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About The Maupin times. (Maupin, Or.) 1914-1930 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 4, 1916)
WAR MUNITIONS $25,000,000 Loss In New York Explosion and Fire. WAREHOUSES BURN Three Dead and Many Injured By Shock That Shakes Five States Washington Gets Tip of Impending Danger. New York Property loss estimated at $25,000,000 was caused early Sun day by a series of terrific explosions of ammunition awaiting shipment to the entente allies and stored on Black Tom Island, a small strip of land jutting in to New York Bay off Jersey City. The loss of life cannot be deter mined definitely until there has been opportunity to check up the workmen employed on the island and on boats moored nearby. Three are known to be dead and at leaBt five more are missing. Scores of persons were injured, some of them probably mortally. The detonations, which were'felt in five states, began with a continuous rapid fire of small shells, the blowing up of great quantities of dynamite, trinitrotoluene and other high explo sives, followed by the bursting of thousands of shrapnel sheila, which literally showered the surrounding country and waters for many miles around. Fire started soon after the first great crash, which spread death and desolation in its wake, destroyed 13 of the huge warehouses of the National Storage company on Black Tom Island and six other warehouses in which were stored merchandise valued at be tween $12,000,000 and $15,000,000. The flames, shooting into the clouds, were reflected against New York's "skyline" of towering office buildings, which only a few minutes before were shaken to their foundations as by an earthquake. Miles of streets in Man hattan alone were strewn with broken glass and shattered signs. The cause of the disaster haB not been determined. Officials of the Na tional Storage company and the Lehigh Valley railroad, which also suffered heavily through loss of property, de clared, however, that reports to them showed a fire started Bhortly after 1 o'clock Sunday morning on a barge belonging to an independent towing company that had been moored along side a dock used by the railroad com pany to transfer ammunition ship ments from trains to vessels in the harbor. The barge, it was said was there without authority of either the rail road or the storage company. The officials refused to disclose the name of the Independent towing company, saying they were investigating "to ascertain whether the barge purposely had been set on fire as the result of a plot." Advance Tip Given. Washington, D. C. The government Secret Service was notified three days ago that several enemies of England had been employed by German agents to preciptate just such an explosion of ammunition as took place in New York harbor. The informant said that the men were Irishmen, probably members of the Sinn Fein. What steps were taken to guard against the catastrophe is not known. In any event, they were futile. The Secret Service now is running down its clews in the hope that it will enable the apprehension of the criminals if it should turn out the treagedy was caused by human agency. The Information came from a source which in the past has proved absolute ly reliable. It failed to disclose the names of the men in the plot and it is not certain they can be obtained, However, it is understood the source is to be "tipped" again, in the hope that some further details may be se cured which will aid in the arrest of the men involved. Not Liable to Foreign Duty. Washington, D. C. Mooted ques tions about the status of state troops called for the Mexican emergency are decided in an opinion given Secretary Baker by BrigHdier General Crowder. General Crowder holds thht the state soldiers are not Bubject to duty outside of the United States unless and until they are formally drafted by order of the President; that they are under con trol of the Federal government and not of their respective state governors, and that they are entitled to the Bame pen sions and privileges as regulars. Petrograd Fir Reported. Berlin Reports of a great confla gration at Petrograd, In which a bridge across the river Neva, 12 large teamen, including several trans Atlantic liners, and the Putiloff gun works and other establishments were destroyed, are printed in the Lokal An xelirer. The newspaper adds: "The police suspect that the conflagration was the work of anarchists, who planned to burn all public buildings being used for military purposes." BLOW UP URGENT NEED fOR NAVAL BASE ON COLUMBIA IS ESTABLISHED Washington, D. C. The Lane amendment to the naval bill, appro priating $500,000 to establish a sub marine and torpedo boat base on the Columbia river, will be accepted by the house conferees if Secretary Dan iels will inform them that he favors the appropriation at this time. This was learned by Representatives Haw ley, Sinnott and McArthur Saturday. They immediately arranged a confer ence with Secretary Daniels and later in the day presented to him the reas- ons why, in their judgment, this base should be authorized without further delay. Before calling on Secretary Daniels the house members conferred with Captain J. S. McKean, aide for mater ial and chief adviser of the secretary on matters of this character. Captain McKean heartily approved the Lane amendment and said the Navy department was in favor of es tablishing two submarine bases on the Pacific Coast at this time, one on the Columbia and the other at San Diego, Captain McKean then went