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DAILY EDITION
rf7f1 ... rt
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4T
-
FOUR HELD
AS AGENTS
OF BERLIN
,Ptmns Taken Into Custody
On Espionage Charge Claim
. French Citizenship; Two
Women in Quartette
ASSOCIATION CLAIMED
WITH ALLIED OFFICERS
Lavish Spending in U.
Causes Suspicion; Income
Is Not Explained
NEW YORK. March 1. Four
persons claiming French citizenship,
but who! both American an 1
French authorities say have been in
timately connected with German es
pionage actiTf ties in the United
latea. were formally arrested today
ky agents of the department of
Justice. They will be turned over
to immigration authorities for depor
tation to France.
In making known the arrest of the
quartette, Charles F. De Woody, di
vision superintendent of the depart
ment of justice. Intimated that de
portation of two men and two women
wan desired in order to place them
under the jurisdiction of French
authorities, who may further their
prosecution.
Two Women Kupect Caught.
The four spy suspects have been
tinder surveillance for several weeks,
but not until two of them, a wo
man, styling herself Madame Des
pina Davidovitch Storch and an as
sociate, designated as llaron Henri
de Seville, departed for Cuba one
week ago after a mysterious two 'day
junket to Washington, did the au
thorities consider their apprehension
advisable. They were halted at Koy
West, and returned here when they
continued under surveillance.
The other two suspects are known
as Madame Elizabeth Charlotte Nix
and Count Robert de Clairmont,
Count de Clairmont, the authorities
said, was frequently seen in the
company or Edmund Rousselot Cas
tello, J15 t week telephone, clerk,
who, posing as the Marquis de Casti
llot .opened negotiations with J. P.
Morgan and company: several weeks
ago for a, loan of 150,000,000 for
King: Alfonso of Spain, of whom hj
claimed to be a personal represent
ative. .When Madame Storch and
Paron de Bevllle, were taken into
custody a half bushel basket of pa
pers was seized from a safe deposit
box in this city which one of them
had rented. A number of caMe mes
sages in code webe among the pa
pers. Madame Storch Familiar Figure.
t Because of embarrassment -which
tkey said might result between the
American .state department, and a
neutral government which was not
specified, authorities withheld com
ment on certain features of the in
vestigation, particularly in connec
tion with one of the women under
detention. v
' Superintendent Da Woody- gave
tie following detailed history Of the
four suspects: --
"Madame Storch, also known as
Madame Neizie. Madame Hesketu
and Baroness de Bevllle, claim to
bare ben born in Crbicago, 23 years
go. She mari-ied Paul Storch, a
Frenchman, from whom she was di
vorced in 1912. She was a familiar
figure In fashionable hotels of Lond
on, Madrid. Lisbon and at the Wal
dorf and Boltimore in. New York
city.
BritMi Record Held.
"She claimed Intimate associa
tion with very prominent officials of
foreign governments. At the Savoy
hotel, in London, she Is known to
have been born in Chivago, 23 years
inent British official on numerous
ccasions. There she was known ac
; Madame Hesketh. It is during this
time that authorities first became In
terested in her activities.
""A short time laer, Madame
Storch was reported to be en route
to this country but was next located
la Madrid in association with official
' of the German Becret service.
"Though Madame Storch's Hvln
expenses were appioxlmately J1000
aonthly since coming here in April,
1H, her explanations of the sources
f her income have been unsatisfact
ory. She admits havlne received
13000 from an official of a foreign
government just prior to coming here
nd' subsequently received three re
mittances of. $1000 each which she
claims were loans from 'friends.
Trip Matte to Cuba.
"While living in Madrid with
Earotf de Bevllle In 1915. they were
accused and apprehended as being
German spies, but secured their re
lease and went to Cuba and later
continued to this country. "
Last February Madame Storcb
obtained a French passport, under
the name of Stoich, to return to
Coba. She had been living at th
tUltmore up to 'this time as Madame
exie. Then it was noted that
won de Bevllle, under that name,
also had obtained a French pass
Port for Cuba. Quite unexpectedly
ey went to Washington for two
flar. staying at the Shoreham hotel.
