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About Eagle Valley news. (Richland, Or.) 191?-1919 | View Entire Issue (March 14, 1918)
WORLD RUSSIANS IN FLIGHT LOAN DRIVES START Terrorized ltolshcvlkl More Capital to Moscow While Germans Continue Advance Bomb Petrograd. OF HAPPENINGS 100 000.000 TO BE BOLSHEVIK! WANTS FRIENDSHIPOFU.S. CURRENT WEE SAVED W Brief Resume Most Important Daily News Items. COMPILED FOR YOU Events of Noted People, Governments and Pacific Northwest and Other Things Worth Knowing. The British food controller says that if English farmers could get 1,000.000 acres of potatoes under cultivation this year there would be no fear of starva tion. .Sir Henry Babington Smith arrived in the United States Thursday from England to assist Lord Reading, Great Britain's special ambassador to the United States. Despite orders from the high com mand for the German people to beflag their towns and rejoice over peace with Russia, notes of doubt are not lacking in the German press in regard to the future in the East. The Germans are still adding to the number of their divisions on the West-, em front. General F. B. Maurice, chief director of military operations at the London war office, declared in his weekly talk with the press. At least 730 lives were lost in the disaster at the Hongkong Jockey Club track at Happy Valley last week, when a stand occupied by Chinese collapsed and caught fire. Many charred bodies have been removed from the ruins. Reorganization of the War Indus tries board with Bernard M. Baruch as chairman and with vastly increased powers to control the output of Amer ican industry during the war was an nounced Thursday by President Wilson, Ole Hanson, former member of the Washington state legislature, was chosen mayor of Seattle Tuesday with a majority of more than 4000 votes over James E. Bradfoid, former cor poration counsel, according to returns. By a vote of 90 to 53 the New York assembly Wednesday adopted the re port of the judiciary committee favor ing the ratification of the federal pro hibition amendment The measure was then made a special order for con sideration next Tuesday. A band composed of 1000 harmonica players is being organized at Camp Meade, Maryland. So many soldiers show ability on this instrument that the War department commission on training camp activities is considering organizing a mouth organ band in each division. A telegram from Representative Charle3 H. Randall, of California, say ing he planned to introduce in congress an amendment to the food act prohibit ing the manufacture of any alcoholic liquors was read before the national prohibition convention in Chicago Thursday. American troops are now holding something over eight miles of trenches on the battle front in France, although in an air line their frontage is only about four and a half miles. This frontage is liable to extension at any time to the regular trench allotment for an arrny corps. In response to the Finnish govern ment's request for military assistance, it is announced officially in Berlin, German troops have been landed on the Aland islands. This official an nouncement confirms recent press dis patches concerning the movement of German troops to Finland. Over-subscription of the issue of $600,000,000 treasury certificates of indebtedness, subscriptions for which closed Wednesday, was announced by Secretary McAdoo. The certificates were the first to bear an interest rate of 41 per cent and were issued in prep aration for the third Liberty Loan. The bill making it a crime to wilful ly make or convey false reports or statements to obstruct the govern ment's sale of bonds or other securi ties, or loans by or to the United States, was passed Wednesday by the house. It awaits action by the senate. Validity of the section of the Illi nois drum shop act making saloon property owners as well as saloon pro prietors liable for liquors sold causing loss of support to a wife or family, ia upheld by the U. S. Supreme court. Theodore Roosevelt left the hospital Tuesday after four weeks of convalec- ing from operations. As ho walked ' to his automobile, the ex-President ex pressed his satisfaction in response to greetings given him by a small street crowd and his negro chauffeur. , London The evacuation of Petro grad has begun. Three state minis trie?, according to a Rcuter dispntch from Petrorgnd dated Tuesday, havo started to leave the capital, from which the population also is fleeing hastily. Tho Bolshevik! government purposes to declare Moscow tho Russian capital and Petrograd a free port. Marva, 100 miles southwest of Pe trograd, has been captured by tho Ger mans, and the enemy is reported to be continuing his advance on Petrograd, according to an Exchange Telegraph dispatch from Petrograd dated Mon day. A Petrograd dispatch to the Ex change Telegraph company says that, notwithstanding the cessation of hos tilities, a German airplano appeared over Petrograd at 5 o'clock in the af ternoon and dropped bombs. Airplanes also were seen flying over Nevsky Prospect, and tho belief prevailed