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About The Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 19??-1984 | View Entire Issue (April 28, 1917)
THE WORLD HAPPENINGS RAILROAD OF CURRENT WEEK CO. LOSES Supreme Court Confirms Congressional Land Grant Act —Only Interest of Company $2.50 an Acre. Brief Resume Most Important Daily News Items. COMPILED FOR YOU Events of Noted People, Government« and Pacific Northwest and Other Things Worth Knowing. More that 900 San Francisco barbers were asked to sign petitions indorsing a rise of 5 cents for hair cuts, shaves and other items. Detectives, on Federal authority, are ordered to search the homes of every German for arms and warlike supplies. The time for turning in voluntarily has passed. The board of agriculture in England has decided that 3,000,000 acres of pasture land in England and Wales must be plowed for wheat-growing the coming autumn. The first American loan to the allied nations will go to Great Britain. The amount and other details probably will be made public by Secretary McAdoo within a few days. ' According to a Hanover newspaper received in Amsterdam, Colonel-Gen eral Baron von Falkenhausen has been appointed governor general of Bel gium, in succession to the late General von Biasing. Despite the fact that men enlisted for the regular army are being assured that they will be held only for the duration of the war with Germany, recruiting figures continue to show a steady decline. The Navy department announces that the submarine H-3, which went ashore on the California coast several months ago, has been floated. She is under tow to the Mare Island navy yard for repairs. The Turks in Mesopotamia have evacuated the Iztabilat position on the right bank of the Tigris, 10 mlies be low Samara, the war office announces. They are now being attacked at a point six miles nearer Samara. The Council of National Defense Tuesday created a committee on ship ping to advise with the Federal Ship ping Board and report to the council on the best means of increasing ton nage for shipping to the allies. The result of the election in Tokio shows a regrettabe apathy as to the constitutional development and an ab sence of a political awakening, accord ing to the Jiji, the Asahi and the Nichi Nichi, leading papers of Tokio. With both houses of congress debat ing the war army bill, it became more than ever apparent that there is no fight over whether a great army shall be raised, the only question being what strength can be mustered by opponents of the selective draft plan. Admiral P. W. von Hinze, German minister to China, who is in San Fran cisco en route to Berlin, was thrown from his automobile when a second machine collided with it on the state highway Tuesday. His hands and wrists were bruised and sprained. Passengers may no longer ride on railroad car platforms while crossing bridges. This rule was put into effect by railroads all over the country Tues day, and it applies to the rear plat form of observation ears as well as to her coaches. The chief reason for the rule is that the palftorms offer a vantage ground for bomb dropping. Count von Reventlow, of Germany, writing in the Tages Zeitung, asserts that victory is necessary. The Ger man monarchy cannot endure other wise, says he. Reuter's Amsterdam correspondent says that according to a Brussels dis- patch. General von Biasing, German governor-general inf Belgium, died Wednesday morning. The Webb bill, to permit foreign governments at war with Germany to recruit their citizens in this country for their armies, passed the house without rollcall. It has already passed the senate. A mob of 270 in Porto Alegre, Bra zil, attacked German houses recently and tore down German flags and smashed the windows. Afterwards caricatures of the kaiser were nailed to the walls. Unofficial advices say that Count Tisza, the Hungarian premier, and two members of the Austrian cabinet, have resigned. Other reports are to the effect that the resignation of the Greek cabinet is impending. Washington, D. C. — The United States Supreme court, without dissent, Monday affirmed the decree of Judge Wolverton in the Oregon & California land-grant case, and sustained the ac tion of congress in passing the Cham berlain-Ferris bill prescribing terms on which the unsold portion of the grant shall be disposed of by the government. The court briefly finds that Judge Wolverton’s decree was in accord with the Supreme court mandate, save on the one non-essential feature of costs ; that congress, in passing the act of June 9, 1916, was entirely within its rights and stayed within the limita tions fixed by the Supreme court; that “the interest under the granting acts conferred upon the railroad company was $2.50 per acre,” which the rail road will get under this law. The Union Trust company was found to have no rights in excess of those of the railroad company, for the court holds that the railroad could use the lands as a basis of credit “only to the extent of its interest in them,” name ly, $2.50 per acre. Once more the court points out that the applicants represented both by Lafferty and Puter have no standing in the case. Justice McKenna, who wrote the first opinion, wrote the opinion handed down Monday. He firmly rejects every contention set up by the railroad company. Dealing first with the railroad’s con tention that it should be permitted to cut the timber before disposing of the land, on the ground that the railroad had absolute ownership of the lands, the