(Continued on Page 2.) '
ALLIES CONDEMN
RUSSIAN 'PEACE'
WITH GERMANY
Supreme War Council Issues
Statement Denouncing
Political Crimes
ENTENTE TO FIGHT ON
Peace Pact As Accepted Is
Held to Mean Only, Or
ganized Plunder
LONDON', March 18. The su
preme war council of the allies issu
ed a statement tonight condemning
German political crimes against th?
Russian and the Rumanian peoples,
and refusing to i acknowledge Cer
iiiuny's peace treaties with them, an!
also declaring:
"We are fighting and mean to
continue fighting, in order to finish
once for all this policy of plunder,
and establish in its place the peace
ful reign of organized Justice."
The council's statement, which Is
issued through the foreign office,
says:
"The prime minister and foreign
ministers of the entente assembled
in London feel it to be their duty
to lake note of the political crime
which under the name of a German
ptace, have been committed against
the Russian people. Russia is un
armed. Forgetting that for four
years Germany had been fighting
the independence of nations and the
rights of mankind, the Russian gov
ernment, in a mood of singular cre
dulity, expected to obtain by per
suasion that 'democratic .peace,'
which it failed to obtain byvwar.
RuHAja to Weak to Protewt.
"The results were that the inter
mediate armistice had not expired
before the German command, though
pledged not to alter the disposition
of its troops, transferred them en
masse to the western front and so
weak did ) Russia find herself that
she dared to raise no. protest against
this violation of Germany's plightoi
word.
?What followed was. of like char
acter, when 'the German peace' was
translated into action. It was found
to involve th invasion of Russian
territory, the destruction or capture
of all Russias' means of defense, and
the organization of Russian lands
for Germanys profit. A proceeding
which did not differ from annexa
tion, because the word Itself was
carefully avoided.
Meanwhile those very Russians
who had made military operations
impossible found - diplomacy impo
tent. Their- representatives were
compelled to proclaim that. while
they refused to read the treaty pre
sented to them they had no choice
but to sign it: so the signed if not
knowing whether in its true signifi
cance it meant peace or war, nor
measuring the degree to which Rus
sian national life was reduced by It
to a shadow. 4
ttntente.Jadgment Clear.
For us of the entente govern
ments the Judgment which the-free
peoples of the world will pass on
these transactions would never be ia
doubt. iWhy waste time over Germai
pledges when we see that at no peri
od in ber history of conquest not
when she overran Silesia nor when
she partitioned Poland has she ex
hibited herself so cynically as a de
stroyer of national independence,
the implacable enemy of the rights
of man and the dignity of civilized
nations? Poland, whose heroic spi
rit has survived the most cruel of
national tragedies, is threatened
with a f&urth partition, and to ag
gravate I her wrongs, devices by
which the last trace of her Indepen
dence is to be crushed are based, on
fraudulent promises of freedom.
; Peace Treaty Not Itecognized.
"What is true of Russia and Po
land Is ho less true of Rumania, ov
erwhelmed In a flood of mercilesa
passion for domination.
'"Peace Is loudly advertised, but
under the disguise of verbal profes
sions lurk the brutal realities of war
and the untempered rnle of a law
less Torce. Peace treaties such as
these we do not and cannot ack-
Uowledge. Our own ends are very
different. We are ngntmg una m
to continue fightlag. in order to fin
ish once and for all, with this poller
of plunder and to establish it it
place the peaceful reign of organ
ized Justice.
"As Incidents of this long war un
2U themselves before onr eyes.
More and more clearly do we per
ceive thai the battles for freedom
are everywhere inter-dependent:
that no separate enumeratlop or
tfiem is needed and that in every
rase the single, but all-sufficient, ap
peal Is to Justice and right.
