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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (March 23, 1918)
. - ) -. J': Rain: moderate southwesterly wint. 8IATY-NKVKXTH YKAH NO. ttIO j . T DAILY EDITION . HUNS PRESS ON; MOSCOW IS OBJECTIVE Teuton Armies Move on Capi tal From Three Directions ; Hospitals 100 Miles Away Ordered Evacuated SOVIET GOVERNMENT IS DISBANDING ARMY Bolshevik! Makes Effort to Open Formal Negotia tions With Ukraine MOSCOW. aMrch, 22. Notwith standing that peace with Germany - has been ratified by congress of work mens and soldiers' delegates, the German, advane in Russia still con tinues, the evacuation of Petrograd having served only to change the German objective to Moscow. According to reports printed in th newspapers this morning the Ger mans are moving toward Moscow from three directions, southwest, west and northwest. From the south west they recently have advanced 25 miles from Konotop, province of Tchernigov, in the general direction of Bryansk, which is 235 miles from Moscow by rail. " Further Advance Imminent. From the west the Germans are approaching Smolensk, which is about 250 miles from Moscow. In the northwest they , have captured the station of Rosenov&Jcaya. In the . government of Vitebsk. " f The order eo evacuate the hospit als and other Institutions of GThatsk, 100 miles from Moscow, indicates that a further German advance is considered imminent by the govern- ment. " The governments of Poltava, Khar kov and Tchernigov have all been declared in a state of siege by the Ukraine government in an effort to save Kharkov and prevent a further advance by the Austrian supporting . the" Ukraine bourgeoisie, rada. Peace with Ukraine Bought. it. : Tchitcherin, of the Bolshevjk foreign offiee, in a statement Issued today says that the soviet govern ment is negotiating InformaHy with Ukraine for peace and that he hopes formal negotiations will open short ly. MOSCOW, March 22. The soviet government is rapidly disarming and disbanding the old army and elimi nating its influence from public af fairs. The Moscow soviet has remov ed from Its executive committee all soldier representatives tand similar ction is taking place! throughout Russia. I ,The new voluntary army will se lect representatives In the various Soviets. The old soldiers are unwill ing at many places to surrender their arms and return to work'At Petro grad three regiments declined to ht demobilized. The Petrograd soviet lias issued a statement saying that these regiments were under influen ces contrary to the revolutionary movement.. Evacuation Is KlaJneI. In explanation of the government's evacuation of Petrograd, the soviet has issued a statement saying the commissioners went to Moscow for the purpose of saving Petrograd from destruction as they believed the governments' removal will, demon strate the strength of the Russian people's government and show the Germans that the capture of the cap ital would be useless as the govern ment Is prepared to fall back con stantly upon the German advance, restating and slowing down rtoe ene my onslaught. All available rolling stock Is being used for the evacuation of Petro grad along the trans-Siberian rai! Toad toward the Ural mountains. The Putiloff munition works and tha Khlusselhurg powder factorv near Petrograd. employing from 30,000 to 40,000 workmen, are being move! to Omsk and Tobolsk. Siberian Railroad Congested. The entire western end of the trans-Siberian railroad is congested with trains of machinery, guns, am munition and automobiles. All sorts of war materials and factory equip ment were stacked on flat cars and tovernment employes, factory work rs and thousands of German and Austrian prisoners are being sent to Omsk and other Siberian cities for industrial work In : re-establishing Hants. Many prisoners when Interviewed y The Associated Press correspond ent showed little Interest in the war, specially the Anstrlans, who appar ently have no desire to return home. Some of them sought medicines from ! American Red Cross unit for Jck comrades and did not know that the United States had entered the war. , Vologda Growing Fast. Vologda, where the American er.i Jjaasy is now located, has suddenly Developed from a provincial city with Population of RO.000 to a congest ed transfer point with a large float ing population. Military mission of ; many nations leaving Romania (Continued on Page 2.) IMPORTS CUT TO GIVET0NNAGE TO U. S. TROOPS First List Prohibited Entrance Made Public by War Trade Board 1,500,000 TONS ADDED Least Essential Articles Af fectedWar Business Is Given Sway WASHINGTON', March 22.