with the Oregon members to call on Secretary Daniels. The three representatives urged Sec retary Daniels to write Chairman Pad gett, of the house naval committee, recommending concurrence of the house in the senate amendment. Sec retary Daniels said he would talk with Mr. Padgett about the amendment. The Oregon members tried to exact from him a promise that he would "talk favorably," but he would commit himself. not Injunction Order Against Longshore men Strikers Reasonably Modified Portland At the conclusion of a two-day preliminary hearing on the merits of the temporary restraining order issued July 19 against striking longshoremen, on petition of the San Francisco & Portland Steamship com pany, Federal Judge Wolverton Satur day ordered that the injunction be con tinued pending further the hnal hear ing to determine whether it Bhall be made permanent. " In granting the preliminary injunc tion, however, he modified considera bly the terms of the previous tempor ary restraining order. In general' terms, this order re strained the men from Interfering un lawfully with the business or property of the company, or with non-union men employed by the company. Judge Wolverton Baid he would per mit picketing on condition that it be carried on peacefully. He defined "peacefully" to be without threats, violence, vile language or any form of intimidation against strikebreakers." Explosion Wrecks Grants Pass Irrigation Plant Plot Suspected Grants Pass, Or. What is believed to have been an attempt to blow up the pumping plant which supplies the South Side and Fruitdale ditches with irrigation water at the dam of the Rogue River Public Service corpora tion, three miles east of this city, was made at the pumping station early Sat urday morning. The night watchman at the pump ing station had just stepped behind some heavy timbers when a terrific ex plosion occurred. The turbines were damaged and tim bers ripped off the dam. The damage to the plant will amount to approxi mately $3000 although the most ser ious aspect at the present time is the loss of the irrigation water to several hundreds of acres of sugar beets. Americans See Bullfight. El Paso, Tex. Hundreds of Ameri cans crossed the Rio Grande Sunday to attend the firBt bullfight and broncho buBting contest held in Juarez since the Villa regime. General Francisco Gonzales, commandant, and Andres Garcia, Mexican consul, expressed gratification over the number attend ing. The bull ring was thronged with Mexican soldiers, rifles across their knees and cartridge belts swung about their bodies. Interspersed between them Bat American men and women and hundreds of gaily-dressed Mexicans. Check Order Rescinded. Washington, D. C. Postmaster General Burleson has suspended until further notice his recent orders au thorizing postmasters to collect checks on banks in Email communities where there are no members of the Federal Reserve syBtem. The suspension was ordered at the suggestion of the Fed eral Reserve board. Members of the board said the recommendation was made because more time is necessary to perfect the check collection plan. Garment Worker Accept Agreement, New York At a spirited meeting, which lasted until after midnight, the general committee of the Garment Workers' union decided Thursday by a close vote to accept the three years' agreement signed by officials of the un ion and representatives of the manu facturers, thus ending the lockout and strike which for three months has par alyzed the women' clothing industry of this city. The vote was 43 in favor in the settlement to 40 against It. GERMAN SUBMARINE MERCHANTMAN MAKES DASH FOR OPEN SEA Baltimore, Md. On the second an niversary of Germany's declaration of war against Russia, the German sub marine merchantman Deutschland set out from Baltimore on a return voyage to Germany with a declaration of con fidence from her commander, Captain Paul Koenig, that he would take her home in spite of the heavy odds she would face when the three-mile limit in the Atlantic ocean is reached. The submersible was towed out of the Blip where she was berthed 23 days ago, at 5:40 o'clock Tuesday after noon. After getting into midstream the tow line of the tug Timmins was cast off and the Deutschland proceeded down the river under her own power. The Timmins went to one side, the coast guard cutter Wissahickon to the other and the harbor police boat Lan nan brought up the rear to prevent un due crowding by the small fleet of launches that followed. Capatin Koenig and his crew of 27 men embarked with the knowledge that a man hurried to a telephone with a message to agents for the entente al lies that the Deutschland had started. They knew how long he had watched at the end of a nearby pier, day and night, but the little captain went out of Baltimore harbor smiling and wav ing his cap. His last words in the harbor were of -praise for Ameirca and for his treat ment here by Baltimore customs au thorities. To Guy'Steele, surveyor of customs, he said: We came here du bious about our reception. We go back certain that the friendliest of feeling exists in America for Ger many. You have been more than courteous and the fatherland will not forget it." Captain Koenig knows that eight warships of the entente allies are waiting for him at the edge of the three-mile limit, spread out in a radius of five miles. "We Bhall have to pass unseen with in that radius in order to escape," he said. "We shall have to make that passage under conditions not entirely advantageous. Were the water at that point 150 