"Are Justice and right going to
win? Insofar as the issue depend
on battles yet to com, the nations
whose fate is in the balance may
rurely put their trust In the armies,
which even under conditions more
difficult than the present. ha7
hown themselves more than equal
to the great cause entrusted to their
calor."
' ! i !
DUTCH SHIPS
TO BE TAKEN
OVER TODAY
Reply to British-American
Shipping Ultimatum I Mo
mentarily Expected, Ac
ceptance Not Intimated
course of America
remains unchanged
Shins Taken Over to Be Pro
vided With Armed Guards
In Sailing
WASHINGTON, ' March 1 X.-
Pa-pan Ions for taking over Dutch
merchant ships in American ports
tomorrow were completed tonight,
while the government expected mo
mentarily to receive from London
the Dutch reply to the British-American
shipping ultimatum.
Officials here said Yiey had no in
timation of what the reply would be,
whether it would accept the allies'
demand for a transfer of Dutch ton
nage now in American and Hritlsh
waters or would endeavor to opeji
further parleys in an effort to satisfy
both the allies and the Germans,
t". S. Coun Not Chanced.
Officials plainly indicated that the
latter course would not find favor
here.
Today was the last day given for
the Dutch government to make reply.
Allowing for cable delays, the United
States will wait until tomorrow and
then, will proceed to .requisition the
tonnage in accordance with the de
mand made several days ago. It
was stated authoritatively that noth
ing had occurred to change either
the terms of the proposals to Hol
land or the government's determina
tion to carry the matter through to
a eonelnslon.
The navy department will take
control of the ships which will be
provided with' armed naval guards
and manned with civilian and naval
reserve crews to supplement the
Dutch crews or replace such of the
foreign sailors as desire to leave the
boats. It Is probable that civilian
sailors and reservists will not be
used together on the same boat, be
cause of differences in discipline and
pay which might promote frietlclj.
A previous suggestion for naval op
eration of merchant vessels was
abandoned for this reason.
Hixty-eigtit Shin in Port.
It was learned today that there
are sixty-eight Dutch ships Ir. ports
of the continental United States,
their tonnage aggregating 470,000.
Others with a tonnage of about 130.
000 are In the Island possessions of
this country, and upward of 4 00.000
tons are in British waters. All of
the vessels are in first class condi
tion and In'fude some of the best
merchant ships ever built, at least
ten of them beln among the fastest
cargo carriers afloat. It is likely
that most of them will be put to
carrying foodstuffs, the cargoes be
ine allottVMy the ship control com
mi'tee. Cargoes which some of the ships
had loaded provide one of the prob
lems vet to be decided by American
officials, who declined to say wheth
er the ships would be allowed to pro
ceed under the American flag or
would have to unload and take other
goods.
AMSTERDAM. March IR. The
rierlln correspondent of the Handels
blad says the German standpoint is
that no Dutch hins should be al
lowed to leave Holland for America
unless a corresponding Dutch ship
is returned to a Dutch port from
abroad and that the Dutch ships now
in Holland must remain outside the
reach of the entente.
' If Holland yields on these points
the correspondent adds. German In
terests would be so strongly assailed
that friendlr relations between Ger
many and Holland would be greatly
imperiled.'
Conditions Lnld Down.
THE HAGUE. March 18. The
Dutch foreign minister. Dr. Loudon,
in the second chamber todav. made
the followlns statement with regard
to the Anglo-American demand with
respect to Dutch shipping:
"The German government, having
declared its inability to furnish 100.
