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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 4, 1915)
Medford Mail Tribune SECOND EDITION WEATHER Fnlr Tonight nnil Sunday, Max. 02, Mtn. 45, Hum. 1M. f forty-fifth Year. MEDFORD. OREGON, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER. l, 1915 NO. 142 IIally--Tcnth Tear. UN DENIES IF r H INGERMANLINES Rumor of Allies' Success at Arras Is' Contradicted German Forces At tacking Riga Capture Bridgehead on Dvina Fighting Continues All Along Advancing Line. HEREIN, Sept. 4 (l)v wireless to iSnyvillo). "Humors tltul the French mill Itritish liavo succeeded in brenk- inr through the Gcnuan lines nt Ar ms arc absolutely untrue," snys the (Overseas News agency. "Tho Gcr- iuui positions in tho west nro more Isccuro niul favorable than several months ago. r HEREIN, Sept. !. The Oennnn at my engaged in the battle for pos sesion of the Riisinn port of Riga 'litis won another important victory. Anny hcndqtiiiitchi announced today the eapturo of tlic bridgehead at Fiicdrir-hstniU, on tlio Uvinn, about forty miles below Hign. Tho Ger- 1 minis captured U7 officers and 'M'2o I men. Tho text of today's official slnlo- ment is as follews: "Western theater of war: The silti- jntion on tho western front is iin-chunged.. llridge Is Stormed "Eastern theater of war: Anny of Field Marsha! Von Iliiidchurg: The bridgehead at Friedrichstndt was stormed yesterday. Thirly-soven ot- , ficers and XV23 men were taken pris oners. Five machine guns weru nlso captured. "On both sides of Vilna this enemy has repeated his vain attacks. He- nles losing a large number in killed fund wounded, he left 600 prisoners in four hands. Tu and around Grodno fighting still continue. During the ight, however, the Russians, after Miffeung defeat everywheie. retreat- il in an enstoily direction. The fort ies and all tho foits nro in our pos session, i lie letrealing enemy i ho- ig pursued. Six heavy guns and 2700 prisoners icmained in our hnnds. "To the south of Grodno tho enemy lias evacuated positions on the Nio- linen. lighting Along Lino "Helweon tho confluence of the Msihlocz the army of General Von iiilhvitz is attacking. Up to the pies- cut time SIM) prisoners have been Liken. "Armv of General Held Mnrhal 'mice Leopold of Havana : The fight ing in tins passages liirougli t lit nnrsliv district north and northeast il' Grodana continues. "Annv of Field Marlml Von Maek- I'm-cn: l no enemy is still holding tuo indgcheud near Rcreza-ICartiisku. Mirther south, in the region of Dro- Imzyit, sity kilometers (.( miles) (vest of Pinsk, tho enemy has been repul-cd." NEGRODISCLAIMS CONFESSION OF MOHR MURDER Alleged Assailants Say They Were Given Third Degree by Police, But Refused to Sign Statements Claim Innocence fop Themselves and Mrs. Mohr Doctor Threatened. TO EXECUTE NEGRO DRESDEN, Turn., Sept. I. A mob early today oxeipowerod Sheriff Lit Fon near here, seized Mullio WiUon, a. ni",ro, and locked the sheriff in jail. Tho negro was charged with entering tho loom of Mrs. James White. A noose was tied around tho negro's neck, but when Mrs. White' husband refused to be tho execu tioner tho mob returned the prisoner to the jail and released the sheriff PROVIDENCE, II. ., Sept. !. A denial that they had confessed to thu murder of Dr. C. Franklin Mohr was madu, to the Associated Press today by George W. Ilcalis, Henry Spell man and C. Victor Hrown, tho negroes who, nccording to tho police authori ties, had previously declared that they killed tho physician at the instigation or .Mrs. Mohr. Hrown told of Jiis experiences at tho Proideneo police station. 'lTioy dragged mo up and down the room by tho nun and kept slinking me," ho said, "whilo one of tho inspectors kept repenting, 'You know you did it.' I replied, 'Well, if you say so, 1 sup pose it is so. You seem to know ev erything.' I never signed anytliing." Police Inspector W. F. O'Neil said: "They did make a confession in tho presence of Mrs. Mohr. 