feet deep it would be easier. We could submerge deeply enough to pass underneath the warships. But the water there is not 150 feet deep. We shall, therefore, have to pass be tween the warships." There was a determined look on the captain's face as he expressed confi dence that he would get through. Austrian Army Cut Off from German Aid by Russian Forces London The second anniversary of Germany's declaration of war on Rus sia finds the relative positions of the belligerents very different from those of the first anniversary. The entente allies are now pursuing a Bucceessful offensive on all fronts, and the central powers are virtually everywhere on the defensive. Emperor William celebrated the oc casion by the issue of proclamations to his army and navy and people which breathed a spirit of continued confi dence in ultimate victory for Ger many. The operations on the Eastern front continue to surpass those in the West in dramatic interest. The military critics express great admiration for the Russian tactics, one of the import ant objectives of which, in their opin ion, has been to isolate the Austrians from the German armies on the Rus sian front. This, it now is contended, has been virtually accomplished by the Russians' driving a wedge into the Austro-German positions along the front of Kovel-Vladimir-Volynsk. The view here is that if the Ger mans have thus accepted severance from the Austrians, the most decisive result of the whole of the Russian General Russiloff's strategy will have been obtained, it being argued by the military observers that without Ger man support the Austrian armies will become demoralized and collapse. Army Writer Curbed. San Antonio, Tex. General Funston sent to the War department at Wash ington a telegram announcing his in tention to rid the various guardsmen camps of newspaper correspondents who Bend out false accounts of condi tions in the camps. He referred to such correspondents as "pests," and said he had endured them as long as he purposed to. An order has been sent to all district commanders along the border covering future action against newspaper men sending out dispatches which may be classed as untruthful Cotton Market Advances. New York A sensationally rapid advance of about $1.75 per bale fol lowed the publication of the govern ment cotton report in the market here Tuesday morning. Just before the offi cial condition of 72.3 per cent, against 81.1 last month and the 10-year aver age of 73.5, was published, a canvass of local exchange indicated an average expectation of 76.5 per cent, and the government report was far below the most bullish of recent private figures. Paper Cut Down Page. New York Publisher of daily newspapers in Greater New York, at a meeting Wednesday, took action which will result in a decrease of the number of page in their morning, evening and Sunday issues of 121 pages a week, to relieve the newsprint paper situation. which Is regarded by the publishers a serious. Action also was taken to eliminate return of unsold copie. AMERICANISM Charles E. Hughes' Acceptance Speech Sets Forth Campaign Issues and Asserts American Rights. Charles E. Hughes outlined in his speech of acceptance in New York, Monday night, the issues upon which he will conduct his campaign for 'the presidency. Mr. Hughes assailed the administra tion for the course it has pursued with reference to Mexico, maintenance of American rights during the European war, preparedness and other great questions of the day. He declared for a new policy of "firmness and consist ency" toward Mexico, for "the un flinching maintenance of all American rights on land and seas," and for ade quate National defense; adequate pro tection on both our Western and East ern coasts. "We denounce all plots and conspir acies in the interest of any foreign nation," said Mr. Hughes. "Utterly intolerable is the use of our soil for alien intrigues. Every American must unreservedly condemn them and sup port every effort for their suppres sion." The nominee assailed the adminis tration for its "direction of diplomatic intercourse" from the beginning, de claring that where there should have been conspicuous strength and expert ness there had been weakness and in expertness. He cited Santo Domingo as an instance where appointments had gone to "deserving Democrats" and to the failure to continue Ambassador Herrick at his post in Paris after the war had started as "a lamentable sac rifice of international repute." I indorse the declaration in the platform in favor of woman suffrage," Mr. Hughes declared, and he added : "Opposition may delay, but in my judgment cannot defeat, this move ment. I favor the vote for women. One-fourth of the speech was devot ed to Mexico. Step after step taken by the administration with reference to Mexico was assailed, from the days of Huerta to the note sent the de facto government by the State department June 20 last, part of which was quoted in the speech. The seizure of Vera Cruz, the nominee said, was "war, of course." "Later we retired'from Vera Cruz," he continued, "giving up this noble warfare. Recently the naked truth was admitted by a Cabinet officer. We are now informed that we did not go to Vera Cruz to force Huerta to salute the flag. We are told that we went there to 'show Mexico that we were in earnest in our demand that Huerta must go.' " ' "America," Mr. Hughes continued, "has no policy of aggression toward Mexico, no desire for any part of her territory, but wishes her to have peace, stability and prosperity. "The conduct