000 tons of wheat In two months,
the Dutch government makes Its con
sent cotIt itional. Following are the
conditions:
"Holland ought to bt able to
count on sharing the tonnage pro
visioning the different countries. In
accordance with the draft agreement
of London. Bunker coal necessary
for the transport of merchandise to
Holland ought to be furnished to
Dutch ships. The allied govern
ments should guarantee that no
troops or war materials, will be
transported on the ships, which
should be unarmed; that the crews
may be free to participate in navi
gation and that vessels destroyed are
(Continued on page .)
sai.oi, okicgox. TrKsiJAV mcm;, march i. hih j rjucu rivis cunts
SENATORS BEGIN
FIGHT TO RAISE
PRICE OF WHEAT
Increased Farm Costs and Ne
cessity for Bigger Pro
duction Cited
BACKERS NOT HOPEFUL
Opposition Urges Conserva
tion Instead of New Price
of $2.50
WASHINGTON. March 18. West
ern senators renewed their fiaht for
a higher guaranteed wheat price to
day, citing the ability of farmers to
make more money raisin: other
cereals, shortage and increased cost
of farm labor and vital necessity of
insuring adequate wheat supplies,
f The debate' was on Senator Gore's
proposal to increase the price for the
1&18 crop to $2.30 per bushel. A
two-thirds majority is required to
suspend the rrlesjfor action on the
proposal, and its advocates are said
not to be hopeful ef mustering the
necessary votes..
Wheat price fixing. Senator Nel
son of Minnesota, Republican, as
serted, has been an "abject failure."
He advocated an open market with
prices fixed only by natural laws,
or extension of price fixing to other
cereals.
While expressing reluctance to in
crease the cost of living by raising
wheat prices. Senator Kellogg of
Minnesota declared such action ab
solutely necessary In order to stimu
late production.
Other senators speaking In sup
port of the Gore amendment includ
ed Borah of Idaho, Curtis of Kansas
and Norrls of Nebraska, all Repub
licans. !,
"The result of fixing wheat prices
much lower than would be obtained
in the open market,' Senator Norfis
said, "caused Increases in prices jof
substitutes which the consumer was
made to buy r the food administra
tion. So for the salie or getting low
er wheat prices for the allies, we
raised prices of everything-else to
the American people."
He added that wheat must be pro
duced regardless of cost..
Conservation of wheat substitutes"
was urged by Senator Sherman of
Illinois. Republican.. He read the
Bible story of Fbe loaves and fishes,
observing that the bread was of bar
ley and asserting that two billion
gallons of beer vjere made froln
barley last year. Use as food of;
cereals now being made Into beer
and Its imitations was urged by the;
Illinois senator.'. ,:
Portland Trades Council
r Asks Montague's Removal
n the
allegation that Richard
Montague. I
mediator for the federal wage ad
justment board, is failing to enforce
the Macy commission wage agree
ment in two shipyards JieiV. the
Portland metal trades council to
day telegraphed to Chairman Hurley
of the shipping board an appeal for
Montague's removal.
Mr. Montague denies tha"t he Is
failing to enforce the agreement, de
claring that the learners' wage is the
question at issue, and that he has
been assembling evidence on this
problem, and contemplates giving
the council an early hearing.
Snow Plow Pilot
Meets Instant Death
SKAGWAY. Alaska. March 18.
James Collinson. pilot of a rotary
snow plow on the White Pass and
Yukon railway, was instantly killed
this afternoon when the plow turned
turtle at McCrea spur north of here.
E. J. Barry, engineer of the plow,
received burns that may cause his
death. Two other men aboard the
plow escaped by jumping.
A wrecking crew with physicians
and nurses has been dispatched from
here.
H. D.ST. HELENS
DIES SUDDENLY
Prominent Salem Man Passes
Away in Hospital After
Operation
Henry. Darling St. Helens. 236
Court street, well known Sajem resi
dent, died suddenly at a local hos
pital at j 12:30 o'clock this morning.
He was' removed to the hospital at
5 o'clock yesterday afternoon and
was operated on after a week's ill
ness. Mr. St. Helens had lived In Salem
over thirty years, and wr a skillful
tuner of instruments. He was prom
inent In lodge circles of the . city,
being a member of the loose. 'Arti
sans, and Woodmen of the World.