'Drown said ho shot Dr. Mohr, Spclhnnn said ho shot Miss I'urgcr, and Ilcalis signed a statement tlutt ho stopped tho ear near a bunch of gruss us directed." Signed no Confessions Chief of Police Thomas F. Robins of Harrington admitted this afternoon that noiio of the men had signed a confession. Tho only statement signed, from them, of which he had knowledge, ho said, was that in which Ilcalis advanced tho theory that rob bery was the motive for the crime. The denial was lniulo in the county jail at Bristol, where tho negroes nro locked up. Ilcalis, tho chauffeur ol Dr. Mohr s car on tho night of tho murder, was tho spokesman, but Hrown and Spclhnnn assented to nil. "That we are absolutely innocent," Ilcalis, said, "and that wo believed Mrs. Mohr know nothing of this crime. Wo liuvo never signed n con fession and anything so said to tho Providcneo police was said joking or in a spirit of auger. Threatened by Others "Dr. Mohr, to my knowledge, had been threatened by several Rhode Isl and persons. I found a letter in his car from a mint living on Khnwood avenue, in which hu tlneatened tho doctor nnil said that if ho did not ten so his attentions to his wifu ho would fill him full ot bullets." Ilcalis declared that the doctor's automobile was followed on the night of tho shooting and it was his theory that Dr. Mohr was shot by 501110 men who jumped out of a car, fired at both the physician nnd Miss Dinger and then wrecked tho machine. 011 a cross road. 1 MODERN SOLDIER ADDS LATEST ARMS, AND ARMOR TO FIGHTING OUTFITS To tho loft is n soldier of tho allies begoggled and muzzled against German potion gas, wealing a speoios of (iiiiipnt not unlike that ancient Climiso warriors origianllv tis-ed in opposing "stink-pot" 'and "smoko ball" att.icks. In thu center and on the right are two bombers, or hnnd grenade flingers, each wearing tho hteel skull cap worn 111 action as lata as tho seventeenth century. Tho pair also carry hand grenades, slung nt tho waist, deadly looking cut-and-thnist weapons, like any mcdiiioval swashbuckler, and wear steel breastplates. STATE DEPARTMENT M N ICANE OF TAMPA. Fla., Sept. J. High wimU and water hac wrought dmiing along the Honda ootttt north of Tnnim. ()nc-(iiKiter of h nult of the south mil of Sand Key, as i!nd o- po-itv I leurHater, w wmiIii! away. the w titer i'Mrrinf with it a iiauuig camp with hII hiuo aad et)ttitwnt. K like were lot. but the irnpi1y o-s w.11 r nn-iderhl. A lauaelt with SIX ) j'H 1- UH---IIIJ; lion, T.i'lKin R3i rmgs. WASHINGTON', Sept. !. Ilopro sentativo Flood of Virginia, chairman of the house foreign affairs commit tee, deolured today that larger appro priations would have to be made at the next sossion of congress to caro for tho work of the state depattment, which practically has doubled on ac count of tho European war. "Wo are now appropriating $100, 000 a year for the emergency fund," he said. "If we are to keep abreast of all that is going on confidentially 111 tho capitals of P.uiopo, wo inut double tho $400,000." SLAV'S RETREAT IS MASTERPIECE OF DEVASTATION GENEVA, Switzerland, Wednesday, Sopt. 1, via Paris, Sopt. 4, (ilolnyed In transmission). Tho Lausanno Ga zotto publishes n lottor from an Aus trian officer fighting on tho eastern fro 11 In which ho says: "Tho ItliBHlan retreat Is a mastor pleco of terrifying, systematic, devas tation which recalls tho rotroat of 1S12, Thcro Ib an lmmenso soa of flames behind tho retiring Ilusslan armies, caused by burning houses and crops. Goncral Mfschouko Is follow ed by well organized dotachmonta of Cossacks whoso duty It Is to burn everything bohlnd tho army, Thoy accomplish their task Implacably. "Whon tho Hoovers tried to enter Krylow In pursuit of tho Ilusslans ovory stroet was aflame Thoy were nnablo to pass through tho htigo fur naco and lost many precious hoiim in going around tho town by indirect roads and across IIoIiIb. "Whon tho Austra-HungarlaiiB nr rivod at Vladlmlr-Volynskyl thoy found tho town burning and tho town of Verba was also blazing, Kvory vlllago on tho Volynskl plains as far ns Kovol was In flanioa. Tho Austro Hungarian troops had no sholtor for days. "The roads nro Indescribably cut up and obstructed. Convoys nrrivo a day and n half late. It would tako fifty soldiers to draw one curt out ot a mud hole" nKItl.IN', Sep I -A dispatch from Christiana states that a Gorman submarine of a now type, far larger than any previous vessel of this char acter, has been observed off tho southwestern eoast of Norway. This is regarded in llerlln as confirming reports that Germany is about to place in commission super-submarines far excelling tbe best of her sub merttbles n'tnerto. STAGNATION RULES RUSSIANS CHEERED BY REORGANIZATION OF STAFF OF ARMY PKTKOGItAD, Sent. I.