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About Eagle Valley news. (Richland, Or.) 191?-1919 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 1918)
ODESSA IS ENTERED WORLD HAPPENINGS CALL SECOND DRAFT ALLIES WILL TAKE 400 VESSELS YEARLY Oregon and Washington Spokesmen OVER DUTCH SHIPS BY TEUTON ARMIES OF CWT WEEK Brief Resume Most Important Daily News Items. COMPILED FOR YOU EvcnU of Noted People, Goyernmcntt and Pacific Northwest and Other Things Worth Knowing. A shell explosion on tho U. S. S. Von Sheubcn, which killed three men, was announced late Thursday by tho Navy department. The shell exploded while being fired. Captain Archibald Roosevelt, eon of Theodore Roosevelt, has been wounded in action with tho American forces in France, according to a cablegram that was received Thursday at the colonel's office in New York. It is confirmed that the two Ameri can engineers captured by brigands in Northern Honan and held prisoner for ransom are E. J. Pursell, of Philadel phia or St Paul, Minn., and G. A. Kyle, of Portland, Or. A further extension of commercial relations between Argentina and France is provided for in an arrange ment concluded by the French minister for the purchase in Argentina of a large amount of supplies. Attacking over an 11-mile front on the coastal sector in Palestine, East Anglian, South Anglian and Indian troops have advanced to an average depth of three miles, according to an official statement issued by the London war office. Philip Kirtland Glazebrook, Unionist member of Parliament for South Man chester and a major in the Cheshire Yeomanry, has been killed in action in Palestine. Mr. Glazebrook was born in 1880 and waa first elected to Parlia ment in 1912. By a vote of 42 to 30 the Maryland house of delegates late Thursday de feated the bill giving the women the right to vote at Presidential elections. The bill giving women the right to vote at municipal elections is expected to share the same fate. Young men of Jewish faith continue to enlist in the Jewish battalion of the British army, which is to fight for the emancipation of Palestine from the Turk. A second contingent of recruits will leave New York for Canada and thence for England March 21. Lord Rhondda, the food controller of England, speaking in London Thursday, said he hoped in April to be able to give those engaged in hard physical labor an increased meat ration of 50 per cent and those engaged in very hard physical labor double the ordinary ration. According to a dispatch from Zurich, the German Socialist newspaper Vor waerts says the scandal in Germany connected with graft at the Daimler munitions factory, which the budget committee of the Reichstag is investi gating, has caused a veritable panic in the Berlin stock exchange. A member of the Mexican bandit gang which raided the East ranch near Laredo, Texas, last Thursday night, was captured by Mexican authorities near Guerrero, opposite Zapata, and confessed, declaring that all the ban dits were Mexicans, organized and equipped on the American side of the Rio Grande. The American forces northwest of Toul carried out an important raid on the German lines Monday night. The artillery preparation lasted 45 min utes, and the Americans entered the German defenses as far as the second line. They found a number of Ger man dead' from shell fire and some of those who were retreating were shot down. Billy Sunday, the evangelist, said Tuesday that as soon as his Chicago engagement is completed, he will go to France to visit the trenches. China, in response to an inquiry from Tokio, has signified her intention to co-operate with Japan in the protec tion of allied interests In the Far East. Captain William Redmond has be come a candidate for the parliamen tary seat from Waterford, made vacant by the death of his father, John Red mand, the Nationalist leader. He is opposed by Dr. White, Sinn Feiner. The Weser Zeitung, of Bremen, says the majority parties of tho reichstag intend to insist upon complete clear ness regarding the status of the for mer Russian border states before rati fication of the peace treaty with Rub-sia. SO0.00O to Join Colors This Year; 93,- 000 to Ik Called Beginning Mar, 29 Equipment is Heady. Washington, D. C. Eight hundred thousand men are to bo called to tho colore gradually during tho present year, under tho second army draft, which begins on March 29. An announcement Wednesday by Provost Marshal General Crowder of tho numhor to be called, was followed closely by an order for tho mobiliza tion of 95,000 men during tho five-day period beginning March 29, somo 15, 000 of them to bo assembled under tho second draft. Eighty thousand will bo men of tho first draft of 687,000 not yet sum moned into service. Details of how the second draft is to be applied, will bo made public later, after congress has acted upon proposed legislation providing for tho registration of youths and for hosing stato and district quotas on tho num ber of registrants in class 1. In his first official statement on tho subject, however, General Crowder as sures