court says : “The grant was not absolute, but was qualified by a condition in favor of the settlers, and that if the lands granted carried by necessary implication all that was above and below the surface of the railroad company, they carried such implication to the actual set tlers.” The court reviewed briefly the his tory of the litigation, and in a foot note says of the applicants and inter veners that "this case has no further concern with them.” Taking up the provisos of the grant ing act, the court repeats that the pro visions were enforcible covenants which had been breached many times. It was not intended, says the court, that these breaches should be overlooked and the railroad company merely be enjoined against future breaches, al though this was the railroad’s conten tion. HOT FIGHTING IS RENEWED Sky Alight for Miles With Flashes of Guns on British Front. . London—The battle of Arras, which had been smoldering for a week past, burst into flaming fury again Monday, and raged throughout the night, with some of the heaviest fighting of the war in progress. The sky was alight for miles with the flashes of guns, with star-shells that spread a moonlight paleness over the battlefield and with varicolored rockets which flashed signals to the op posing artillery. The cold east wind carried the echoes of the reverberat ing cannonade far back of the British lines. The fighting covered approximately an eight-mile front, from south of Vimy ridge to a point well below Croisselles. At the north end of the attack the British swept over German fixed positions running almost due south from Lens and captured long sections of German positions in front of the Hindenburg line and a great number of prisoners. More than 1200 prisoners were counted in this sector and others were still coming in. The largest number of prisoners was from the 141st Pom eranians, who surrendered in hundreds after very brief resistance. A battery of field guns also was taken. Girls Kisa All Recruits. Hood River, Or.—Hood River High School girls, who are members of the local • chapter of the Girls’ Honor Guard, are doing their bit toward help ing naval recruiting officers. When Clifford McDonald Lee Spauld ing, William Tollman and Howard Wilden, high school boys, naval re cruits en route to Portland, were boarding the train Tuesday, a bevy of the school girls kissed each of the boys good-bye. The girls have announced that they will kiss all recruits. Pension Fund $7,500.000. Boston - The reserve fund of the Episcopal church fund, of which $5,- 000,000 was sought originally, has passed $7,500,000. Bishop William Lawrence announced Tuesday. The exact use to which the overflow will be | put is uncertain because the insurance department of the state of New York must pass on the proposition. In time, The state senate of Nebraska has the Bishop said, the overflow would go to aged or disabled clergy or to the adpoted the conference report on pro widows and orphans of clergymen. hibition and the bill is now ready for the governor's signature. When the German Strike Broken. act becomes a law. May 1. “near Copenhagen, via London—The Ger beer" and all alcoholic beverages will man military authorities have taken be barred from the state. control of the German weapon and mu Another Spanish steamer, the Tom. nition factory, the last important mu has been sunk without warning by a nitions plant in Berlin whose employes submarine. Eighteen persons per remained on strike. They ordered the work immediate ished in the attack. The expectation workmen to return in Madrid ie that public opinion ly, stating that unless they did so they against the Teutonic allies will be fur would be mobilised and compelled to Thia snded ther inflamed by the torpedoing of thia work at soldiers’ wages. ths strike. steamer. HERMISTON HERALD, HERMISTON, OREGON. OPENING SHOT OF BIRDMEN DO FIERCE LOAN WAR SINKS U-BOAT BAULE HIGH IH AIH IS SUBSCRIBED $200,000,000 Taken in Three Days Be lieve Action Presages Success of $5,000,000,000 Bond Issue. American Steamer Mongolia is War Rages 10,000 Feet Above Land Engagements. First to Get Submarine. ONE SHELL HITS MARK 40 GERMANS DROPPED Periscope Shattered and Diver Disap British Carry Out Bombing Raids 45 pears, Leaving Tell-Tale Oil on Miles Behind Enemy Lines, At Water -Gun Crew Praised. tacking Airship Hangars. London—How the first shell fired by an American gun in the present war instantly sank a German submarine is a story that future books of history may well recall. • It happened at 5:24 a. m., April 19 —the one hundred and forty-second an niversary of the battle of Lexington. It has become another “shot heard ’round the world.” The American steamship Mongolia was approaching the southeastern coast of England. It was a hazy morn ing. Captain Rice, who had not taken off his clothes for five days, had just stepped out of the chart room with Naval Gunnery Lieutenant (name de leted). This is the way Captain Riee tells what followed: “We suddenly heard an exclamation from the chief officer: ‘There’s a sub- marine off the port bow.’ Immedi ately we rushed for the bridge, where we had practically spent most of the voyage, and simultaneously we saw a submarine periscope on the port side, only 200 yards away. “Only about three feet of the peri scope showed, but I realized instan taneously she had only to • fire once to blow us sky-high, with our 600 feet of target exposed. Automatically I swung the helm right around and bore down upon her starboardwise. This seemed our only chance of not being hit amidships. I thougth the torpedo might pass alongside. “She realized our intention in stantly. She dived and also swung around, whether to avoid our attack or to maneuver into a better position for torpedoing I can’t say. At any rate, we followed her around, watching the swirling wave caused by her motion as the periscope disappeared. “Then she came up, expecting to be abe to attack us on the port side. But we were going full speed ahead and in the two minutes before she emerged we had put her a thousand yards back of us. The stern gun was trained full on her and almost the instant she re appeared the lieutenant gave the range order and then—* Fire. ’ “In watching the six-inch shell through the air we saw it land clean and square against the periscope. Shell and submarine disappeared. There was an explosion, of course, and for some minutes the surrounding area was covered with smoke. We did not fire again. “Naturally, there isn’t any actual legal proof that we got the U-boat, as we didn't recover any wreckage or bodies, but there was the tell-tale oil on the water. I believe we either hit the periscope directly, or hit the hull almost at the water level. "I can’t praise highly enough the cool, easy way the lieutenant handled his gun crew. It was about the best exhibition of efficiency I have ever seen. There was no guesswork about that shot—just a case of applied math ematics. “The lieutenant knew before the shell struck that it would reach home, for he had computed the speed at which we were traveling, and our di rection with the speed and direction of the submarine. In the two minutes that elapsed from the moment we first saw the enemy the lieutenant had that gun trained to the inch. “The crew just howled with delight when they saw the splash and the gun crew were pround men. We certainly had some fine guns and gunners. On the way over the crews practiced daily on oil cans and barrels which they threw over the side. "Our guns forward were named the George and Martha Washington and the one aft, which scored the hit, had been christened Teddy Roosevelt.” Income Limit Proposed. Washington, D. C.—Members of the American war finance committee were here Thursday to lay before the ways and means committee of the house facts and figures to support their propaganda to permit no income of more than $100.000 a year during the war. Their argument is that the aver age American citizen is in no posi tion to stand any additional burdens of taxation, and that war taxes should be borne by a class which has profited by the extraordinary increase in the country's wealth. London—The intensely bitter ground fighting of the last two days has been reflected in the air, and the British Royal Flying Corps Tuesday establish ed a new record by bringing down 40 German machines. Fifteen of these were actually seen to crash, while 25 collapsed or fell in spinning nose dives, competely out of control. The flights took place 10,000 feet in the air, from which distance it is bare ly possible to see the Germán and wholly impossible to see an adversary crash unless the pilot deliberately fol lowed it down. Such a course is not feasible where the fighting has taken on the character of a general melee, as is nowadays often the case. A re markable part of Tuesday’s perform ance is that only two British machines are missing. • It was the finest day for war flying that the young khaki pilots ever had and Wednesday they were at it again at sunrise, but the full reports of their exploits are not yet in. It is known, however, that one in trepid young flier, failing to find a single German observation balloon aloft, sought out one in its hangar on the ground, dived at it and set the big gas bag abalaze from stem to stem. Since Sunday the British airmen have been revelling in weather they have long desired. Not a cloud was in the skies behind which a German could find shelter. Deprived of that means of "digging themselves in,” the Ger man fliers were far scarcer than usual, and very difficult to find. British machines were everywhere along the battle front and far behind the German lines. Bombing raids were carried out 45 miles back, the machines deliberately flying over ground where battles were raging with the greatest fury. KAISER ASKED TO ABDICATE Suggestion Made at Private Council of Hohenzollern Family. Rome, via Paris — The Corriere d’Italia, the clerical organ, declares that it is able to confirm reports pub lished in the Spanish newspapers that the immediate following of the Ger man emperor is exerting pressure on him to abdicate. The paper says that at a recent meeting of the Hohenzol- lern family, one member, bolder than the rest, intimated that the emperor might save the situation by following the example of Emperor Nicholas. The German monarch is reported to have turned pale, and, after observing that the general opinion was against him, left the room, muttering, “We shall see.” The same evening he sum moned another family council. The chancellor and some of the ministers were present, but whatever passed re mains unknown. Hero Believed Identified. Temple, Tex.—A communication re ceived from Canadian headquarters in France by Mrs. J. F. Davis, seems to establish the fact that her son Robert was the young Texan who first carried the American flag into the present war. The message stated that the boy was wounded, but it is known that he en listed in the regiment which produced the hero of Vimy ridge, and, no other Texan enlisted with that body of troops. Young Davis’ father fought the Germans on Vimy ridge in the Franco-Prussian war in 1870. Banker Drugged and Stabbed. San Diego, Cal.