-The first list of imports to he prohibited entrance into this country in an ef fort to conserve tonnaee for prose cuting the war was made public to night by the war trade board under authority of President Wilson's pro clamation of February 14 which put all Imports under license. By denying permits for the Im portation of certain metals, food stuffs and luxuries, which be obtained here or can be sacrificed to the greater need of putting ships into war business, the board expects to add 1,500,000 dead weight tons to the fleet carrying men and muni tions to Europe. Tonight's list of articles consti tutes only those least essential, con cerning which there was little argu ment. Lists ft) follow will touch various Interests more closely and will not be issued until after con sultation with the trades affected. Prohibition on the importation of the articles listed ' is not absolute, even for sea borne traffic, owing to certain conditions of commerce which will permit importation at times without hindrance to the war program. Return cargoes from Eu rope may bring prohibited articles, provided they can be loaded expedi tiously and there is cargo space. Pro hibited articles also can be imported by rail from Canada or Mexico, when originating in these countries or In others where such goods are being licensed for export. The restrictions are not effective on good. & shipped prior to April 15. United .States consuls have been in structed not to issue consular in voices on and after Anril 15 for the articles mentioned in the list, with out first being furnished with the number . of the import license or be ing other evidence of the Issuance of such licenses. The obligation of fur nlshing proof is placed on the, im porter. Army to Have-Heavier and Warmer Clothing WASHINGTON, March 22. Warmer and more durable army clothing and blankets aTe recom mended by a iboard of inquiry of the quartermaster's department-announced tonight by Acting Quarter master General Goethals, The weight of the overcoat cloth is recommended to be 32 ounces 'In stead of 30, now used and the weight of blankets Is Increased from three to four pounds. The Inquiry board reported that shoddy could be advan tageously used in overcoats and blankets. It is recommended that goods for shirts shall be of 9 ounces and that as much as 4 0 per cent of cot ton may be rtBed. The regulation shirting now weighs 8'i ounces. Montana Senate Votes Impeachment on Cram HELENA. Mont.. March 22. Ry unanimous vote, the Montana senate this afternoon passed sentence of Impeachment .on Charles L. Crum. 9 1tavav) until rA- Vently Jndere of the fifteenth Judicial district: Judee Crura was not pres ent at the trial nor represented by counsel and his whereabouts are un known. The verdict removes him from his office and disqualifies him fnrovpr from hold In e offices of hon or, trust or profit In this state. The final vote came after the pre siding officer of the senate court. Lieutenant Governor McDowell, had submitted to a vote each of the six articles of Impeachment, charging disloyalty and sedition. Three of the articles were approved unanl mouslv and the three others by an overwhelming vote. The "sentence was passed at 3 o'clock and five minutes later the senate had ad journed sine die. An officer of the federal court attended the trial. Whether an effort will e made to ascertain the whereabouts of Crum conld not be stated, it was declared. Edward Otis Acquitted y of Espionage Charges I BALTIMORE. March 22. Edward Otis, claiming to be a native of Riga. Russia, formerly quartermaster on a United States transnort, was acquit ted In the United States court here today, where he was on trial for the second time on the charge of violat ing the espionage act. At the first trial last week the jury failed to agree. Otis was charged with tam pering with the navigating instru ments of the transport. . , U. Si TAKES FIRST RAIDER OF GERMANS Vessel Captured 15 Miles Off Mexican Coast Planned to Create Havoc Among Pa cific Coast Shipping CREW LED BY DRAFT . EVADER SURRENDERS Attempt to Recruit Pro-Germans Frustrated by Se cret Service Men A PACIFIC POUT, March 22 Germany's first attempt to outfit a taider at a west coast Mexican port with which to create havoc among Pacific coast shipping, has been frus trated. The auxiliary schooner Alexander Agassiz, 32 tons net. formerly own ed and operated by the University of California in research work at sea, was captured fifteen miles off Ma zatlan Mexico, at 11 o'clock last Tuesday morning by an American gunboat, according to advices he celved here today. Crew Surrenders Peacefully. The Agassiz, flying the flag of the imperial German navy, heavily armed