tho country that no sweeping withdrawal of larger numbers of men at one time is contemplated, and that care will bo taken to avoid 'interfer ence with harvesting. Tho 95,000 now called, it is under stood, are needed at once to fill up other divisions or units scheduled for early departure, or to take the placo of men transferred from other divisions to make up such deficiencies. Newly organized regular divisions are particularly short of men and heavy drafts on National army divis ions to make these good have been necessary, seriously interfering with training work of the National army divisions drawn upon. The call for tho new men makes it probable that no further transfers will be necessary. The 800,000 men summoned this year represent the number necessary to fill up all existing divisions, to create all tho army corps and field army troops to fill out the war ma chine for which tho framewprk already exists, and to provide a quarter of a million replacement troops. When they have been mobilized, which will not be completed before the first of next year, there will be more than 40 full infantry divisions of 27, 700 men each, and all the additional units necessary. The first purpose of the War depart ment is to complete the first field army in France. Probably this will be com posed of five army corps of six in fantry divisions each. It has been es timated that with that force and its necessary auxiliaries at his disposal General Pershing would bo able to hold a 100-mile sector of the battle front, relieving the strain upon French man power during 1918 to that extent. What that would mean to France may be judged from published state ments of French officials that on Jan uary 1, 1918, the Belgian army held about 15 miles of the Western front, the British forces about 105 miles and the French about 350 miles. The apportionment of Northwestern states is: Washington, 638 men; Pre gon, 3C9; Idaho, 242; California, 1745; Montana, 521. The War department is prepared to supply clothing and other equipment immediately for all the men to be called out. U. S. MAY EXTEND CONTROL Express Companies Will Probably be Taken Over by Government. Washington, D. C. Government control probably will be extended shortly to the leading express compan ies, it was officially intimated Wednes day at the Railroad administration, The companies that would be affected are the Adams, American, Wells-rar go, Southern, Great Northern, North, em. Canadian and Western. Most exnress companies' earnings last year were far below the record of the year before, and some, notably the Adams, recorded an actual deficit in the latter months. Government opcr ation and compensation on tho basis of the average earnings for the last three years is souirht by most companies. Some decision probably will be reached within 10 days. Russian Crews Gone. London The whole Russian Baltic fleet is lying at Helslngfors, Finland, the Petrograd correspondent of the Times cables, but the crews have melt ed away, only a watch being left each ship. The dreadnoughts will soon sail for Kronstadt, but tho remainder of the fleet will remain In Finland. Tho correspondent also says that all mova ble articles from the cruisers Aurora and Diana, lying in the Neva river, have been carried away by sailors. ion Tonnage Available in All Parts of the World. HOLLAND TO BE PAID Besides Compensation U. S. Will Per mit Export of Brcadstuffs Which Holland Sorely Needs. Washington. D. C A million tons of Dutch ships, now hold in ports tho world over, through Holland a fear or Germany's threat to sink them if they venture out. will bo brought into tho service of tho United States and Great Britain on March 18. Unless tho Ncthcrland government braves tho menace of Germany's pres sure and voluntarily accepts an agree ment under which the ships would bo put in trodo, tho United States and Great Britain will take them over un der international law, availing them selves of a sovereign right which Ger many herself has hitherto exercised under the same authority. Formal notice has been presented to Tho Hague by tho American and Brit ish diplomatic representatives of tho allied governments' intention. As a result, Saturday, tho Netherlands min ister, August Phillips, acting under in structions of his government, mada a final personal appeal to President Wil son at least to modify the decision. Tho Associated Press is ablo to suy that tho President saw no reason for altering tho decision, and that unless the ships are turned over Monday a Presidential proclamation will be is sued taking over tho ships in Ameri can ports, of which thoro are about 80. Many more, however, aro in British or other allied ports. From tho American official point of view, the action is ono into which tho allied governments have bcon forced by the German duress of Holland, which may now see her ships in trade again, and can point out to Germany that they were taken through no will of her own. Coming at a time when tho dire need of the allied cause is for ships, this acquisition of a million tons is of tremendous