DAHY EDITION
No Other Town In tli the World the Size of Grants Pass Has a Newspaper With Full Leased Wire Telegraph Service
VOU VII., No. 148.
0RA.WM PAHS, JOSEPHINE COUNTT, OREGON, MONDAY, APRIL Id, 1917
WHOLE NUMBER MK
mm i
DRIVING II
' AROUND LENS
WMIKJH I'tHIIKI) KAIITHKU INTO
GERMAN rXMU'KH IN
FRANCE
Cities of lnu and Hi. Quentln. Ilrlil
lljr the Umiwm Art Doomed
to fall
0
l-ondon, April 16. In the face of
616 6UMSARE CAPTURED
the fiercest (icrinan opposition yet
rallied against the British drive, Gen
eral tlalg's forces today battered
their way further around ens and
pushed another wedge to within a
mile and a hair of the Cambrsl-Bt.
Quentln tine.
"We progressed to the northwest
of Lena," waa, the Hrltleh cummsn
der'a laconic comment of that point
In the fighting, where British forces
have atraddted the famout Wmlen
burg line.
Italg alto announced the capture
of Vllerat. aoulheaat of tlarglconrt.
It! taking by British iisgassr widen
f the wedge thrust against the mata
.-. MJadenburg- Jlae af .eMmiiaiealtose
from St. Quentln to Camhrsl on a
front of approximately rive , miles,
Vil.c.t la flva mil, nnptk nt
noy-le-Petlt and Pontru both al
Q ready In British hands and both one
ana one nsir nine rrom tne uamrorai
St. Quentln line.
The German defense was centering
around Monrhy-le-Preux.
"The German attack Saturday at
Monchy," Halg asserted todsy, "was
pressed In the most determined man
nar. The Third Bavarian division
waa again hurried as a reinforcement
to the German line and ordered to
re-take Monchy at all eoets. Its
losses, like that of other German
troops, were exceptionally heavy.
"Estimate or the booty captured at
Llevlen and along the-touches river
la not available yet, but It was ex-
eeedlngly large, Including some six'
Inoh naval guns and many thousands
ot rounds or ammunition or all cal
iber, aa far aa eight-Inch guns,"
Battle rront dispatches today re-
0 reeled the wild haste of the German
troops to withdraw grearaupplles or
food, ammunition and guns, out or
the doomed cities or Lens and St.
Quentln. Flames wera to ha seen In
both (owns rrom the British lines
bow holding the suburbs of" both
cities, 45 miles apart. Just auch at
tacks as those on Monchy wera to be
expected from the Germans on the
whole British offensive front. Un-
able to stem the powerful tide of the
, British advance at the two pivotal
cities In their line, l-ons and St,
Quentln, the Germans were apparent
' ly concentrating big forces for counter-attacks
at Intermediate' points,
Occupation of Dlrmude by Belgian
troopa without opposition from the
Oermans, gave1 hint to experts here
today thai the Germane may be plan
. aing a retirement on a vast scale on
, the went front. Some Ibelleve this
retreat might oven carry the Ger
mans back to the Belgian border.
Such a maneuver would grently
shorten the German linn and there
' Tore release a muss ot men for de
fense against the smashing British
and French attacks.
"Our ibooty Includes quantities of
trench mortars, bombs, grenades,
trucklonds of new tools, many lengths
f tram lines and with trucks com
plete and two large engineer dumps,"
Halg's statement continued. "More
than a third bf our prisoners, since
the Bth were Bavarians,"
Geo, C. Ssbln went to Corvallls to
day to spend a short time with Ms
on, ff,ynn, a student at the 0. A, C,
PnilfOBR
PEACE BY MR
Germany Held lo lie Hreklai HntVirinl
of Peace Talk, Tho-ua' KiU o n
Owb Term ,
Copenhagen. April II. (Inirrm.rnuny
Is secretly seekhig to rele pq pMN
talk In all belligerent (OiiilrlM. .i. gh,
asks peace still on her on le im,
though doubtless oneihilimaiii mHj,
ed. la Deoember OerrjMf, asaa
pesre and was refused. Kow sh st phe U
planning to maneuver Hieilllei T i( ,0
asking her for peace.
