval to the German terms. Trotzky, the Dolihevlki foreign rain, later, has resigned, and from Lenlne, the premier, who apparently controls tbe regime, nothing is expected.. Iiut there seem to be still a strong belief here tbat difficulty for Ger many in the east, by no means Is ended; that as tbe humiliating naturo of the Teutonic terms begins to b realized by the great mass of Rus sians and the tyranny of the war lords in occupied territory shows It self, a new uprising will make itself felt. Whether or not anything re sembling a strong central govern ment capable of making organized re sistance on a large scale is developed. The hope here Is that the determina tion of the great numbers of the Itus sians to fight oppression will llnd ex pression in some way that will give the Germans much to do In the cast until the ultimate victory In the west, about which no doubt Is entertained, purs the United States and the allic In the position to give that direct and effective aid of which President "Wit son speaks. The president's message may erv to lessen misgivings In Russian over the proposed intervention by Japan in Siberia. The understanding heie is that there is no difference of opinion among the allies tbat any operations undertaken by Japan to check German machinations In the east and protect the war stores ct Vladivostok will not in any degree threaten permanent Russia" territor ial lnjcsrity. . ....