Importance. Every arrangement has been mado for the compensation of tho Nether lands for tho ships. They will be insured and armed, and if any be lost they will bo replaced. Besides material compensaion for their use, the United States will permit the export of breadstuffs and cattle foods, which Holland needs sorely for her own people, and in addition will re store the interrupted trudo of Holland with her colonies by guaranteeing bunkers for her ships in that trade. By this arrangement, officials point out, further responsibility for food shoratge in The Netherlands, if there be one, will rest on Germany. CONGRESS TO SIT IN COUNCIL War Department Invites Legislators to Keep In Touch With Fighting. Washington, D. C The administra tion formally embarked Saturday on a policy of taking congress completely into its confidence as to the progress of war preparations and developments on the fighting front in Europe. At the invitation of Acting Secre tary Crowell, members of tho senate military committee were in session at tho War department for nearly two hours with the full membership of tho War Council, and beginning next week will meet with that body every Satur day morning. Members of the house committco will meet with the council and a simi lar arrangement for weekly meetings will be mado with that committee. Probably a largo room will bo obtained later bo that the committees of both houses may bo received in joint ses sion. , Thus tho War department meets tho insistent demand of congress for a greater share in the conduct of tho war and removes the real cause which led the senate committee's prolonged investigation of the army with its at tendant bitter criticism. Ukraine Grain Divided. Washington, D. C According to an official dispatch received from Copen hagen Friday and quoting from tho National Tidende, Germany and Aus tria will divido equally until July 31 the amount of grain available in Uk raine, During tho earlier portion of this period Austria will have two-thirds and Germany one-third of all grain obtained. During the second half tho proportions will bo reversed. Say Standardized Program Nec essary Plenty of Lumber. Washington, D. C Oregon and Washington can furnish between 400 and 600 wooden hlps n yenr, witnesses from tho Pacific Coast told the senate committee, If tho Emergency Fleet Corporation would furnish tho lumber men with a standardized program. Fears of tho Shipping Hoard that tho lumber supply In tho Northwest Is inadequate were declared unfounded. 11. B. Van Dusen, of Oregon, de clared tho mills in his stato had not reached thoir maximum capacity and said production of wooden ships on tho West Coast could bo nccolorated, Ho praised tho loyalty of Oregon lumber ing men and asserted that there Is no necessity for tho commandeering of timber. Tho car situation in that state, ho said, was very bad, and he knew of several mills that will bu compelled to closo unless the situation Improves. J. H. Hloedel, of Seattle, chairman of tho fir production board, said he had just completed a survey of tho lumber supply In Washington and had submit ted tho Information to tho Shipping Hoard. Ho said there must be a standardized schedulu for ship timber, but believed ono would shortly bo pre pared. Sawmills in Washington, Mr. Blou del said, have umplu capacity to pro duce what timber tho government needs for ships. A law authorizing tho government to commandeer timber wuh favored by I. N. Day, of Portland. He explained he did not think Buch powers wero now necessary, but bclluved the govern ment should bo in Ksitlon to taku such action. Mr. Day opiwscd extending this power so as to enable tho govern ment to take over and operate saw mills, at least at prcsont. WATCH OUT FOR WAR RUMORS Administration Asks People to Avoid Repeating Stories. Finding that Northwest communities are being fed up on falsehoods of vnr ious kinds, that tho people hero as elsewhere are repeating these stories for truth and aro thus creating a mor ale that is injurious to tho causo which brought tho United States to declare war on Germany, tho administration at Washington Ib asking tho peoplo of this state to refrain from passing judg ment on tho way tho war Is being won, or from saying and doing things that will destroy confidence. A favorite story is to the effect that food and supplies gathered and sent forward to soldiers are being divert' cd; that articles are being sold and tho money not accounted for. All such statements may be branded as false. In Portland more than 20 such rumors have been traced down and found to bo unfounded. They wero probably started by Ger man agents. All wnr news will be given out at Washington. U. S. SOLDIERS AID IN RAIDS Penetrate German Position to Depth of 600 Yards. With tho American Army in Frnnce, Sunday American troops, co-opernt ing with tho French, have carried out three raids opposite tho American sec tor in Lorraine. Two of tho raids wero executed simultaneously Sunday night. Tho Americans swept past tho Ger man first lino and penetrated to tho enemy's second line, 600 ynrds