The plan, as establlM from mttn) g,
formation from high sown herei,rg
day, Is an ambitions one mil oworU'
wide In Its scope.
Positive confirmation ol wltUTcfifnoliI
overtures from Berlin lo the l'g:!rgM
Stales, as reported In Culled Ptl ftm
dispatches Thursday, wsioblilKUHiedio-
day. The hint came tut Himntrww
from German official soiirmlM lj the
United States would do 'ell to a-a mi
I I . t, - . . ML. tl.
vuiuiivi r.t. .n. iiQHH ig ini nft.4iif Km
for conference with Oerman rniirepr(
sentatlvee.
The main Intrigue, hoimr.vhautvhm.
by Germany hopes to ilirt i ncommovt
ment for her enemies to uk Besi(BrtiD
for peace, waa apparently Mil u(
erted through German aoclall lUiu,
Suddenly socialists In the Trulaoii ,0D
empire have become fsrortdliilwItiTtj.
uals. Their leaden havtbHi insiiuaMll-
uqusly cultivated by QeriMsoBflalia.diii,
The German censorship hu been d n w
precedently loosened to permit than their
communicating with stoclilliti It iss , audi
enemy reairtftee-ee Ewetli. M Inst ill
of these drastic rules proWMIIIIont,,
departure or her men rrom Hi n m.
plre and or holding or cominii nl liumlrt
tlon with enemy trenchN hu bead tmt
raised to permit depsrttireolPhHir;nn
Scheldemann and other aorlallita t e;s for
conferences with soclallil eomrtoa-rMjM
of enemy nations. ,
The Rusalan government may ts v not
be falling In with Germair,ililrleiHgU,
but certainly Russian ultra-aodsllr itsaBitst
have been communfratlni with (UO o
man socialists and aome Rnln rti n.
dlcali have left for contour, wlw Wth
Germans.
Germany evidently Is wrtll; rf,
mendous pressure throuih nslag rsrt hei
socialists for a separate pnri wUw with
Russia. That may be th mili.ttaMq.parl
of her peace planning. But the teel r.
ers encountered today NlriM IM thi
aa only a part or ttu Oertnenr-nni
scheme to obtain strategic political! tlon,
It was noted In all the ptice "lest f.
era" that German Is carefully nol lovold.
Ing any mention of terms.
In the meanwhile, Oermm uw,
papers, In obviously Inspired irllfleeljclei,
re reiterating the fact that fl-03N.
many cannot make any Impotttiahtant
concessions from the termi .nofBIm,
dally noised about at the time ol iai von
Bethmsnn-Hollweg's proffer Ig Ml D.
cember.
The Danish foreign office lodsebodsy
formally declared Danish toclilli'ainiiu
were not participating 11 the ini iinmp.
posed soclsllst conference ,
HKNATOIt JON'KH WOUM
, STOP. MA KINO (IK IKK). ,(tZK
Washington, Aprjl 'l.-AWIIuMMaaV.
Ing for nation-wide prohibit www wai
Introduced In the senate by Jones a m ol
Washington today, Bo drastic ini an
the provisions that even the immIio1 fc.
ture of liquor would be prohibited, M.
SENATE 111
SOLID FOR 1M
Washington, April 16. Vuhiiul.tirttu
dlsoussloit and-no opposition the icmmar.
ate flnanne committee today rtHrtese)oted
favorably the seven Millar, MrsllUr
bond bill.
The bill will be rushed threinMh.Htth.
senate tomorrow to make avallablw ldwtI
the flood of gold, Senator Slitimonsnoons
ld. MAl v
Only thres minor smendMii
ddod to the bill si It came from thswrtHhe.
houM.
