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About Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918 | View Entire Issue (March 31, 1916)
DAILY EDITION VOL. VI,, No. 108. GIUNTS TABS, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY, MARCH 81, 191. WHOLE NUMBER I70O. No Other Town in the World the Sizo of Grants Pass Has a Paper With Full Leased Wire Telegraph Service. . . 10 RUNNING BAHLE NEAR GUERRERO Bandit Leader, Suffering From Broken Leg and Other Wounds, Is Not Present, But Commander Hernandez and 30 Others Are Killed, Four Americans Receiving Slight Injuries in Fight Early Wednesday Morning Washington, Mar. Sl.The war de partment today received confirmation of report that Vtlllsta bid beon -badly boat en In a clash with the American expeditionary force.' Colonel Dodd'f cavalry struck the Villlstas at alx ft. in. Wednesday, near Guerrero, according to a war depart ment message from the Sau Geron Inio ranch. The dispatch wa dated yesterday and was transmitted from General Pershing via General Fun aton'a headquarter. Villa, suffering from ft broken leg and other Injuries,' was not In the battle. The Vllllitaa loft SO dead on the battlefield. Othera are believed to have been killed. I)odd captured two rapid-fire guns,, many saddles, "horses, munitions and supplies. The attack was a surprise to the Vtlllstaa. They did not have time to arm before the American cavalry was upon them. Dodd'a men had march d 55 miles In 1? hours to overtake the bandits. Commander Hernandez, of the VII llstaa, was killed. The Mexicans showed no fighting qualities, said the dispatches. They merely grabbed the nearest guns, mounted their boraes and fled. A running fight en sued. ' ' " The battle lasted while Americans .and Mexicans galloped aide by side for ten miles, fighting. At' last the bandits separated and fled to the mountains, abandoning a number of Carranxlstas who had been taken prisoners in previous encounters. The war department's message from Pershing said: "Ban Geronlmo. Mar. SO.Colonel George Dodd struck Villa's command, consisting of BOO men, at six o'clock ! FEDERAL COURT RULES IN LAND CASE Portland, Mar. 81. Federal Judge "Wolverton today ruled on the govern ment's demurrer in Its case against Wlllard N. Jones, holding that by rea son of a mistake of law of the de partment of the Interior In Ismilng patents to ntne homestead cntrvman of lands within the diminished Blletx reservation the government's suit against Jones for $183,000 damages;,, of the cx,,e(mtonRry force, was barred. The suit arose out of allegod fraud ulent transactions, of Jones In the locations of numerous veterans of the civil war on heavily timbered SUetx lands during 1900-1901. Jones was Indicted tor criminal conspiracy with Thaddeus Potter and Ira Wade, After a ten-day trial In October, 1905, with Francis J. Honey prosecuting, Jones and Potter were convicted. Jones was sentenced to one year's Imprison ment and 13,000 fine In 1908.' Jones appealed, and tbe judgment was af firmed "by the circuit court of appeals, on whoso ' mandate he was re sentenced In tho local federal court to tour months' Imprisonment and $10, 000 fine. He was pardonod June 4, 1912, by President Ta'ft, on the ground that the Jury that tried him wa Improperly selected. , 27TU VICTIM OF VS.. V, , CENTRAL WRECK DIES Clevolnnd, Mar. 81. Another vic tims of the New York Central wreck at AmherBt died today, bringing the total fatalities up to 27. Ten of the mangled dead have not 'been ldentl-,try with F. B. iSsnford, the manager, tied. The railroad now admits that j In a day or two. The company is do the death car of the Lake Shore ,'lng some extensive development work train's first section was made partly upon Its several properties, and has of wood and partly of steel. I Wednesday morning at ; Guerrero. Villa.. who was suffering from .a broken leg and ft Urn hip, was not present. The number of Villa dead Is known to be 30.. Probably others were carried away doad. Dodd cap tured two machine guns, a large num ber of horses, saddles and arms. Our casualties consisted of four enlisted men wounded, none seriously. The attack was a surprise, the Villlstas being driven back la a ten-mile run ning fight. - They retreated to moan tains northwest of the railroad, where they separated Into small bands: A large number of Cftrranilsta prison ers, who were being held for execu tion, was liberated during the fight. In order to reach Guerrero, Dodd marched 65 miles In 17 hours. Her nandez, the, Vllllstft commander, was killed. With Villa permanently dis abled, and Lopex, his chief lieutenant, wounded, Hernandet dead, the blow administered is a serious one to Villa's band." General