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.