SAYS MEXICO IS
NEU1ALIN11
ITaTATKMKNT UV RICPIIILICH
CHDV UKTAILM ATTITIDK IN
WOULD STRIP:
FI1T MESSAGE 191 3 TEARS
Maspntes Statement of l-Vrmr Horr.
tary Kno of Reqneet Made for
IntenrentloB
Mexico City, April 16. Mexico Is
noiurtl. The capital today received
with satisfaction the long expected
itavtenitnt by President-elect Carranza
of the nation's attitude toward the
wcrld war since the United States
Is In.
Th altuation had grown tense. No
kxly knew what stand Carrsnia
would take until be started to read
lila first presidential message to the
ftraat eonatttutlonal congress Mexico
baas had In three years.
Xvery chair In the diplomatic boxes
wa filled when Carranta entered the
chammber and begsn to speak. A hush
fel 1 n the brilliant and lively scene,
lie- apoks for four hours, from two
hu aid rod tpe w rljten, pages of maau
irlpf; and "ithe diplomats listened
carefully for aome Indication that the
noww-famoua Zimmerman note propos
ing; war on the United SUtea by Mex
ico Germany and Japan, had borne
tru It.
The Brat chief's speech was a de
tailed outline of his position with re
tard to the United States, dating
liack to the usurpation of power by
Huaerta.
I a his lengthy recital of Mexican
Am crlcaa relations, Carranaa took oc
casion to deny statements (by P. C
Knox, formerly American secretary of
elate, that Carrsnia bad once asked
America's Intervention.
'Members of Mexico's senate took
Ibe oath of office last night, amid Im
preeaelve ceremonies suid under the
new conitltutlon. For the first time
la more than thirty years, the Mex
ican senate la now presided over by
I vl e-prealdent of the republic. The
new representative assembly likewise
met and organlted, but all congres
ilon al work was held up by lack of a
Otioarum.
IWNiBMtH DIUCAK WINDOWS
AZVD MAKE AWAY WITH GOODS
PortUnd, April 1. The windows
of A-va down-town shops and clothing
itora-a were broken early today and
herohendlae taken valued at aeveral
hundred dollars. No one saw the
robrr, who roust have bad an auto
mobile or wagon to carry his loot.
HI d Janeiro, April 1 6. Fifty
thousaand Brasllians today cheered
mihajslastioally an -Inflammatory
pro-war ipeech Iby Bread's Idol of the
people Senator Ruy Rarbosa de-
clirisn that war with Germany was
"Inevitable," ,
"fJie situation In Brasll and In the
Ur.lted States Is Identical,", Barbosii
Jeclajad, "President Wilson's war
titMtkaaRe was a triumph ot the peo
Ole over government Intrigues and
Tirnaan diplomacy,"
Moetlnit all over Brasll are an In
dlcitlou of the war demand to which
tht sxovsmment will be forced to
yield : it waa announced today that a
bumbeer ol prominent Brasllians had
Mrse-d to jneet with representatives
from Argentine to discuss the general
Oerman-Bouth American situation.
BRAZILIANS CHEER
A DEMAND FOR WAR
DELEGATION
FROM ALLIES
BIUT1MH WIIEIUN MINISTEU BA1
KOl'R EXPfiCTED WITHIN FEW
" HOivR8 '''
ENTENTE LEADERS ARE COf.!!XG
Will IMmum PUtu for Oo-operaUoa
With the lUted SUtea la War
oa Oernuiay
Washington, April 16. Admiral
Fletcher sued several other officials
have left to meet British Foreign
Minister Balfour, Secretary of the
Navy Daniels announced this evening.
Late today the state department
announced officially that no members
of the British or French commissions
would arrive tonight in the United
States. The state department Is as
yet without Information a to when
they will arrive. It waa stated.