and carrying a crew of five, did' not attempt to engage the gun boat when overhauled. The crew surrendered. The Agassiz, manned by a crew of American bluejackets. Is en route here under guard of the gunboat.' The German prisoners of war will be landed here. The Agas sis is expected in port wIthlntwo of three days. It will be turned over tc the United States deputy marshal. The Agassiz was not large enough to be used extensively as a raider. Federal officials say, however, that it was the intention of the German crew to capture a Pacific mail boat running to Panama, outfit it with heavier guns than could be mounted on the Agassiz, recruit a full crew from pro-Germans now living at west coast Mexican towns and then start cut on a reign of terror. Raider Flies (irrnuui Flag. The Aggastz while lying at a berth near the Mexican customs wharf at Mazatlan, was suddenly changed from American to Mexican registry. The customs officials at Mazatlan. it Is believed, must have known of this. The Agassiz was fitted up as a German raider and allowed to sail from Mazatlan flying the German flag. At Salina Cruz a number of pro Germans have hidden war muni tions. Among these munitions wero several rapid fire guns, evidently in tended to be taken aboard one of the ships captured by the Alexander Agassiz. Draft Krader I Lender. The ringleader s reported to -have been a draft evader from California. This man is reported to have pur chased the Agassiz from 4he Pacific Coast Trading and Shipping com pany of Los Angeles. Members of this company, as filed in the bill of sale at the time the craft was sold by the regents of the University of California at San Diego. January 24, 1917. included Francis C. Wheel er, Maud M. Lochrane and William Taylor. None of these persons Is said to be implicated in the outfit ting of the Agassiz. The Agassiz. following her trans fer to the Pacific Coast Trading and Shipping company, sailed from a Pa cific port January 27, 1917, for Aca pulco. For a timo'the vessel ca ritd oysters from Tobari bav in the Gulf or California to a floating can nary at Magdalena bay. Latea th" Agassiz was placed in service be tween Mazatlan and Manzanillo. Plot Carefully Olwwrved. Shortly after the new year, the Agassiz was tied up at a wharf at Mazatlan. remaining there until she sailed out under the German flag last Tuesday morning. t Federal secret service men have been watchlne the movements of the conspirators for many months. Thov secured knowledge of the plot, per mitted It to proceed until they thought it was about time for an American warship to take a hand. The warshln was at the right spot at the right time. Rural Letter Carriers to Be Given Pay Increase WASHINGTON, March 22. Rural letter carriers receiving $1200 a year or less are granted an Increase of 20 per cent toy an amendment tentatively added to the postal in crease blll todav by the house. Ru ral carriers whose routes are more than twenty miles in length would also receive additional compensa tion of $24 a year for each mile more than twenty they travel each day. The house still has the bill un der discussion. , -1 ' " """ '"" i i i .i . i... - - i . T " 11 I FRENCH BIRTHS BEHIND DEATHS FOR YEAR 1917 Keeping up of Population Presents Big Problem Dur ing War Period SHOWING IS IMPROVING Substantial Decrease Not Reg istered ; Sociologists Are Optimistic PAWS, 'March 22. While the figures recording the births and deaths in Paris 'during 1917 again show that the deathrate exceeded the birthrate by a rather large percentage, statisticians find Eolace in the fact that the birthrate was slightly superior to that of 1915 and on a par with the rate for 1913. That after three years of the most devastating war France has ever known a substantial decrease has not been r listered has caused the learned men -interested in the prob lem of repopulatlon to hope for brighter results when life has re sumed Its nomal trend after the war. The statistics show that 44.200 died in Paris during the past year. The births totaled up to 32.830. In 1915 they had barely reached 30, 000 and in 1913 about 33,000. Thj excess of the death rate to the birth rate may seem large to our Ameri can cities but it creates no alarm in France as the difference has been larger before, and owing to condi tions obtaining at present, sociolo gists express comparative satisfac tion. Infantile mortality was kept at a very low rate, numerous institutions for the care of infants having been founded since the beginning of the war and the babies of the poor are being cared for much better ttaa formerly. Conspicuous among the organiza tions that have taken an interest in the welfare