of the administration has created difficulties we shall have to surmount," he said. "We demand from Mexico the protection of the lives and property of our citizens and the security of our border from depre dations." Safeguarding American rights abroad had not been accomplished by the ad ministration, he said. There had been "brave words in a series of notes," but "what does it avail to use some of the strongest words known to diplo macy if ambassadors can receive the impression that the words are not to be taken seriously." The nominee reiterated his declara tion that had this government left no doubt that it meant to hold Germany "to strict accountability," there would have been no loss of life on the Lusi taina. Discussing preparedenss Mr. Hughes said it was apparent that the United States was "shockingly unprepared." "The administration has failed to discharge its responsibilities," Mr. Hughes continued. "Apparently it is now Beeking to meet political exigen cies by its naval program. But it has imposed upon the country an incompe tent naval administration, "We demand adequate protection on both our Western and Eastern coasts. We demand thoroughness and efficiency in both arms of the service. It seems to be plain that our regular army is too small. We are too great a coun try to require of our citizens who are engaged in peaceful vocations the sort of military service to which they are now called." Of the present prosperity, Mr. Hughes said : "We are living in a fool's paradise. "It is," he said, "a prosperity brought about by the abnormal condi tions of war. For the protection of the industries and workingmen of the United States against the competition of "an energized Europe." Raiders Kill 2 American. El Paso, Tex. Carranzaiata soldiers and customs guards are pursuing two of five Mexican bandits who crossed the American border Monday and fought with a detail of U. S. Cavalry, reinforced by a detachment of Mexican troops, killing two American and wounding a third in the desert south of San Ignacio, Chihuahua. Reports from Captain Marcelo Marullo, com manding the detachment, composed of about six soldier and six Mexican guards, said that the outlaw were last seen eight mile south of the border. DEMANDED Mr. Hughes said it was plain that we must have protection, up-building policies. Other measures, too, should be applied, he said, notably the up building of a merchant marine. To make peace lasting and effective when the present war shall end, Mr. Hughes advocated the formation of an international tribunal to dispose of controversies of a justiciable sort, backed by the co-operation of the na tions to prevent war before peaceful methods of adjustment end. Mr. Hughes also declared for the "conservation of the just interests of labor," for conservation of natural re sources and for a national budget. "Our opponents promised economy, but they have shown a reckless extrav agance. It is time we had fiscal re form." Mr. Hughes closed with an indorse ment of the Republican platform adopted by the national convention and a formal acceptance of the nomination. Senator Harding, in his notification speech said : "Mr. Hughes: The committee here assembled, representing all of the United States and territories, chosen by the Republican National conven tion, which met in Chicago on last June 7, is directed by that convention formally to notify you of its action in selecting you as its nominee for the Presidency of the Republic. "Speaking for the committee, it is my pleasure to say directly what was conveyed to you by telegraph, while the convention was yet is session that you are unanimous choice of the Republican National convention for the party standard-bearer. "That convention uttered the prin ciples of a confident, determinted re united and enthusiastic Republican party, which turns to you, in highest respect and trust, as a nominee best typifying the party's purposes and .the people's desires. "Inasmuch aa the unusual circum stance inspired an informal notice at the time of the convention's action and you then made an informal acceptance of the call to patriotic duty, which won the plaudits of our people, I shall not refer in detail to the actions of the convention or the declared princi ples to which the Republican party is committed. But it is fitting that I should speak the congratulations of this committee on your most extraor dinary nomination. "It has no parallel in the history of the Republican party. Ab the whole people have approvingly witnessed, you have been chosen for leadership by a convention which comprised the best thought, the highest intention and deepest consecration of a great and historic party, when you were not only an aspirant, but discouraged all en deavors in your behalf. "Notwithstanding your holding aloof from all conferences and participation, that unfailing understanding which di rects popular sentiment to highest vic tory called you to the service of the party and the nation. Your record of public service, your well known and courageous views on public questions when in executive position, your abid ing devotion to Republicanism, your possession of a confidence which has united all believers in Republican poli cies under our party banner, your un alterable and abiding Americanism, your high personal character and well known capacity all these have fixed you in the American mind as the best exponent of Republican principles and the wisest leader to restore American prestige and efficient government. "We bring you now the