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About Eagle Valley news. (Richland, Or.) 191?-1919 | View Entire Issue (May 16, 1918)
WORLD HAPPENINGS OF GURRENJ WEEK Brief Resume Most Important Daily News Items. COMPILED FOR YOU Events of Noted People, Governments and raelOc Northwest and Other Things Worth Knowing. To date 1,227,000 Americana have hn rnllMi to tho colors under the se lective sen-ice act. Sergeant L. Baylies, of New Bed ford, Mza3., an American flyer in France, has brought down seven Ger man airplanes within the last two months, says an official dispatch from France. Sven voune men of Brussels, born in Rlcium of German parentage, but Rt'ltrian citizens by adoption, have been taken to Germany to be enrolled in tho armv. according to an official dispatch from France. Saloonkeepers in New York City were notified Thursday by Brigadier General C. H. Sherrill, adjutant gen eral of New York State, that alcoholic linnors must not be sold to drafted men, even though they are not in uni form. British troops on May 7 entered the Turkish town of Kerkuk, 80 miles southeast of Mosul, in Mesopotamia, the British War office announces. The British met with no opposition. The Turks on retiring left 600 men in the Kerkuk hospital. Emperor William has returned to Potsdam owing to the political crisis resulting from the recent rejection of suffrage reform by the Prussian diet. Count von Hertling, the imperial chan cellor, has been summoned to Potsdam to report on the situation. Serious disturbances in the Austrian Hungarian fleet have caused changes in the high command, a dispatch from Switzerland says. The crews, com posed largely p( . Slavs and men of Italian desceXu, have made much trouble and the disturbances were put down with difficulty. Unofficial advices tell of an order for the expulsion from Mexico of Robert H. Murray, the representative of the committee on public information in Mexico City, who, in that capacity, has been in charge of tiie work con ducted by the American government to offset German propaganda. Joseph F. Rutherford, successor to "Pastor" Russell as head of the Inter national Bible Students' association, and five other leaders of the organiza tions founded by Russell, were ar rested in a raid by Federal authorities on the headquarters of the Bible Stu dents' Association in Brooklyn Thurs day. An order for 100,000 wrist watches and 100,000 radio compasses for the officers of the American army are amonir the unexpected requests that have come to the American supply de partment in Paris. These new imple ments of war are being rapidly assem bled from Swiss and other European stocks. " When you are as old as I am you won't be looking under an automo bile, " said Thomas Pratlier, of Olym pia, jokingly Thursday to a woman ac quaintance who was examining her machine. With these words he fell to the pavement and died on the street He was 80 years of age and one of the oldest Olympia pioneers. Estimates submitted to congress Thursday by the shipping board call for an appropriation of $2,223,835,000. For the cost of construction of ships authorized by the urgent deficiency bill of 1917 the board has requested an ap propriation of $1,380,100,000, and for the purchasing and requisitioning of plants and materials, $052,000,000. The War Trade board has issued reg ulations holding imports of crude rub ber to the United States to a basis of 100,000 tons annually and limiting is suance of licenses for such importation to 25,001) tons from May C to July 31. Tho cut amounts to something more than one-third of America's imports. The order goes into effect immediately. Two women spies, Josephine Alvar ez and Victoria Faucher, condemned to death by courtmartial January 25, at Nantes, Franco, were executed Tuesday morning. May 0 was tho hottest in the history of tho Now York City weather bureau. At mid-afternoon, tho official thermo meter registered 84, breaking by four degrees tho record established on May C, 1890. WHEAT CROP IS HUGE; Adverse Weather and IJibor Condi tions Curtail Planted Area, hut Crop Will be Near Record. Washington, D. a Hope for the billion-bushel wheat crop, for which tho government Is striving this year, was strengthened Thursday by tho de partment of Agriculture's May crop report forecasting a production of 572,539,000 bushosl of winter wheat. Secretary Houston, in a statement Thursday, said there was every reason to anticipato Increased farm yields this year over tho record production of last year. He added, however, that tho promise ,11,1 nat warrant relaxed efforts for greater production and for greater con servation, and he called upon tho peo- plo of towns and cities to realize that the farmer cannot work miracles and to lend him tho assistance needed at harvest time. Realization of a winter wheat crop as large as that forecast would place this vear's harvest of that grain as the third largest cvor gathered. Tho esti; mate is 12,500,000 bushels more than forecast in April from conditions then oxistine. and 154.400.000 