The state department announced
the members of the committee that
would meet the commissioners as:
Breckrorldge Long, third assistant
secretary of state; Warren Robbing,
state' department; Major General
'Leonard Wood; Colonel R. E. U
Mlchle; Rear Admiral F. F. Fletcher
and Ceta'mander E. F. Sellers. V'V
It was intimated there baa been a
change of program since earlier In
formation to the effect that Balfour
would reach New York at S:SO this
evening. . Pressed for details, one of
ficial aald this afternoon that the
commission would "arrive somewhere
within at least thirty-six hours of
Washington this evening."
The White House reception of the
allied commissioners was made on
the belief that the French 'members
would arrive before Wednesday.
The conference with the president
will be the first of .the series of Joint
meetings devising aid, which Am
erica will render the allies and the
extent of the United States co-opera
tion in military and naval affairs.
One of the first queetlons to be
taken up with the United States gov
ernment by Balfour will be arrange
ments to subject British residents In
the United States to conscription in
the American army, or the option of
volunteering in the British army, It
rbecame known today on unquestioned
authority.
Washington. April 16. The Drat
formal step In one of the most im
portant International conferences of
the great war will be taken Wednes
day, when President Wilson will re
ceive Arthur J. Balfour, foreign min
ister or England, and members of the
French commission, now en route to
this country.
(Continued on Page i)
EARLY PLANTING OF
IS
Portland, April 16. Thousands of
acres of potatoes planted early In
the northwest are rotting In the
fields, due to, the excessively damp
snd ..continued cold weather.
The full extent of the damage will
not be known for several weeks.
Many of the fields of tbe northwest
must be re-planted, Involving . not
only financial loss to producers but
delaying the arrival of the new crop.
IlKICHSTAfl IS SUMMONED
' TO MEET ON APRIL 84th
Amsterdam, April 16. Advices
Irom Berlin today declared the rclch
stag had been summoned to meet
April ,24 and that Imperial Chancel
lor ron Bethmann-Hollweg was ex
pected to make an early statement on
Russia.
mwim
PHESIDENT GIVES
TREASON VMRIlfllG
Points Oat What Ooastitates . the
Capital (Mom Against the Coita.
try sad Its) Penalty
Washington, April 1. President
Wilson this afternoon issued a proc
lamation through the state depart'
ment pointing out what treason is
and the penalty as provided by the
constitution, the criminal code and
court decisions.
The constitution provides that
treason consists in levying war
against the United States or hi ad
hering to our enemies. The criminal
code provides the death penalty as
the maximum snd not less than $10,-
000 fine as the minimum. The crim
last code further says any one con
cealing knowledge of treason is guilty
of misprison or treason: It further
says that treason consists of con
spiracy to overthrow the government.
levy war against It, oppose Its au
thority, demy execution of any laws,
or seising any UnKed States property.
Tbe proclamation points out the
following court decisions as defining
treason:
The nse or attempt to use violence
against the government's military or
naval forces; nse of ant property
with knowledge or Intent that It shall
aid the enemy: performance of any
act or publication of any statements
or Information which will give In sny
way "aid sag comfort to the enemies
of the United States;" direction, aid
ing, counselling or countenancing of
sayfof tb foregoing acts; such- sets
are treasonable, whether done In the
United States or elsewhere snd
whether committed by a United-States
cltlten or an alien domicile here.
In closing, the president said:
"I hereby proclaim and warn all
cltisens of the United 8tates and
liens owing allegianoe to the gov
ernment of the United States, to ab
stain from the committing of any
and all acts which would constitute a
violation of tbe laws herein set forth
and I further proclaim and warn all
persons who may commit auch acts
they will be vigorously prosecuted
therefor."