back. Tho two simultaneous raids, ono northwest and ono northeast of (deleted), wero mado after intense ar tillery preparation lasting for four hours, in which tho German positions were leveled. At midnight two forces, each ono of (deleted), with small French forces on their flanks, moved upon tho German objectives behind a creeping barrage, each on a front of 600 yards. When tho AmericanB reached tho enemy first lines tho bar rage was lifted bo as to box in tho Ger man positions at both points. Tho men dropped into tho enemy's trenches, expecting a hand-to-hand fight, but found tho Germans had fled. Continuing tho advanco, thoy went forward 600 yards to tho second Ger man line. All the tlmo American inn chino guns were firing on each flank of tho two parties to prevent tho enemy undertaking Hanking operations. Swiss Press Scores Huns. Geneva Physical reprisals against Germany aro unanimously demanded by tho allied portion of the SwIbs press for the sinking of tho steamer Sardlnero, with 3855 tons of cereals destined for Switzerland. It has de manded that tho Swiss government shall not send tho usual harmless noto of protest to Germany, but will order a 50 per cent diminution In tho bread rations granted tho German colony in Switzerland, numbering 230,000. Germans Announce Capture of 4th Largest City in Russia. MISSION IS TRAPPED Allied Diplomats Are Sulci to Have Gone to Menaced City-Held in Quarantine Without Cause. While tho entente allies are "nib bling" at tho German lines from tho North Sea to Switzerland, but aro making llttlo or no serious attempts to break through or to bring about a cul minating struggle, tho Teutonic low ers have taken another step In tho ex ploitation of tho Last. Tho advance guards of tho Gurmims have entered Odessa, tho greatest Jtus- slan port on tho Black Sea and tliu center of a great agricultural section, tho products of which are desired to feed tho hungry peoples of tho central empires. Tho German advanco through Mol davia and Bessarabia has been virtual ly unop(oscd. With Odessa safely In their hands tho Teutons will have ac cess to vast stores of wheat which can bo transported overland or by sea to points where It can readily be nhippeci Into Austria and Germany. But thu capture of Odessa will mean something more an advance over tho route to Persia and Afghanistan and possibly India, which is to be followed now that the British have severed the famous Herlin-and-Bagdnd route to the East. Tho congress of Russian Soviets, which was to have convened at Moscow on Tuesday, postponed its meeting. This gathering may bo historic, as It will bo asked to rutlfy or reject the peace forced Ukii tho Bolshevik peace delegates by tho Germaus at Brest Litovsk. When tho congress meets it Is prob able that thu message of I'resldeut Wilson to the Russian peoplo will be read. It is expected to make a pro found impression upon the assembly. Berlin, via London German troops have entered Odessa. This oIlHrul an nouncement was made Wednesday night. Odessa, tho most important seaport of Southern Russia and the fourth city of Russia in opulat!on, was founded by Catherine II in 1791. Its population numbers about -ICO,-000, nearly one-third of whom are Jews. Normally there wero several thousand German residents. Among many other Importnal insti tutions it contains tho imperial now Russian unlvursity, founded in 1865. Washington, D. C. Members of tho American and allied special mis sions to Roumauia have left J ussy for Odessa under assurances of safe con duct from tho king of Roumania. Thoy had been held for quarantine. Word regarding tho missions ciuno from Minister Voplcka, at Jassy, who said the Austrian authorities had at tempted to hold thu missions for 30 days. An investigation by members of the missions indicated there was no sanitary reason for their detention and protests were mado which convinced tho Roumanian government that somo assistance should bo given and provis ion mado for thorn to leave immediate ly. Flics First Liberty Seaplane. Washington, p. C America's first fighting Bcapluno equipped with Liber ty motors ha? boon tried out and ac cepted, it was leurncd Thursday, and a number of tho craft aro now being delivered for tho uso of tho naval air service. They aro tho advance guard of a big fleet which will bo udded to tho forces engaged in Hubrnarino hunt ing In tho war zono. A second typo of fighting piano for tho American army, known as tho Bristol model, also has now reached tho production Btago and a considera ble numbor will becomo available dur ing tho present month. Still another typo, a two.seated muchino, is being manufactured. Ship Sticks at Launching. Seattle, Wash. After bolng christ ened Culburru, tho second fhlp to bo launched from tho Sloan Shlpyurdfl. Corporation plant, tho vossol failed to complete its journey down tho ways Wednesday and it will bo launched la ter. Miss Floronco Lister, daughter of tho governor of Washington, broko a bottlo over tho prow and tho craft, moved about a foot and then stuck. All efforts to movo It further proved futilo.