bushel more than tho crop harvested last summer, On conditions from now until harvest time will depend whether tho crop will be larger or smaller than tho present forecast, based on conditions May 1 In the week since then generally fa vorable weather for wheat develojy ment continued and the crop has made ! excellent progress in all principlal pro ducing areas. Efforts havo been made to stimulate production of spring wheat and prelim inary reports indicate an increase in the acreairo of that crop which may bo sufficient under good growing condi' tions to bring the total wheat produc tion this year well toward the billion bushel mark. No official report has yet been made on the acreage of spring wheat; the first announcement will be made in June. Reports indicate tho seed al- readv planted has terminated well generally. HALF MILLION TROOPS OVER Baker Declares His "Promise to Con- gress More Than Fulfilled. Washington. D. C More than 500, 000 American soldiers have been sent to France. Secretary Baker Thursday authorized the statement that his fore cast to congress in January that 500, 000 troops would be dispatched to France early in the present year now had been surpassed. Mr. Baker dictated tho following statement: "In Januarv I told the senate com mittee that there was strong likelihood that early in the present year 500,000 American troops would bo dispatched to France. I cannot either now or perhaps later discuss the number of American troops in France, but I am glad to be able to say that tho fore cast I made in January has been sur passed. The secretary chose his words aoout the troops in France with the utmost care, lie would not ampiny tne siau--ment in any way, and specially asked that the press refrain from speculation as to what precise figures his guarded remarks covered or as to what possi bilities of early further increase in the force on the other side there might he. There have been repeated official an nouncements, however, that tho gov ernment is bending every energy to rush men across to back up the allied lines in France, and officers directly in charge of the transportation havo ex pressed satisfaction with the progress being made. Misfit Shell Kills Nine. Fort Worth, Tex. Nino American gunners were killed and seven injured more or less seriously near UenbrooK, a few miles west of Fort Worth, when a three-inch shell exploded Wednesday afternoon. One gun crow, comprised of mem bers of the headquarters company of tho 141st infantry, was entirely wiped out and a second crew from headquar ters company of the 142d infantry suf fered heavy casualties. An attempt on tho part of a gunner to force tho shell, which apparently did not fit, down a trench mortar, la believed to have been responsible for tho accident. Minimum Wage Now $9.60. San Francisco The Industrial Wel fare commission of California issued an order Thursday establishing a mini mum waire of $9.C0 for a 48-hour week, or 20 centa an hour, for all wo men in tho state engaged in unskilled and unclassified occupations. Under the term "unclassified occupations" tho commission includes all occupations which have not been classified as tho mechanical, factory, laundry or can ning industries, office or professional 23 BILLION NEEDED FOR WAR PURPOSES Vast Outlay for Coming Year Predicted by Treasury. CONGRESS INFORMED Indications Are That Further Bond Issues Will 11c Authorized Re gardless of Revenue Action. Washington, D. C. Congressional leadors havo been advised by Secretary McAdoo that legislation at this session of congress is imporativo to provide revenue to meet tho unexpected In creaso In expenses Incident to thu vast expansion of tho nation s war pro L'rnm. Tho basis of caculatlon uiton wnicn $23,000,000,000 Is fixed uium as tho amount needed for next year nocos sarllv Is Inexact, since condltlona which cannot bo foreseen may either Increase or reduce the actual govern mental outlays. A statement of Uic country a finan cial situation, ujwn which tho amount of additional taxes and bonds needed may bo calculated, has been prepared at tho treasury for submission within tho next two or three days to thu com. mittecs of tho senate and house. Whether congress will undertake nt tho present session upward revision of tho war revenue law of last fall, leaders at tho capltol said Friday, de pends upon tho Impression made by this statement If it demonstrates thnt'it Is essen tlal to act now instead of waiting un til December, as planned, hope of nd iournment bv July 1 will go glimmer ing and congress probably will bo here until fall. Secretary McAdoo's belief that leg' islntion must bo 'enacted at once was expressed in a letter to Scnntor Sim mons. of North Carolina, chairman of tho senate finance committee. The unepxected heavy estimates of expenditures for the coming yenr in elude the $15,000,000,000 army pro crmm. about $1,500,000,000 for the navv. with further cstimntes expected, and $2,250,000,000 for tho Shipping Board. Snnntor Simmons said tho tacit agreement to defer further revenue legislation until next Dcccmlwr was made before these now estimates wore submitted. The situation now, he is mnterinllv changed and will have to be considered in the new light whnn Secretary McAdoo's formal statement is presented. 