He was S 8 years old.
WIEST NAMED
FOR VACANCY
IN COUNCIL
Melson's Successor Is Chosen
hy Vote of Alderman, Is
Sworn in and 'Participates
in Meeting
RETIRING MEMBER IS
HONORED AT DINNER
Ordinance Bills Restrict Danc
ing and Provide Long
and Short Terms
W. A. WIest was last bight electc-d
by the city council to fill the vacancy
on the council caused by the resig
nation of Alderman Hoy S. Melson.
J. N. Skaife was also placed in nomi
nation and drew three votes I to
Wlest's seven, four members beng
absent. Mr. Wiest was sworn In
and participated in the session.
Mr. Wiest is an attorney, but re
cently dropped bis practice to accept
the position of deputy clerk of the
state supreme court. He becomes
one of the representatives of the
sixth ward. He will fill the commit
tee positions held by Melson.
Before the opening of the session
last night the members of the coun
cil and Mayor Keyes honored Mr.
Melson, the retiring member of the
Council at a dinner at the Marion ho
tel. Mr. Melson goes to Alberta to
engage in farming.
Alderman Charles H. Jones was In
his chair at the meeting last night
after an absence of about eight
months because of illness.
Another election of the council lat
night wah that of Harry Rowe to a
position on the police force to take
the plaVe of H. II. Lucas who re
signed to accept a position in the
Busick grocery store.
Several important ordinances were
given first and second reading last
night. One of them proposes a
drastic regulation of dance halls
which would eliminate the so-called
shadow" and ) "moonlight" dances,
or any dance conducted In a dark
ened room. It would- prohibit the at
tendance of any" persons under 16
yeats old not accompanied by parent
or guardian and place a ban on
smoking in the dance hall or in ad
jacent halls or corridors
Another ordinance bill proposes to
amend the city election ordinance to
conform to the new state consolidat
ed .election law, and fot the present
year makes it necessary to elect
alderman for long and short terms.
The ordinance as read proposes a
two and a three-year term, but this
is to be changed when the bill in
read at the next meeting to a two
and a four-year term, and after this
year all elections. If tlhe ordinance
is passed, will be for four-year
(&riiu liilf I lia alilnrihon 1-aflrlnfr
', t
I 1 J a,"v tJ j
A resolution was adopted directing
the city attorney to begin foreclosure
proceedings against property owners
who are delinquent in rtreet assess
ments for not less than five years
and who have not bonded.
: A resolution was adopted and will
be presented to the public service
commission asking that the city be
relieved from the application of the
warning signs statute.
Action of the street committee In
selling a horse for 1150 was rati
fied. The committee reported adversely
on the proposed purchase of an auto
mobile for city use and the report
was adopted.
j(L petition signed by eight resi
dents of Rural avenue was read ask
ing for the improvement of the street
by draining and grading. The dis
trict extends from Commercial street
west. The petition was referred to
the street committee.
N. W. Faught was awarded a con
tract to build a sidewalk on Wilson
street.
Wilson to Tell Attitude
Toward Russia Is Belief
WASHINGTON. March 18. After
a call at the White House today
Senator Iewls of Illinois, the Demo
cratic whip of the senate, indicated
his belief that President Wilson
would make . known (to the country
soon the attitude of the government
toward the Russian situation. He
said it was safe to say the president
would fulfill bis promise that there
would be noecret diplomacy.
German Barrage Turned
on American Troops
. r .
WITH TH AMERICAN ARMY
IN FRANCE, March 18. An
American patrol composed of
troops (name depleted) in the sec
tor east of Ltmeville early this
morning were discovered by the
Germans who put down a heavy
barrage, the shells striking- among
the party. Intermittent artillery
fire proceeded on this front all
day.