Hugh Scott, chief of staff, sent the following message to Gen eral Funaton' this afternoon: "Secretary of War Baker desires you to convey .to General Pershing and Colonel Dodd, and his command hearty commendation on their ex ploit" San Antonio, Mar. 31. American cavalry, under Colonel Dodd, clashed .with Villlstas at the San Oeronlmo ranch near Guerrero at 6 a. m. March 39, according to General Pershing's official report to General Funston. The Villlstas were routed after a five- hour battle. . , ' Villa suffered a broken leg and a badly Injured hip VILLA HEADING FOR CHIHUAHUA CITY Ban Antonio,1 Mar. 31.i General Funston today received authentic but unofficial reports that Francisco Villa Is working along the railroad from Guerrero toward Chihuahua City. Americans and Villlstas, Bald the re port, had exchanged shots. Funston is certain that fighting has occurred between Villlstas and mem ."We have reports,';, he sad, "that Villa has been reinforced. I am con fident, however, that our capable men ( under strohg leadership can take care of the Villlstas. Some of our Isolated detachments are bound to suffer, but If Villa stands against our larger forces he will discover their mettle." Funston refused to name the source of his advices. Carranzlstas, he said, were strongly co-operating. ; y . "Unless we bring Villa to a deci sive battlo, be can continue his flight toward Central Amorlca," declared Funston. "I hate to consider the difficulties of , maintaining our lines of communication much further." ' General Pershing has joined tho cavalry advance guard,, apparently aware that Villa Is about to give battle. ' , Arrives From Chicago , Jas. R. Smith, socretary of the Del Norte Claim Holders' association, ar rived In the city from Chicago today, and , will leave for the company's properties in the Preston Peak conn- ft most excellent showing of ores. DANIELS OUTLINES PROGRAM Washington. Mar. 31. Asserting that conditions bad not changed greatly since 1903, Socretary Daniels told the house naval affairs commit tee today that he had reverted to that year for his navy building program. He advocated the same plan that was prescribed by the naval board then. "I recommend a continuous (building program for at least five years," said Daniels. "The 1903 general board In a confidential letter advocated a continuous program which would give us 48 battleships, 24 armored cruis ers, 48 protected cruisers, 48 scout ships, 61 destroyers, and 30 colliers by the year 1919. "It recommended that one armored cruiser, three protected cruisers, three destroyers and two colliers be built every year. , . "If this program had been carried out we would have bad completed by 1913, . 20 dreadnaughta, 10 battle cruisers, and other craft which would have made our navy superior to that of Germany at the beginning of the war-'V .... . .-' - .... v: "If we should make a five-year pro gram,' said Daniels, "I would recom mend the tuildlng of two dread naughts In 1917 and two each ol io wing year, for four years. This would give us the strength of the 1903 proposal by 1921. "I have learned lately that the battle cruiser is an Important unit of the fleet. The general board has heretofore rated dreadnaughta as of first Importance, destroyers second, and submarines third, omitting the battle cruisers altogether. "The most able naval experts op pose ttiem, saying they eat up money. But Japan has four and Great Britain ten, and Germany baa six or eight. I recommend the adoption of a pro gram which would give us six battle cruisers by 1921. . Dreadnaughts. af ter all, are the greatest fighting unit of the navy and should be Increased in number more rapidly than other types." , : Daniels asserted that the oil re serve situation was serious. Hereto fore all navy oil has been obtained from government reserve. lands. He urged defeat of the Ferris senate bill, which would menace the government reserve, Daniels also urged abolition of the seniority promotion rule. , VILLA WOUNDED JN GUERRERO BATTLE El Paso, Mar. 31. Francisco Villa was again reported wounded oday. He was said to have been hit in the leg whue attacking a dance party ln QUerrero. ,'. .' General Gavlra. said there , was a possibility that Villa had been caught between strong American and Car ranaiBta forces southwest of Chlhua- hua City, The mayor of Temosachlo tele graphed that he had proof Villa had been wounded in the left leg and that Mexicans saw blm.'ln a wounded con dition, passing through Cuslhulrlchl after the fight at Guerrero. Gavlra announced that 1,200 cav alry under General Luis llerrera left Chihuahua City on Wednesday to cut oft Villa's flight to the southward, iterrera telegrophed . to