2 STATES HIT BY TORNADOES Storms Strike Illinois nnd Iowa, Caus ing Deaths and Much Damage. Chlcairo At east 11 persons wore killed and more than 150 more or less seriously injured by a tornado which swept over Central Illinois anil Central and Northeastern Iowa into inursuay according to advices received here. Hundreds of houses wore blown down and tho property damage was heavy In many localities. The known dead arc nt the following places: New Hnmpton, In., four Nashua. la., two: Toulon, III., two Franklin. III., three. Tho storm was accompanied by tor rnntlnl rains, which washed out miles of railway track, while tho wind up rrntrd trees and tclcirranh and tele nhnnn tiolcH. naralvzlnir wire communl cation for many hours. Many build inga were destroyed nnd crops nnd gnr dens ruined. At Franklin. Morgan county, 1111 nois. three persons were killed by falling roof. At Toulon, III., n farmer nnd his son woro killed when thei homo was wrecked. Near Nashua, la a farmer was reported to havo been killed. At Eldridgo n score of porsons were Injured when their homes were demolished and ono womnn was enrried through the air for 300 feet, sustain ing a broken collar bono. Soveral per sons were injured near Muscatine. At Pana, 111., n passenger train was wrncked hv a washout, but no ono was seriously Injured. Costa Rica is Regretful. San Joso, Costa Rica Tho Costa RIcan congress by n voto of 28 to has voted confidence in tho government of President Feder co A. Tinoco and at tho same tlmo adopted a resolution ex pressing regret lit tho attitude of tho American government toward Costa Rica. Tho Tinoco government camo Into power In Junuary, 1917, after tho deposition of President Gonzales. Tho United Statca refused to recognize tho government. HUNS OFFER PEACE i To Keep ANnco-l-arralne, However: Austria to Make Concession, is Report Balfour Denies. IxiihIoii Germany's poaco emissary, according to tho Dally Mail, has been busily working horo, but has miulo no progress In any direction. Thoro Is reason to bollovo, it says, that tho Gorman agent, who has boon report- d to bo a Dutch financier, returns to Germany to report thnt there Is noth ing doing. A Central News dispatch from The Ilniruo says tho Dutch Intermediary is reported to bo Jonkheor Colyn, former minister of war. Tho promwals Hindu by Jonkheor Colyn, tho dispatch rvorts, are said there to have been as follows: 1. Germany to renounce all claims in thu went. 2. Restoration of Belgium. 3. AlsHco-lAirralno to bo autono mous, within the itormun icdoraiion. I. The status In thu east to remain as at present. 5. Austria to maku certain conces sions to Italy lu tho Truntlno. 0. Balkan question to bo solved by an international conference. 7. All colonial questions nlfectlng Africa and Asia Minor to lw settled by a conference of all tho belligerents. 8. Germany to abandon all claims to her former Chinese protectorate of Kino Chau, but In exchange to receive certain economic concessions in China Jonkheor Colyn camo to England last week nt thu head of a mission whoso purpose was said to bo to ox plain to tho British thu difficulties caused by Germany's demand on Hoi land concerning tho transfer of Gor man materials across Holland to Bel irlum. Foreign Secretary lialfour told tho house of commons Monday that no pence offers had been made recently by tho enemy. Ho added: "Thoro is no representative of neutral nation In this country who has made tentative or informal sugges tions of peace negotiations." Rome No favorable occasion for a further oiico movo by Pokj Benedict has presented Itself, nor docs one seem near, It was stated at Uie Vati can when Innuirv was made there re garding the report that his holiness would make a new oaco offer on Whit Sunday. HUN CIVILIANS SEE NO PEACE Hope Each Day Will Bring Decision- Speak of Battle as Wicked. With the British Army in France, Sunday Interesting comments by Gor man civilians have been furnished from an enemy mall bag captured by tho British on a section of tho Handera front. Almost without exception, ref rences are made in the lettera to the stoppago of leave and tho parcel post from the front. I ho tone is resigned rather than recalcitrant. Onu letter from Berlin dated April 25 said: "Peace docs not seum to be coming along, as we fondly hoped. All thi in tho West is too wicked for any thintf. Wo hopo every day It will come to a decision ami ino unusi will be driven into tho North sea, but thov stand firm." "Wo havo such a scarcity of shoes n Ettlingen it is Impossible to get them. If there are any In Belgium please send me a pair," says a lotto til in Kltl linen on April zb. "Aro you not coining homo on leave soonV How much longer Ib It going ! limtV" rmids a third lutter. A noto from Rhumsfrlnge, dated Anrll 23. saya: "Tho mustering or ino rjzu