—Stabbed in the neck, his throat cut and under the influence of an opiate, Joseph Harold Harden, Vice-president of the First National Bank of Holtville, Cal., was found in his berth in the sleeping car of the Owl train from Los Angeles, at the Union station Wednesday morning. Robbery is believed to have been the motive for the assault. His condition was pronounced serious by physicians at the hospital. Sweden is to Go Dry. Stockholm—The sale by retail of all distilled liquors is forbid throughout Sweden from April 24 to May 12. While it is not admitted officially there is reason to believe that the order has connection with the great May day la bor demonstration planned by the unions. The official explanation is that the excise authorities desire to Florida Ships Potatoes. make an inventory of the available Washington. D. C.— Shortage of the spirit in the kingdom. 1916 potato crop may be relieved by Argentina Lends Wheat. rapidly increasing shipments of new Buenos Aires—In accordance with potatoes from Florida during the past week, the Federal Bureau of Markets an argeement with the British minis ter. the Argentine government has au reported Thursday. Between April 1 and 20, 5072 cars thorised the exportation of 180,000 of the old and new crop moved and the tons of wheat and 20.000 tons of flour daily shipments of the new potatoes to England. Great Britain agrees that have jumped from the usual 15 or 20 200,000 tona of wheat from the Cana cars to 53 cars on April 18, 73 on the dian harvest shall bo returned to Ar gentina in July. 19th and 96 on the 20th. BALFOUR AND PARTY REACH WASHINGTON Washington, D, C — The first Amer ican offering of var securities in any form, $200,000,000 in treasury certifi cates, has been heavily over-subscribed. How great the over-subscription is, officials were unable to say, as many of the banks had not been heard from. The certificates were offered only to financial institutions. The response, officials believe, presages a patriotic? outpouring of funds to an extent un Mr. Balfour Thinks Kaiser Would Not paralleled in the history of any nation Have Forced War Had He Real when the $5,000,000,000 bond issue is placed before the general public. ized Aid Allies Would Get. Offering of the certificates was made informally because the $7,000,000,000 finance measure is not yet a law. As Washington, D. C.—The American soon as it is disposed of by congress, probably by Wednesday, the formal capital Sunday extended a simple but offer will be made and proceeds of the heartfelt welcome to the British min subscription called for at once. The informal offering of the certifi ister of foreign affairs, Arthur J. Bal cates has been before the banks of the four, and the other members of the country only three days. It was pre British commission which has come to sented by the 12 Federal reserve Washington, as Mr. Balfour himself banks, which will act as the govern expressed it, “to make co-operation ment’s agents. The certificates will easy and effective between those who bear 3 per cent interest and will ma are striving—with all their power—to bring about a lasting peace by the only ture June 30. It is probable that as soon as the ex means that can secure it, namely, a tent of the over-subscription of the successful war. ” The weather was perfect, and Wash present issue is ascertained, Secretary McAdoo will authorize the immediate ington in the bright sunshine, clad in issue of an additional amount to care the light green foliage of the season, never looked more beautiful than when for the over-subscription. the special train which had brought the distinguished visitors with their BRITAIN PRAYS FOR AMERICA official escorts from the north drew into the union station. Everywhere bunting flew in the light Tribute Paid United States Without breeze, mainly the American National Precedent—Royalty Attend. colors. The British Union Jack and London—The entry of the United the French Tri-Color were in evidence States into the world war on the side in many places, but the local flag mak of the entente allies was celebrated1 in ers had been unable to meet demands St. Paul’s Cathedral Saturday. for them. King George and Queen Mary and There were no other decorations, and numreous members of the royal house even at the union station the only hold, the mayors of the 26 boroughs touch of color was lent by the three of London, dressed in their official large flags, the American, British and robes of scarlet; Peers, cabinet minis French, which were hoisted on the ters, the ambassadors and ministers of three great masts adjoining the plaza. the entente countries, with their Nor was there any music to greet staffs; high army and navy officials the visitors, the original plan, includ and many Americans, including Walter ing the presence of the marine band, Hines Page, the American ambassador, having been amended to conform to and his staff, were present. Not a seat the view expressed by Secretary Lan in the vast edifice was vacant. sing that this was a grave and serious The service was an impressive one event in American history and not to and King George evinced the deepest be regarded as a festive affair. interest in it. The sermon was With the Balfour party safely in preached by the Right Rev. C. H. Washington, the State department has Brent, Episcopal bishop of the Philip permitted