U.S. AVIATION
PROGRAMME TO
COMBINE BEST
Finely Tempered Air Battal-
ions in France Impress
4 Secretary Baker
SCHOOL GROWING FAST
Graduation of Aviators Is Reg
ular; 97 Per Cent Effic
iency Reached'
ON ."BOARD ' SECRETARY RAK
ER'S, SPECIAL, TRAIN IN FRANCE,
March 16. Newton D. Baker, the
American secretary of war, i'e mak
ing important decisions in France
upon such questions at in his judg
ment require immediate action. He
is gathering knowledge for future
use upon many aspects of the situa
tion of the American army but prob
lems piessing for a settlement b?
solves on the. spot.
Thus today in the headquarters of
one of the American aviation centers.
Secretary Daker inquired If all of th
host of aviators sent first from Ameri
ea were first to complete their train
ing rn Prance and if all of tb?m
had bipen commissioned. The chief
of the aviation told the secretary
that all of them had not yet. because
of reasons which he explained, had
a chance to take their final training.
The secretary went into the sub
ject. He directed at the conclusion of
the inquiry, with General Pershing's
approval." that aviators so delayed
proval, that aviators so delayed
should have their commissions,
when ' they were ready, for them,
dated a day ahead of those Issued in
America to men who had entered the
service later, because these men had
a right to their priority.
When the secretary's train came
into the aviation region the sky was
darkly overcast and the clouds were
of a blue gray color, which the avia
tion observers say constitutes the
finest back ground for seeing zr
work. Many monoplanes and bi
planes awaited the secretary s ar
rival upon the field. Then with a
rush one after another took the air
until toward' the end of the morn
ring 100 machines were in flight and
every machine was driven by an
American, Individual aviators prac
ticed maneuvers used in combat.
such, as reversing the direction cf
the night by turning edgewise upon
on wing,' spining in nose dives. Then
there were evolutions in flotilla for
mations of five after that in squad
rons of fifteen.
"With all these machines In the
air," remarked a French! officer, "we
see no more than a teinth .of what
America has in this onci school.
"Yqji will soon have rio more need
for French Instruction. We have
shown everything -we know and your
young men have taken to the art
with astonishing facility, as well as
audacity, nerve and resource. The
danger and difficulties fascinate and
inspire tbeml I think- it must be
what you call the sporting spirit."
"Yes." said one of Mr. Baker'a
party, "so many of these men are
direct from our eollerej! and univer
sities. They are football and base
ball players."
Secretary Baker Jiqcused with
various of the aviators themselves
the differences between the ma
chines, lie brought to the subject
much knowledge of detail and un
varied Interest. He spent hours talk
ing, with the men and examining
with them the types of machines,
some of which be saw for the first
time.
The "closing Incident of the morn
ing's air training was a combat and
the escape of one plane when attack
ed. The secretary watched with in
tense interest. He then visited the
machine shops and setting-up shops
and the storage buildings. He had
explained to him the school organi
zation?, whirh Include eight classes,
each with a sep-ate camp. Sharp
lorting rivalries exist among them.
St. Patrick's day was celebrated
by six games of baseball among the
twelve league clubs. The Young
Men's Christian association and Red
Cross have restaurants and club
rooms j In the aviation area, both
admirably managed.
The party left with the conviction
that America's effort is already a
powerful one; that It combines the
bets to be found in the French and
Rritisn service, in addition to Ameri
can developments and that an organ
ization has been created capable 6fJ
schooling frnelv tempered air bat-,
talions. The aviation school in ques-i
tion has reached 97 per cent of its
expected efficiency. Graduating
classes are turned out with steady?
regularity because of the speed withf
which the students reach the level of,
eomoetent airmen. Rut this de
pends, of course, upon the amount o
flying, wnicn-nas oeen uncommonly
auunaam mis spring.
. W. W. Is Given Coat
T Tar and Feathers
YAKIMAXTASH.. March 18.