of Jhe chllren is the Am erican Red Cross and its activities in that line of endeaCVor has found great favor with the French popu lation. Tuberculosis of the lungs sent more people to their graves in Paris dur ing the past year than any other two diseases combined; 8,424 being vic tims of the "white plague" or about 295 per 100,000 inhabitants. Diseases of the heart hold second place tn the list of man-killing dis eases with 3,881. Dreaded cancer was also very ac tive causine 3,396 deaths in Paris in 1917. This has caused medical men to study what measures can be taken to treat this affection in It3 preventive stage. Suicides were few. only 2 90 per sons took their lives in Yaris in 1917. a percentage of ten per 100. 000. The Frenchman who gives his life with a smile that his country may live does not part from it voluntarily In a maudlin burst of self-pity and cowardice. Halifax Casualties Are Officially Put at 1800 HALIFAX. N. S.. March 22. The number of persons who lost their lives in the disaster of December 6, due to the explosion of a munitions ship, was today officially placed at 1800. The chairman of the mortuary committer announced that the offic ial list contained 15C0 names and that the number of pennons known to he missing brought tha" total dead to 1800. FLOWERS HONOR DEAD YANKEES Prefect of Nancy Decorates Graves Near Scene of ' Battle in France WITH THE AM ERICA NARMY IN FRANCE. March 22. The prefect of Nancy has placed over the graves of more than a score of American soldiers buried a short distance hai of the lines in the Tonl sector great bauquets of natnral and, artificial roses. On the ribbons with which th toses were tied is this inscription: To our American brothers who have died on the field of honor." The graves lie In tow double lines, some of them being freshly made. Each has over it a little rude wood en cross upon which is one of the two identification disc soldiers wear around their necks. The other disc is buried with the soldiers' body. The graves are located within range of the enemy's guns affd amid field. of barbed wire entanglements ex tending as far as the eye can see. East of Lnneville today school children visited the graves of the Americans killed in that sector anl placed on them. French and Ameri can flags and large bunches of blow ers, j WISCONSIN IS AT TEST FOR AMERICANISM Loyalty Legion Adopts Plat form Calling Upon State for Wholehearted Unity Beating Germany in BERGER IS REGARDED SEDITIOUS CANDIDATE Men Seeking Office Warned Not to Adopt Trotzky Peace Slogans MILWAUKEE, Wis.. March 22. The people, of Wisconsin were called , l'pon in a jdatform adopted today by the Wisconsin lyal Legion to give their wholehearted support to the administration in conducting the war to a victorious end. to get souarely behind future Red Cross and liberty loan drives and to aid the government in seeking ont and punishing all persons guilty of sedi tion. The meeting was attended by 1000 persons and every mention by the speakers of upholding the gov ernment in the war crisis was met with a great outburst of approval. Americanism Is Demanded. The expected plank bearing on the United States senatorial situation, suggesting that either the Republi can or Democratic nominee agree to withdraw inhe interest of a unite! loyalty, was prepared and discussed by the committee, but failed of. In corporation. The only reference to a United States senator contained in the platform urges citizens of this state "to lay aside all partisan feel ings on election day. April 2. and to see that every loyal vote Is poll ed, to the end that only men of Cour ageous and outstanding American Ism shall be elected," to public of fice. President J. S. Rosebush of the organization, who delivered the first address, declared that those who reek public office In Wisconsin to day on a platform of immediate peace are as simple-minded as Trot zky and invited to America the dis aster that has befallen Russia. Uerger Held Seditions. Wheeler P. Rloodgood. In his ad dress, declared that the law punish ing seaition should b invoksl against Mayor Daniel W. fHoan and Victor L. Berger. candidates of the Socialist party, because cjf the p'at- lorm on which they ar standing. The platform of that party, he charg ed, was a part of the third line of the German defense in that it was mere propaganda to assist Germany in winning- the war. , The conference adopted a resolu tion requesting the chairman of tha meeting to appoint a committee of five to take steps looking to the con centration of the Republican and 'the Democratic vote on one of the so called 4,Ioyalty candidates In the special election April 2 to fill thj vacancy caused by the death of Sen ator Paul O, Husting. It Is not believed, however, that the resolution will have any effect on the senatorial situation or that eilher Joseph E. Davies.. the , Demo ctatic candidate, or Irvine L, Len toot, will withdraw from the con test. Senator James Hamilton Lewis of Illinois, addressed the meeting on German agression and intrigue l.