publication of the details of pine Islands. The archbishop of Can the long trip. terbury delivered the benediction. The British commissioners stole se The entire congregation arose near cretly away from England April 11 on the end of the service, when the band a fast cruiser protected in every pos played “The Star-Spangled Banner,” sible way from German spies who and there was audible throughout the might have got out word to lurking cathedral the sound of subdued voices submarines. The voyage was entirely singing the anthem. Even King uneventful, however, and the party ar George’s lips moved as he followed the rived at Halifax Friday. Crossing to lines, and at the end of the stanza the St. John, a special train took them to words, “the home of the brave,” the little Canadian town of McAdam, brought a smile to the monarch’s face just across the International bridge and he turned and nodded to the Queen. which Werner Hom, a former German officer, attempted to blow up. Satur day the party arrived at the frontier Turkish Diplomatic Relations town of Vanceboro, where the Ameri reception committee welcomed With U. S. Broken Off can them to American soil. London — The Turkish government The various members of the commis on Friday evening officially informed sion, including Mr. Balfour himself, the American embassy that diplomatic have brought with them much of the relations with the United States had atmosphere of quiet suffering and pain been broken off, according to a Berlin that has afflicted England during the dispatch forwarded by Reuter's cor last two and a half years. respondent at Amsterdam. “Even in the few hours we have American Ambassador Elkus, who is been in the United States,” Mr. Bal suffering from typhoid fever, the re four said, “we have been struck with port adds, will have to remain some the atmosphere of calm and peaceful time in Constantinople. The ambassa ness which naturally prevails. We dor’s condition has shown some im feel ourselves far removed here from provement. the stress and horror that Germany has thrust on Europe, much as many of Basel, Switzerland, via Paris—A dis our people felt distant from France in patch from Constantinople says the the early days of the war. The Unit Ottoman government has notified the ed States, fortunately, probably will American embassy that, following the not experience the human losses that example of its ally, Austria-Hungary, France for so long, and ourselves dur it has broken diplomatic relations with ing the past months, have experienced. the United States. “Nevertheless,” Mr. Balfour ad ded, “I doubt if you can foresee what Three Boys Die in Launch. fundamental changes the war will Seattle — The bodies of three small bring into your ordinary life. Mr. Bal boys, Billy Williams, 6-year-old son of four, while unwilling to speculate on Bailey V. Williams, an Associated what form American participation in Press operator; Raymond Mills, 9-year- the war might take, said he had no old son of P. Mills, and Jack Izzard, doubt that America’s efforts would as aged 11, were found Sunday on a gaso tonish the world, particularly Ger line launch in Lake Washington, as many. He indicated that it was his phyxiated by gasoline fumes. The opinion that if Germany had foreseen launch was moored to the shore near how fully the United States would en the home of one of the boys. When ter the struggle she would not have they did not return home in the after precipitated war between the two noon search was begun for them, it countries. being feared they had been drowned. 6000 Lewis Guns Ordered. Sunday they were found in the launch. Washington, D. C. — Emergency or Shriners Cancel Gaiety. ders for 6000 Lewis machine guns for St. Louis—Cancellation of all social the army and navy have been placed features at the 1917 session of the Im by the government, although the perial Council of the Ancient Arabic American-made weapon, which has Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for been the subject of such bitter contro North America, to be held in Minne versy, has not been adopted as the apolis June 26, 27 and 28, were deter standard light machine gun for the mined upon Monday by Henry F. Nied- army. Tests of the Lewis and other ringhaus, of St Louis, imperial poten light weapons will take place May 1, tate, who met delegates from other and a final decision would be reached. cities in a conference here. The Lewis gun, once rejected by the The decision was made because of U. S., has become one of the great the war. factors of entente armaments. American, British and French Flags Fly Over Capital. GREAT CROWDS CHEER Another Dreadnaught is Added. • New York— Another dreadnaught en tered waters as a unit of United States sea power Monday when the battleshp New Mexico, comparing favorably offensively and defensively with any other fighting vessel afloat, was luanched at the New York navy yard. The ceremony was of a private char acter because the nation is at war. The New Mexico was christened by Miss Maragret C. DeBaca, daughter of the late governor of New Mexico. Labor Leaders Coming. London—At the invitation of Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, through Presi dent Wilson, to the British govern ment, two representatives of British trades unions have been selected to visit the United States. They are Charles W. Bowerman and James H. Thomas, members of the house of com mons. They are to expain in detail! the measures taken in England to solid ify the labor resources of the country.