SEATTLE MAKES WAR
ON 1 fWMAII
Seattle. April 16. To eliminate
the middleman's profit and to reduce
to a minimum the possibility of food
speculation, the port commission ot
Sesttle will utilise Its enormous fa
cilities In warehouse and storage
plants In a plan which will actually
bring the producer and consumer to
gether! '
Details ot this powerful campaign,
against food speculation has not yet
been worked out In detail, but in gen
eral, President Robert Bridges', of the
port commission, has mapped ut the
following program:
The port commission, through Its
traffic department, to act In the same
manner as the commission houses,
toVecelve tood products and then to
sell them direct to grocers, butchers,
rtsh 'markets, dealers or all kinds and
to individuals. To place a time limit
for holding any commodities Ini stor
age and to compel their sale after
the expiration or such limit; thereby
preventing the holding of a food for
speculative prices.
Inasmuch as the public owned port
plants bave more than one-third the
total area of all cold storage capacity
In" Seattle, the port commission Is In
a position to make Its war on specu
lation In foodstuffs sbsolutely effec
tive. OKXKItAI. A LEX I KEF
HEADS 1U SSI AN ARMY
. Petrogrnd, April 16. -General
Alexleff was today named comman-der-ln-chlef
or all Russia's armies.
He had been chief or staff or the
Mmy.
ART.iY BILL TEST
WW
HOUSE COMMITTEE FAILS TO EN.
DORSE PLAN ADVANCED BY
i'."'":;"' WILSON i
HUB V0UI3TEER SYSTEM
AnKodsneaU Are . Presented, and
May Not Be Reported la
. .' Week ,
Washington, April 16. On a test
rote the principle of the selective
draft aoorporstfd in the general staff .
army bill was beaten in tbe house
military committee this afternoon by
a nine to eight rote. . A 1
One member urrscnt Fle'd of '
Kentucky Mild not vote.
The rote indicated that nnless sea .
timent in the committee changes the
committee will recommend the vol
unteer system be given a try-oat be
fore conscription is resorted te . te
raise aa army of 600,000 for service
In Europe. '.'
Two important' amendments to tbe
general staff bill were Introduced In
the committee today. , They win be ,
acted on by tbe committee tomorrow.
One amendment, by Chairman Dent. :
wvuia , give. tn raiwr ijmm -
trial but would give President WUsoa
umteer. system a failure and order .
conscription. Another amendment Iby
Congressman Anthony, Kansas, pro
vides for raising the army by a vol
unteer system. However, a military
census ot military eligfbles will be
started at once. U. within , five ,
months the number of troops requir
ed bave not volunteered, conscription
will begin Immedlstety. .
Washington, April 16. A tentative
draft of the military service bill
along tbe general lines submitted by
the war department was begun by
the house committee on military af
fairs toosy. The committee hopes tt
report the bill by the end of the week
.All the hearings were closed todsy,
but additional data was submitted. 4
change in the ages of tbe compulsory
system from II to 2S to 21 to 24 has
been suggested In the committee, but
nothing definite has yet been evolved
from tbe hesrtngs. ,
FALLING BRANCH KILLS
YOUNG MAN OF EUGENE
Eugene. April 16. A snag falling
from the top of a tall tree struck
Sidney LeRoy Barnes, IS, wRh suf
ficient force to fracture practically
every bone In bis bead and many in
his body and kill him Instantly. He
was walking through a forest, pick
ing flowers witb a girl companion.
Portland, April 16. As it the esst
were preparing a welcome tor Inrad-
Ing German hosts, eleren carloads of
sauf kraut left Portland for ths At
lantic seaboard today. . This Is Just
ons shipment made by one firm. A
Shortage of cabbage in the east Is
given as the cause for the shipment
; PFM I!AW
. Portland. Anr'fl 18. The naval re
cruiting district! of which Portland
Is ths center, will probably lead the
entire country In the number ot men
enlisted for naval service In the
twenty-day period ending next Frl-
uay. rne roniana station easur
leads all others In the western dis
trict and Is the only one In the eoun
try that Is maintaining the quota of
enlistments prescribed by tbe navy
department, when the call for re
cruits went out on April 1. '