that tho enemy was aiming at Nicholas Station. Sunday night Zeppelins were ob served at Gatchina, 35 miles from Pe trograd, flying toward the cap ital, but they were driven ofT by the anti-aircraft batteries. JAPAN WILL ACT IN SIBERIA Interests of Western Powers Will Be Safeguarded by Move. Washington, D. C. The United States is in agreement with Japan, Great Britain and the other co-belligerents on the principle of action in Siberia, but the details remain to be worked out. This became known Wednesday, as the cabinet met with President Wilson to discuss the subject. White House officials were disturbed over published reports that the state ment had been authorized that the United States was not in accord with the attitude of the allies toward the Japanese plans. It was explained that no statement had been authorized ex cept that the United States had not given its assent to the action under consideration. The principle upon which all parties to the exchanges are said to be agreed is that if German influence is working harmfully in Siberia, and if there is imminent risk of the loss of the mili tary stores in Vladivostok, Japan will be justified in using whatever measure of force may be necessary to maintain the peace in the Far East. Differences of opinion are under stood to relate to the measures of sup port to be given to Japan in such an undertaking. One diplomat remarked that public discussion of the Siberian question seemed to lose eight of the existence of a special treaty between Great Brit ain and Japan, making it obligatory upon the latter to protect not only her own interests but that of her ally as well on the continent of Asia. Under this treaty, it is said, in dip lomatic quarters that, while, as a mat ter of courtesy it behooved Japan to keep the entente allies and the United States government of her purposes, it was necessary to make any proposition to the United States government and probably not to her allies except Great Britain. It was explained at the State de partment that no direct proposal had been received from Japan regarding Sibreia. It is known, however, that the department has been fully informed of the Japanese plans through the British government. The status of the matter, so far as can be gathered, is that Japan has learned that her allies heartily ap prove of her entry into Siberia if that should be necessary to carry out her obligations. So far as tho United States govern ment is concerned, the officials appar ently believe that it is not necessary for them to give formal assurances on the subject, though it is believed this course can be outlined to Japan in a way to make it perfectly clear that there is no lack of understanding of Japan's position, so that no strain will be placed upon the relations between the two countries through the failure of America to record a formal ap proval. Marine Company Insured. Washington. D. C The 80th com pany, U. S. marines, on active service somewhero in France, is insured for $2,645,000. This undoubtedly estab lishes a record for individual company insurance subscription. Of the 255 men in the company, 254 .took out in surance for $10,000 each, tho remain ing member subscribed to a $5000 pol icy. In addition to this, 188 men of the sume company made allotments totaling $2830,50 for tho "folks back homo." Economical Buying by Railroads Planned by Administration. TO SPEND HUGE SUM Bulk of Immense Railroad Purchases to Be Made by Federal Experts John William is at Head. Washington, D. C. Partial contral ization of tho purchasing of between Sl.OCO.000,000 and $2,000,000,000 worth of railroad supplies and equip ment this year under government su pcrvision is involved in a plan for or ganizing the railroad administration's division of flnancu and purchases an nounced Saturday by Director General McAdoo. John Skclton Williams, as head of this division, will be assisted by n central ndvisory committee of three expert railway purchasing agents, and regional purchasing committees will be created for the Eastern, Western and Southern operating regions. Through tho central organization will be bought locomotives, cars and steel rails, the principal big quantity purchases of rnilways. and an cITort will be made not only to economize by wholesale buying methods, but to stan dardize equipment and supplies. Coal nnd other fuel will bo bought mainly by individual lines to supply their individual needs, but under the supervision of the regional committees, Cross ties and lumber are to bo bought principally by the roads atong their own lines, but may lte ordered through the central organization. "All other supplies needed for cur rent operations will be purchased for the time being, said Director General McAdoo's statement, "through tho purchasing departments of tho respec tive roads, but all contracts for periods of six months or longer must be ap proved by the regional committee be fore completion." As fast ns possible all purchases will be centralized and the regional com mittees are to draft recommendations for the accomplishment of this