-i the. United States. . W. W. Start Campaign to Combat Liberty Loan Drive CHICAGO. March 22. A bond Is sue and a campaign for the sale of "general defense stamps" have been started by the I. Ws W to combat the liberty loan and war savings stamps campaign, according to liter ature seized by federal officials in recent raids on I. W. W. headquar ters and made public tonight. Thou sands of dollars already have beeh realized from the sale of the bonds and stamps, according to the litera ture. The money is to be used In defense of members now In jail and in the furtherance of sabotage, ac cordine to one pamphlet.'' Another circular declares that al though the work of the I. W. W. has been areatly handicapped by the activities of government officials, it is now "gradually getting back to normal." Another document declares that "many money contributions have been received, from Canada." The I. W, W. bonds are called "freedom certificates." Another American Given ' v- War Cross for Bravery WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE. March 22. Colonel John W. Darker, whose home is in New York state, has been awarded French war cross for gallantrjt in action on the sector east of Lnneville. PERSHING WILL SEND CHART OF GERMAN THRUST War Department to Get Back r ground for Measuring Enemy's Strength - , C . - DRIVE NOT UNDERSTOOD Officials Wait on Further In formation Before Giying Late Opinion ' WASHINGTON. March 22. Lark ing reports of an official character beyond the communiques issued by firitlsh rovornmpnL Aniprlran armv officers tonight still were unable to formulate conclusive opinions as to the scope and purpose of the German thrust asainst the British front In the Cam bra I sector. """" N f General Pershing Is expected to nsmit soon information handed ? to him from the Hritlsh head quarters. It Is anticipated that a very complete summary of what transpired yesterday and of subse ciuent events alonir the Hritlsh front will reach the war department In this way and form a background of information upon which officials can measure the strength of the German movement for themselves. As additional details came In the purpose of the German high com mand anoeared to center imon the recapture of the most advanced por tion or tne uritish trench lines in the Cambral reeion. Thr was nothing to indicate, however. It was said whether the German purpose was to use the territory it was hop- ed to gain as a vantage point from which to strike further blows, or was designed to nrotect from nnnai- ble allied efforts the communication centers in the vicinity of- Cambral. No officer would hazard an opin ion today as to the underlvine mo tive of the German array comman- aers. All saw the Information thus far received was of too scattered a character to show concMisivelv whether operations at other points on me &o-miie front Involved arc mere coverine entersrlses or ar ta- ments in a scheme of grand attack. On the face of renorts thn fur seen, officers were well satis fiod with the display of resisting power made by the Itritish troops. They are more than ever confident of the ability of General Haig's men not only to check the German onslaught within reasonable limits, but to hnrl it back when Its initial force has been expended. The promptness with which successful counter-attacks were driven home by the Brit ish was noted as the unbroken spin, of the men after the terrific ordeal through they had passed. Garcia, Thought Spy, Is Spanish millionaire PAIIIS. March 22. When the police arrested the owner of a wire less outfit at La Battle, near St. Nazal re early this week, they did not catch a spy, according to the newspapers, but an eccentric Spanish millionaire, - Gregorio de Anguloy Garcia, whose passion In life Is to have the correct time. In his large villa on the right bank of the River Loire there was found a collection of times pieces, ancient and modern, and in pursuance of?' his harmless crze he had installed a wireless out fit! to catctt the time signals flashed from Eiffel tower. This received was disguised when private wireless plants were- prohib ited at the beginning of the war, and it was for this offense that he was arrested. Baby Falls Four Stories Into Carriage, Uninjured NEW YORK, March 22. For at least