Secretary Myers of the Yakima local
of the I. W, W, was taken a mile out
of town at midnight tonight and glv
en a coat At tar and feathers and
told to leave town.
ENTENTE TO
START OWN
; OFFENSIVE
American, French, British,
Belgian and Portuguese
Troops Maintain Control
Over Western Front
BELGIANS TAKE OVER
SECTOR IN FLANDERS
As Verdun Sectors Grow Ac
tive, Teutons Capture
Rich Wheat Center
(By The A JLrxrittted I'rrti)
As the allied world has day after
day read the official reports from
the allied and Teuton war offices in
the hope that some inkling of th
real situation would present itself,
the realization base couie home that
the American, French, British, 111
gian, Portuguse troops are maintain
ing their control over the western
front. The long expected German
drive has net materialized and the
allies threaten to start an offensive
of their own. The Verdun and Vos
ges regions are apparently the" cent
ers where big events may develop.
In the Votges mountains the artil ,
lery fighting is reported to be very
heavy although no infantry actions
have been mentioned in the war of
fice statements.
Uelgtan Army In Flanders.
One of the most encouraging feat
ures of the war news may be found
in the f act that the Belgian army, re
organized and ready for battle has
taken over the Important coast sect
or in Flanders. This part of the
western front has heretofore been
held by the French, although British
troops have made their appearance
there at .various periods. -
Heavy guns are battering the
American sectors along the front,
and many shells of large caliber have
fallen. Here, however, the American
guns nave replied with good effect
and the excellent weather of the past :
few day days has given American air
men an opportunity to take pictures ;
of the terrain back of the German'
trenches. Apparatus Installed
preparatory to another gas raid on
the Americans has been destroyed
by American artillery fire, while
American raiding .parties, following
out their traditional Indian flghtlnr
tactics, have kept absolute control of
the territory between hostile lfn-.
Ten torn Capture Kikoloy.
In spite of the fact that the all
Russian congre3 of Soviets has rati-
fed the treaty of peace forced by
the Germans at Brest-Litovsk. ad
vance of the Teutons especially in
Southern Russia, .continues. In
Southern Ukraine the ratpure of tie
important city of Nikolayev where""
stores of grain were reported to have
been piled up. has been officially an
nounced by the , Germans who have
been piled up, has been officially an
nounced by the Germans who have
also followed up their aKtrressivo
tactics in the provinces of Tchernlg
ov and Orel, in the southern cential
regions of Russia.
Action by Japan in Siberia Is sUll
held in abeyance and there is no 'In
dication of what may be done thenn
Reports from Siberia continue to be
grave. Liberated German prisoners
of war are said to be cooperating
with the Bolshevik! leaders and. on
March 1, participated in a battle with
the forces led by General Semenof f.
the non-Bolshevlkl leader.,
Austrian Attempt Frustrated
On the Italian front there havo
been raiding operations from the
mountains to the sea and attempts by
the Austrfans to cross the River
Piave have been f rostrated.
The air forces of the contending
armies have been yery active during
the past few days and British naval
airmen alone have dUposed of 10
enemy machines In the period from
Thursday to Sunday. Italians
brought down five enemy machines
on Sunday. On Saturday the
French accounted for seven while
four other German airplanes' not
previously reported were destroyed
last week.- The Germans claim to,
have shot down 22 allied machines
on Sunday.
Workmen Try to Form
Republic in Siberia
Tokio, March 18. The Work
men's and Sailors' association has
been making, efforts to form a sep
arate Siberian republic, according to
a special dispatch from Irkutsk. A
meeting for this purpose was or
dered dissolved and red guards ar
rested those who-refnsed to obey the
order.'lnclndfng the chairman.
Oregon Hospital Corps
Ordered to Mobilize
PORTLAND, March IS. Orders
were received today for Immediate
mobilization of base hospital AC, un
der direction of Major R. C. Yenney,
here. The unit is composed of resi
dents of Oregon.
v