Juares that he Intended to kill Villa and ship his head to Consul Garcia in El Paso. ' It was reported Villa would con tinue his flight southward, aiming to roach the east slope of the great di vide. Americans believe he is still on the west slope. . MUDDLE Tur ciiDMiniiir ebbb Washington, Mar. 31. President Woodrow Wilson and his cabinet again discussed the submarine crisis today, facing a muddled problem In the mass of evidence before them. Of the four vessels concerned In recent German U boat attacks, It Is understood the Eagle Point was In tbe service of the British admiralty, Ger many will contend the steamer Eng lishman was torpedoed only when it tried to escape, and that the channel steamer Sussex bit a mine. Officials believe It a foregone conclusion that the kaiser will advance some defense for tbe sinking of the British steamer Manchester Engineer. Americans were on board all of these ships. ' The president and Secretary Lans ing hope to obtain evidence from United States consuls so strong that definite conclusions can be based up on them. There have been no ad vices from Ambassador Gerard In Berlin,' and this Is contributing to the present difficulty. The uncertainty as to what really damaged the Sussex submarine torpedo or mine caused cabinet 1 ministers to move more deliberately than it was sup posed they would. Drastic action will be taken only If It is clearly proved that Germany torpedoed one of the ships without warning. " The government does not possess proof upon which to base, a formal charge that Germany Is renewing Its Illegal submarine warfare. " At Its ses sion today the cabinet Inspected tbe circumstantial evidence surrounding the Sussex case. Following adjourn ment, officials stated , there was no postive evidence that the channel steamer had been torpedoed. No ac tion will be taken until positive proof Is forthcoming. . Not aj 'word has been received yet from Ambassador Gerard at Berlin. . . . . ADMITS DESTRUCTION OF , BISHOP SCADDING'S PAPERS Portland, Mar. 31. Charged with tbe destruction of the records of a corporation, Charles B. Pfahler, con fidential secretary to the late Bishop Scaddlng, faces grand jury action to day following bis admission before Judge Jones yesterday that he had burned the bishop's papers after bis death.- In explanation, he said the bishop had directed him to do so, but this was denied by Bishop Walter Sumner, who succeeded Scaddlng in the Oregon Episcopal diocese, and by Rodney L. Gllsan, chancellor of the diocese under Bishop Scaddlng.. Quot ing from letters and church reports, tbey testified that Bishop Scaddlng had desired his successor to find the affairs of the church in perfect order. Grand Master Will Visit- Frank J. .- Miller, grand master A. F. & A. M. of Oregon, will make Grants Pass lodge, No. 84, an official vlalt An XTnnAav AnrM 9 Mr. Miller Is a member of tbe railroad commls - son and will be In Grants Pass also on commission business, MAKERS STRIKE London, Mar. 31. Two thousand Clyde machinists wore on strike to day, refusing to manufacture big guns, and the trouble threatened to spread. The machinists sold they would not work until the BrltlBh government re- pealed its conscription measure. Arthur Henderson, labor member of the cabinet, was due at Glasgow today to meet a committee of strikers, A number of laborers, but proportion- 0 BRITISH atoly few as oomparod to the number national guard. The officials bad been "out," bave returned to their tasks Invited to a meeting of the "platform In spite of the pressure exerted by boys," and pledged tbelr heartiest re union leaders. v. 'operation to their preparedness plan. GERMANS HAVE CAPTURED French Positions About Winch Bloody Battles Have Raged for Days at Last Fall Before Attach of the Kaiser's Troops, the Final Assault Being a jHasd-to-Hasl Con flict Between Two Annies, Only Few Prisoners Taken Berlin, Mar. 31. The fortified town of Malancourt and defenses on both sides of it have been stormed and captured, It was officially an nounced today. ,.. Tbe prisoners totalled 328. London, Mar. 31 With huge Ger man shells smashing their trenches into ruins, French troops nave eva cuated all but the eastern and south ern outskirts . of Malancourt, Paris dispatches admitted today. ' Tbey said tbe German artillery ren dered other defenses untenable. 