half a century young men who aspired to journalistic fame have been given the axiom that anything unusual constitutes news. They have been told proverbialy, that if a baby fell out of a fourth story window and was kiled it wouldn't brunusual, but that If it fell out of a fourth story window into a baby carriage in the street and: was not injured itwoutd be unusual and therefore newsIt happened In New York tonight. Mrs. Edna Wicker was leaning out a window of her apartment at 895 Second avenue with her two months old grandson in her arms when she fell out. The baby drop ped: into a go-cart In the street be low. Mrs. Wicker was so seriously injured she may dieH McNary Candidate for Long Term in Senate WASHINGTON. aMrch 22. Sen ator Charles L. McNary, Republican. of Oregon, named tor complete tha term of the late Senator Iane, an nounced today "that he would be a candidate at the coming primaries for the Republican nomination for the long term. The election will be helT in November. r , . M,., M , .111, , i. m , HAIG LIKE BEIT-l TEUTON t, ' .-i Hindenburg Claims Capture of 16,000 Prisoners and 200 Machine Guns; British Inflict Heavy Casualties en Advancing Foe 400,000 HUN HAVE PART IN BIG ATTACK Cambrai Wedge Is Plan cf German Staff B r i t i s h Fighting Machine .Intact and Troops Are Gallant LONDON, March 22.--(Dritlsli Admiralty. Per Wireless Press.) Sixteen thousand prisoners and 200 guns have been captured by the Ger mans, according to a German offi cial communication received by wire less tofiiKht. . ' .s : The text of the communication follows: "The successes of yesterday In the fighting between Arras and La Fere were extended in the continuation cf our attack. Ileilin Claims 10,000 Irloners. . "Sixteen thousand prisoners and 200 guns so far have been reported captured. Before Verdun the artil lery duel continued. From other theaters of the war there is nothing new to report." s LONDON, March 22. The Ger mao on Friday along most all of the battle front continued their at tacks In great strength. At several points the enemy made gains against the British, but at others he was re pulsed In counter-attacks, according, to the British official communication issued tonlcht. German Losses Heavy. The statement says the British losses inevitably have been consid erable but not out of proportion to the magnitude of the battle. The en emy's losses continue very heavy, all his advances being made at great sacrifice. The greafest courage Is being shown by the British troops. The communication says: "This morning the eemy renewed his attacks in great strength along practically the whole of the battle front. Fierce fighting occurred In our battle positions and Is still con tinuing.' Knenty Make Irnrrr-. "The enemy made some progress attfertaln pednta. At others his troons have been thrown back by our counter-attacks. "Our louses :Jnevltably have-been considerable, bnt they have not been out of proportion to the magnitude , of the battle. "From renorts received from all parts of the battle front the enemy's losses continue 4o be very heavy, and his advance everywhere has been made at irreat sacrifice. IlrilUh Troono Gallant. - "Our troops are fighting with the greatest gallantry. Exceptional eal lantry was shown by the 24th divl- sion In a protracted defense at Lev erguler and by the third division, who maintained our positions In the neighborhood of Crolsilles and to the north of that Tillage against repeat ed attacks. . " "A very gallant fight was made by the Slst division In the neighbor-' hood of of the Bapaume-Cambral road against repeated attacks. "Identification obtained in the course of the battle shows that the enemy's opening attack was deliver ed by some forty divisions, support ed by great masses of German artil lery, reinforced by Austrian bat teries. Many other German divisions since have taken part In the fighting and others are arriving in the battle area. . Artillery Sets Precedent. "Further fighting of a meat se vere nature is anticipated." LONDONY March 31. -The new coming from correspondents at the front today that 40 German divi sions were engaged In the fighting on the front of attack and that tha pteatest concentration of artillery In the world's history was operating, pave the British public an Idea of the tremendous strnggle on the west front. But nothing in the dispatches either fretn Field Marshal Haig or from the newspaper correspondent?, had prepared them for the German claim which reached London late to night of the capture of 16,000 pris oners and 200 guns as the result of the first day's fighting in the new German offensive, and the disposi- (Continued on page 6.)