In ad dition, these three regional bodies will be expected to report details of costs and contracts to the railroad adminis tration, with a view to giving all roads the advantage of efficient methods which may have been developed. Railroad administration officials be lieve that eventually they can save more than $100,000,000 a year by cen tralizing purchasing, although no de finite predictions are made for this year owing to the necessarily slow pro cess of organizing a nation-wide buy ing system. Members of tho central advisory committee and the regional committee will be appointed soon. All will be practical purchasing agents or vice presidents of railroads. Tho regional bodies, to be composed of three or more, are to Iihvo headquarters respec tively in New York, Chicago nnd At lanta. WIRELESS APPARATUS FOUND Pastor Russell Headquarters Raided by U. S. Secret Service Men. New York A dismantled wireless apparatus which had not been sealed in accordance with orders issued by the government several months ago was found by officers of tho Army Intelli gence bureau, who Friday made an other search of Bethel Home, tho head quarters in Brooklyn of tho Watch Tower Bible and Tract society nnd of the International Bible Students' as sociation, it was announced Saturday. Both organizations wero formerly headed by "Pastor" Russell. The apparatus was not seized. The search was made in connection with the Federal investigation of a volume of papers taken In a raid on Bethel Home and tho Brooklyn Tabernacle, another Russcllito establishment, ten days ago. This examination Is being conducted it is said, to detcrmino whether tho records contain seditious matter. Barges Will Carry Oil. Washington, D. C. Construction of a fleet of barges to carry oil from the Mexican fields to gulf ports is under consideration by tho shipping board, fin mnnv tnnls atoumnra fmvn lmnn taken out of the gulf trade for trans atlantic use that substitutes must no found, and it was said Saturduy that barges nrobablv would be chosen be cause of quick construction. Ten months time Is required to build u tanner. British nnd Italian Respond Liberally While Queen Alcxnndrn Send In Her Bit by Carrier Pigeon. I,ondonA war-bond campaign of n week to raise 100,000,000 began Monday with it rush. Tho two largest individual subscriptions wero for XI, 500,000 each. Tho n uws papers glvo prominence to tho campaign with such headlines ns "Help to Pound tho Gorman." Trafalgar Square was an interesting sight with tanks, airplanes, material" captured from tho enemy and signs bidding nil to make investments at tho banks opened in tho tanks. At noon Queen Mother Alexandra released u pigeon which carried her subscription to n tank at tho square. Rome Thu current Italian war lonn aggregates more than five billion lire. Finance Minister Nitti told thu sen ate Tuesday that when ha decided to float the loan and ask for a billion lire, eminent financiers objected that on ac count of special circumstances it would not bring as much ns previous issues, which had never exceeded three billion lire. Tho minister, however, decided to appeal to tho public, and subscriptions passed tho live billion mark and thu success of the loan was assured. Senator Rufllnl urged that efforts be mndo to attract foreign capital, espe cially American. The finance minister replied: "America is lending to us freely nnd she has given us capital at 3 per cent. She proposes to ruiso thu ratu to 4 which is the current rate there. She is thus treating us ns she would trent herself. Evidently thu debt con tracted toward the United States will lead to the establishment of mutual in terest nnd we shall do our utmost to nttract American capital." HUNS BUY RUSSIAN PLATINUM Sellers Command Own Price for Pre cious War Material. Washintgon, D. C. Germany is tak ing advantage of tho peace negotia tions with Russia to buy up every available ounce of platinum, according to advices received Wednetdny by tho American government. Officials said undoubtedly the Germans wero badly in need of platinum, but their Inten tion doubtless was also to keep the al lies from obtaining It. Tho Germans were said to bo paying any prices asked without haggling. Supplies of platinum in thu United States amount to between 25,000 and 50,000 ounces, most of which will be taken over by tho government under tho commandeering order iesucd last week. While that amount seems suffi cient for present needs, the country iH short of iridium, n constituent metal of platinum, which it is used to harden. There Is not an bunco of iridium for sale in America. Last sales of irridlnm were made at $185 an ounce and of platinum at $90. With Russia, tho world's plncipnl platinum market; closed by German control, thu use of platinum for jewel ry is expected to cease after present stocks in the hnnds of manufacturing jewelers are exhausted. The possibility of increasing Ameri can production of platinum is being studied. Heretofore, Nevada, Cali fornia, Utah and Oregon have turned out about 750 ounces a year, which goclogists believe can be