ciass took nlaco horo last Friday. Most o them were accepted." Bond Printing Expedited. Washington, D. C To supply liber ty bonds to subscribers promptly, extra shifts of prlntera woro sot to work Tuesday by tho Bureau of Engraving and Printing and It la planned to do liver all bonds within two weeks About 18,000,000 bonda already have been printed and moro than 10,000,000 havo been distributed. Secretary McAdoo formally announ ced that ho would make nllotmonts of nil subscriptions In full. Tho total of subscriptions tabulated by the Treasury department Monday nlifht was nearly $3,500,000,000, near lv 3500.000,000 moro probably will bo reported before tho total la aiinounccdi aomo time alter next wonuay. Great Mine Field Is Plan. London According' U Archibald Hurd, in tho Dally Telegraph, tho aroa In tho North Sea recently announced hv tho British government as prohibit cd as danirorous to shipping after May 15, will bo tho grcateat mine field over laid for tho specml imrftoso of foiling aubmarlnes. It will embrace 121,782 square miles, tho huso forming a lino boweon Norway and Scotland, and tho noak extending northward Into tho Arctic circlo, IN OE Starving Persians Turn to Dogs and Cannibalism. TYPHUSJ0INS HUNGER Fook Situation In Germany Growing Worse Dally Ukraine Granaries Offer Only Slight Relief. Washington, 1). C. Conditions In Persia aro described ns desperate lit a dispatch to tho Statu Department Wednesday from tho American lega tion at Tehorun. Famine is Increas ing, and typhus, tho message said, Ik provolent in most of Uio cities. Tho food shortage, Uio legation ro- xrtod, has forced tho population to eat dogs and even practice cannibal ism. Through American relief societies tho United States has already dona much to help tho Persians. Some time ago tho Htato department was obliged to explain to tho Persian government, In resjwnso to a request for a loan, that It was not wlblo lor tho United States to lend money di rectly except to co-bolllgurent, but tho department Interested private parties who supplied moro money man was asked for by tho Persians in the shao of a government loan. Washington. D. C. -Further Infor mation revealing how critical the food situation in Germany has lccomo reached tho Statu department in semi official dispatches. The munitions committees oi uio rolchstag and landtag have been hold ing dally sittings. The question of reducing tho present rations has not been decided. It Is Indicated there Is small hoo of relief from tho Ukraine, where tho largo cities are already suffering from Insufficient food. . Even If Ukraine supplies aro obtained It will not give an Increase in the food ration An official remirt made public in Germany on May 2 said there wero 12,000 carloads of grain ready in uou- manla for shipment to Germany, but oven if It Is transported It will do no moro than to prevent a reduction of food allotments. San Francisco. Approximately 15,- 000,000 jKninds of excess wheat flour held In warehouses and by wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, bakers and Indi viduals throughout tho state, will bo assembled immediately for direct ship ment to France, It was announced Wednesday by Ralph P. Merritt, fed eral food commissioner for California. Tho 15.000,000 imiuihI rcpresunt California's surplus over tho official al lotment of six pounds a mouth a per son and had been acquired prior to tho formulation of tho now wheat saving program. Tho excess was determined by an oxhuustlvo survey by county food administrators. NIcaraguaiiN Declare War on Germany. San Juan Del Stir, Nicaragua, May 7. Tho Nicaragua!! congress Unlay de clared war on Germany and her allies. The declaration of war waa adopted by congress at tho suggestion of Presi dent Chamorro with only four dissent ing votes. Congress also adopted a declaration of solidarity with thu United Statea and other American republics at war with Germany and Austria, and au thorized tho president to take steps to utilize Ui a full measure thu nation's forces In tho war. It Is tho 20th nation which has de clared war ugalnst Germany. Oil Relief Bill Approved. Washington, I). C. Roprcsentativea of thu oil Interests on tho Pacific Coast In conference with Secretary Daniels and Murk L. Rcqun, oil controller for tho Fuel administration, approved tho bill now boforo congress under which tho Navy, by Presidential proclama tion, will take over and operate all oil and gas wulls In thu naval oil resurvea In California. This action la expected U pavo tho way for relief from tho threatened oil famine In that district. Cancel French Debt, Says Kenyan, Washington, I). C--Cancellation of Franco'a financial obligations to tho United Statea la proposed in a resolu tion Introduced Tuesday by Senator Konyon, of Iowa, The resolution provides that "all ob ligations of the Republic of Franco to tho United Stales of America for moneys borrowed or funda advanced alnco tho commencement of tho pres ent war, Including Interest thureon, bo and are hereby canceled," AMINE FOLLOWS WAKE