1 The highway which intersects the village is covered with a pall of dust and smoke, shot with bright flashes of flame as French guns shower shells on it " ' :" ' Heavy explosives are being planted with mathematical accuracy on every foot of the road, so that the Germans will not be able to advance along it or seize any portion of It Paris, " Mar. 31. French troops have evacuated tbe ruins of Malan- court, but still hold the .bttawajaijgj,, Uomx to plecM fcy running from Betbtncourt to Esme8,teucceeain' jieys. The' Germaae it was officially announced today. ' ;bMt effopU ftUed evacuation Following a bombardment which 0f the., Bethlncourt-Malancourt tri lasted all night, tbe Germans drove; angle. ,, ,, ;,? . ,, . , the French from their wrecked posi-1 a, strong attempt was made by Ger- tlons by three massed attacks deliver - ed simultaneously at three places. Before the French soldiers gave ground, however, , tbey fought . the tons were slain and the attack re Germans hand-to-hand for hours. As pnJled L TRIED TO CAPTURE VESSEL Lewes, Del., Mar. 31. A daring plot to capture the 5,000-ton British steamer Matopo, with her valuable cargo, and take her to sea, was re-. voaled today by Ernest Schiller, who was overpowered after holding up tbe ship's commander and attempting to seize the vessel single-handed. ' Four other men, he said, conspired to stow away aboard, spring out at a given signal, overpower tbe officers and cow the Chinese crew by threatening them with revolvers. AU this, was to take place Just oft Sandy Hook. .. Schiller's comrades, however, back ed out just before the Matopo sailed from Hoboken. Thereupon, Schiller says, be deciaea to execute we pian .alone, but be planned to escape to this port after looting the. safe.. He refused to name his confederates. The authorities are puzzled,, ss, to what disposition should be made of him." If it is proven that the Matopo was outside the three-mile limit when he held up the commander, Schiller belongs In the Captain Kldd class and is liable to be hanged by the British as a pirate. , . . ,. ; ' PORTLAND STREETCAR MEX PLAN MILITARY COMPANY Portland, Mar. 81. Motormen and conductors of the Portland Railway, Light & Power company, after listen- .lng to ringing speeches last night by President Franklin T. Griffith and .General Superintendent O. B. Cold- well, were arranging today the de tails of a military company to be or ganized as a branch of the Oregon ONE MA 1 OR! the troops were mixed up in one straggling mass, ari tilery on botn sides became silent for fear of kil ling the wrong men. Finally the French advance guard battalion fell back in good order, leaving hundred of bayonetted Ger mans In their wake. The French re treated, to strongly fortified, posi tions on highways leading from Mal ancourt As they retired slowly through the towns debris strewn streets the Germans followed and tbe fight raged from door to door until new trenches were reached, and there the German advance was halted. In the Avocourt wood where the French salient was like a small wedge in the German ranks, ! the crown Lprlnce sacrificed . several battalions endeavoring to break the position, ac cording to. the Paris statement : .. . Twice the Germans came on, hurl ing hand grenades, which exploded harmlessly on tou of the defense shel ters!, k Wbent they: : were atruggllng among barbed wire entanglement jine-f rencp toBea eneeis oi nre ai " them .'. Bodies banzinK In the en- a a si . m m a : mans to carry French positions east of Haudremont '' There, again, tbe Paris communique said, many. Teu- NCREASE IU WAGES Portland, Mar, 31. A general in crease in wages to conductors ana brakemen employed on the O.-W. R. & N. system, amounting to 339 a year, not including increased com pensation throngb overtime, has been granted by the company. The increase, which includes an entire rearrangement of the wage schedule, comes as a result of a secret conference between representatives of the Order of Railway Conductors, tbe general grievance committee of the Brotherhood of Railway Train men,, and officials of the railroad, company. . The conference began January 11 and was concluded yesterday after noon when the Anal agreement was dratted and signed. It changes the schedule of wages that has been in effect on the O.-W. R. & N. tor tbe post five years. The increases range from 30 cents to 90 cents per day, and affect approximately' 750 em ployes. 1 - ; " : INDICT DR. WATTE FOR , FIltST DEGREE MURDER .1. New. York, Mar. 81. Dr. Arthur Warren Walte was indicted today on a first degree murder charge. It is alleged he poisoned his wealthy father-in-law, John E. Peck, of Grand Rapids, Mich. ' The Indictment was presented by the grand jury foreman to Judge Nott In the court of general sessions. The grand jury has conducted a continu ous hearing since Monday. Dr. Walte, it was stated, will not be arraigned on the murder charge until Monday. His Illness Is much Improved. Dis trict Attorney Swann Is expected to demand that Walte be tried in the supreme court. v ': '" , iiMiilRAiK