increased to 3000 ounces. GERMANY TO SEIZE FINLAND Intention to Take Permanent Posses sion Officially Disavowed. Washington, D. C Germany's oc cupancy of the Aland Islands is only a preliminary to the total occupation of Finland, Official dlpatchess to the Swedish legation Wednesday soy Gremany has announced to tho Stockholm Foreign Ollice her Intention to occupy Finland and that Sweden has protested. Germany advised Sweden, tho dls patch says, that it is necessary tem porarily to occupy Finland to restore order, but gave assurances that she had no intention to take permanent possession or the territory. Sweden protested ngalnst tho Aland Islands being placed in tho war zone. Tho occupation of tho Alond Islands, tho dispatches say, Is to mako thorn n base for supplying tho German occupa tion of Finland. Villistas Go On Rampage. El Paso, Tex. Villu followers dvna- mited tho power plant of tho National Mines & Smelters company, an Ameri can company, at Magistral, Durango, killed Caterino Smith and Perciuno Saucedu and burned two ore truckB, according to a mcssugo received hero from Pnrral, Tho power plant cost $1,500,000. Smith, reported killed, is of American and Mexican parent- ngo. bauceda'a family lives here. All Americans escaped. We Travel Same Road, Trotzky Says; Can Alight Any Time. HOSTILITIES STOPPED Russians Prrpnrrd to Retire to Ural Mountains If Ncccssnry'to Have Revolutionary Government. Potrogrnd Moscow is to bo declared the now capital of Russia and tho gov eminent propmeH to publish a state ment to this ulTect Immediately. Put rogrnd will ho proclaimed n freo wrt. Notwithstanding thu signing of peace, tho government Is determining to traiifer all thu statu Instillation to Moscow, Nizhl-Novgorod ami Knisn. Tho removal of tho mlnlsturles of fore ign affairs, communications nnd llnanco began Thursday. Tho population of Potrogrnd Is hns Illy quilting tho city, but there nro many transportation dlllicultles and nl rendy tho ronds lending from Potrogrnd nro crowded with all sorts of vehicles. Tho Russian dulegntos Imvo returned from llrost-Lltovsk and will report to thu executive of tho Soviets as soon ns possible. According to tho latest romrtH hos tilities Imvo been suspended on nil fronts, tho Germans having halted on tho northern front nlong tho lino com prising Narva, Pskov, Vitobsk, Mohlev and Orsha. The Rolshuvlkl lenders nro prepared to withdraw oven ns far ns to tho Ural mountains rather than submit to tho defeat of tho revolution, snid Loon Trotzky. Bolshovlki foreign minister, in nu interview with tho press. M. Trotzky said that If tho llolsho vikl could go back to thu statu of af fairs which existed last October just before they overthrow tho Kurensky government, they would roent tho whole program which has been put through since that time. "In October wo did not oxcl'idu tho possibility of n holy war," hu declared. "Now wo ronsldor such n wnr possi ble. Tho soldiers' nnd workmen's delegates must now fight for organiza tion and order." M. Trotzky wns asked whether tho United Status might assist In thu pro cess of organization by detailing to tho Trnns-Siberiun railway tho 300 Amer ican railway experts now waiting in Japan, and also what guarantee thu Bolshuviki could glvo that goods im ported in consequence of such assis tance would not full into German hands. Hu said that if tho Russian govern ment full into German hands it could not protect such supplies, but that nil sorts of supplies were being evacuated from Petrograd. M. Trotzky wns asked whether hu thought it possible that If Russia's pence ufTorts fulled tho United Status and RiishIii might battle together against German oppression. lie re plied: "Americu nnd Russia may have dif ferent alms, but if wo havu common stations on thu name route, I sou no reason why wo could not travol to gether In tho satno car, each having the right to alight when it desired." IRISH LEADER ANSWERS CALL John E. Redmond Succumbs in Lon don Following Operation. London John E. Redmond, tho Irish Nationalist leader, died at 7:45 o'clock Wednesday morning. Death followed u recent operation for uu intestinal obstruction. This was homo courugo oulsy nnd It relieved tho patient, hut heart trouble intervened Tuesday night. Tho news of tho death of tho Na tionalist leader brought messages of sorrow und regret from all sections of tho community. Redmond hecamo lender of tho Na tionalist party ufter tho deposition of Charles Stowurt Pnrnell, "tho un crowned king of Ireland." Whllo un compromising in his demand for homo rule for Irolund, ho was not a "separ atist," but demanded govornmunt by representative consent." Franz Hopp Not Immune San Francisco Fran llnnn rnrmr.. German consul general hero, and eight iiiiiuu uuienuuniB in tho Hindu conspir acy trial huinir linlil In l... I!.. ii... i States District Court hero Thursday, lost their fight for Immunity in tho case on trial. Judgo Wllllurn C. Van fleet, before, whom tho enso is bulng heard, denied tho motion of counsel for Bonn and tho othorH fnr Immimit.. sofur ns testimony ho fur given Ih con-crencd.