commission to that leadership. We bring it in full confidence that the people will gladly acclaim the Republican restora tion under your trusted leadership. We bring it in the highest apprecia tion of that peace of right and justice which your unwavering Amercanism will hold secure rather than endanger. We bring it in the strong belief that American material good fortune, under Republican industrial preparedness, will be the glad reflex of our own peace and the world's peace and be held permanent under Republican pro tection. We bring it in firm convic tion that you, sir, will hold that plat form promises constitute a sacred party covenant and the expressed will of the people at the polls must find response in capable and efficient ad ministration. "Aye, Bir, we bring it believing you will add to our self-respect, confidence and good fortune at home and to that respect and good opinion abroad which meets our higher American aspira tions." 184 Dead in Forest Fires. Toronto, Ont. With one town wiped out, another almost in ruins and a score of small settlement obliterated, Premier Hearst announced Tuesday night that 184 person lost their lives in the forest fires in Northern Ontario. Only a heavy rainfall early Tuesday saved a great part of the province from destruction. Hundred are home less and the Dominion government has taken extraordinary measure to pro vided for refugee. Where the town of Matheson once stood there are only smouldering ruins and ashes. WORLD'S DOINGS OF CURRENT VEEK Brief Resume of General News From All Around the Earth. UNIVERSAL HAPPENINGS IN A NUTSHEU Live News Items of All Nations and Pacific Northwest Condensed for Our Busy Readers. During July 28 and 29, the Russians captured 32,000 Germans. The supreme lodge of Knights of Pythias is in session at Portland. One hundred and eighty-four persons lose their lives in the forest fire in On tario. German aircraft make a raid on the English coast, dropping bombs at sev eral points. Winston Churchill, former first lord of the British admiralty, declares Eng land was saved by her navy. The German submarine Deutschland, preparing to leave American waterB, fears an "accident" in Chesapeake bay. Francis Joseph, emperor of Austria, contracted a severe cold while in specting troops and is confined to his bed. Mrs. Sarah Barr, one of the oldest white women in California died Tues day at Monrovia, near Los Angeles, aged 102. The heat wave that has enveloped Chicago and the Middle West, was broken Monday by a stiff breeze from the North. England positively refuses to permit medicines for American Red Cross so cieties , to pass the allies' lines into Germany or Austria. The committee on industrial pre paredness of the naval consulting board has completed a survey of the resources in case of war. The U. S. court at Norfolk, Va., has rendered a decision which gives back to English owners the prize ship Ap pam, captured by the Germans. The failure of the Pope's appeals to the warring nations for peace was ad mitted by the Pontiff in addressing a delegation of the youth of Rome. During a quarrel between two em ployes of the Union Meat company at Portland, one man was knocked into a vat of boiling water and cooked alive. Striking employes of the three large packing houses in East St. Louis have voted to accept the concessions made by the employers and to return to work Tuesday. About 4500 men are involved. Henry Edward Duke, a barister and Unionist member of Parliament for Exeter, was appointed to be the new chief secretary of Ireland in succession to Augustine Birrell. The new chief secretary will have a seat in the Brit ish cabinet. Nineteen days with the thermometer averaging 93 degrees was the record of the hot spell in Chicago. The high est temperature was 102; the lowest 61. A total of 325 deaths occurred, including 176 babies; 2600 prostra tions were reported, and 890 horses dropped dead in the streets. An aviator at San Diego, Cal., sends wireless messages at ten-minute inter vals during a flight. Mathematicians at Aberdeen, Wash., have figured out that by shaving your Belf three times a week for 50 years, providing you take the money saved from barbers and place it at compound interest, a fortune of $11,100 will have been accumulated. B. F. Finn, 93 years old, of the Mc Kenzie River region, Lane county, Oregon, claiming to have been the original of Mark Twain's character, "Huckleberry" Finn, has lost his case in court for the cancellation of a deed conveying the old Finn place. The severity of the fighting since the beginning of the present offensive on the Western front is indicated by the list of casualties among officers, issued by the London war office, show ing for the first three weeks of July 1108 killed, 2834 wounded and 491 missing. Nearly $700,000,000 for national de fense in the fiscal year 1917 ia the ag gregate of proposed appropriations in' the senate with passage of the army appropriation bill carrying in round number $314,000,000. This grand total for preparedness still is subject to revision, however. Senator Borah, of Idaho, has been selected as Western managet of the Republican campaign. Eight persons are arrested in San Francisco, as parties to the placing of the bomb on the street which exploded during the preparedness parade, kill ing eight people and injuring 40. Evangelist "Billy" Sunday will make the opening speech for the anti saloon league in Portland, which plan to make Oregon "absolutely" dry. Sunday i reported to have refused an offer of $150,000 to appear in the movie.