-The up pointnicnt of General Alo.viov as elm f of staff to Grand Duke Nicholas-, and of General Ituzsky as commander of tho northern urmics of Russia, has led to tho adoption ol a hopeful tone by tho Russian piobs, whiult expressed confulouco in the ftituro oerationd of the forces of tho ompini. General Alo.Niev made a notaldo reputation in his conduct of thu Kuksiuu oporatious against Austria. Tho Russian offensive on the right hank of tho Vilia nser bus slowed down. Kussiaii military oritiist are convinced that tho aim of tho Ger main is to ut'oss the nver Dvinu, take poskOfesiou of tho railway lino between Iligil and Dviask. eapturo Vilna mid also tho fort less of ltovno to thu south mid entiencli for (ha autumn and winter. It 1 believed hero that tho Russians have ecollent chances of successfully d"ending the Dvina line. THIRTY MEXICANS R D KU1ED IN BORDER BATTLE HARRY THAW VISITS SAfHAMKNTO. (!., Sept. J. Harry K. TIihw nuned fn Saenunciito tit IrtiO this morning Jroiu Plaeenillo 011 his way to the San Fiaiieisco o. ponitiou. RewrMlion had been made in aihaiieii at the Hotol Saoramonto and he gave onlen to tho olork that he whk not to be disturbed until late in the rnonimg. He expoeU to con tinue 011 to San Francisco today. IlltOWNSVJLLK, Tex., Sept. !. Seen Me.Meaus were killed in a hat tlo this afternoon between Texas 1 angers on the American side and the Mo.icuntt, believed to hu Carra117.11 soldiers, 011 tho Mexican sido of tho Rio Grando near Old Hidalgo, To. The battle was still being waged at 2 o clock. Thoy tired across tho Rio Grande this morning 011 11 Texas ranchman, near whoio tho fighting was heiu waged this nftoruoou. No 0110 on tho American sido had been killed when tho last rcpoit was lecoivcd here. At '. o'clock this afternoon tho but tle between Americans and Mexicans botweou Mission and Old Hidalgo was in progress. Between 25 and .'10 Mcx ienns had been killed, according to reports hero. Tho firing was" across tho Rio Gmndo nor a two-milo front, John Salviui, privato in troop D, third cavalry, lias been taken to Mis siou with a serious wound in his lett hip. No other Americans had been injured at ."I o'clock. Kighty cavalry men under Captain J. C, McCoy are being assisted by a large force of Texas rangers, shoriffs and armed citizens. NEW YORK, Sept. i Stagnation today followed tho turmoil of tho 1 week In foreign eotohunge markets Here. Tho relaxation was eo com ploto that for more than an hour after the oponlnt; of the short bus- j In os day not a quotation on any for olgn monies was available. This was partly due to the big ox odus yonterday front the fluid of bankers In close touch with the sit uation on the evening of tbe Labor Day holiday. AT 0N0 IN NEW YORK NFW YORK, sept I.-Mn.. Jeun ctte KchwurU, who died hvtt uivkt ib Ike Drookhn Howe for Jk Aftl, i br(107th war, eatabluiiuHl a rocopil, it la belli-w-d, for loayevity ninong dnarl-. Sin- n- twi ami r halt feet hiyb uud WL.hfl k- than 2o ound- TTO BRING ELLIOTT BACK DF.NVF.R, Sept. 1.- The military court of impiiry imrstignting nharges aguin-it Adjutant General John Chnsu and other officers of the national guard of Colorado today considered meaiiK of bringing C. D lllliott, want Pil im a witjies, back from West Virginia. ! K tradition can bo ougltt only af ter tho raturiunir of an indictment or the filing of an iiifonuatiuii charging KlhuU with a felony. Peudixig decision as to ita policy toward I.lliott, the imlitary eouit 10 kuaieil the taking of lostiuioiiv rulat tag in t-h.irei against officer ot tho lljUUivJ. nVEUTTLEK PEN IN FIRE ORPHAN ASYLUM St. Francis Girls' Directory Orplian aoc at San Francisco BurnsSls tcrs In Charflc Prove Heroines, Marchinn Charges Out Through tho Smoke-Filled Halls. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. d.Fivo little girls perished early today in a fire which destroyed tho St. Francis Girls' Directory Orphan asylum. One body was identified ns that of Katio O'nricn, Ti years old. Fifty-two children and six adult 1, housed in the fivo-story frame build ing, high on n hill, wero awakened by the flames and only tho heroism of Sister Mary Agnes kept tha death toll no small. Sisters Itcscuo Helpless Fotty-soven others and several blind mid aged women wore guided wifely out of the burning five-story I'rnnio building by Mother Superior Murcurct. Sister Mary Agnes nnd Sister Mnry Katheriiie. Tho bodies of two children, Ellen hctli O'Urien, 5 years old, and Kittle O'Hricn, her sister, 11 yean old, woro identified. Tho bodies of three other small girls wero burned beyond recognition, lying in 0110 liltle bed on the fourth floor. About them blackened timbers protruded nnd great hides wero burn ed in floors, walls and ceiling. Thoy had been enveloped by the flames, March to Safety The mother superior nnd the two jistors wore nroused soon nfter nnd night by tho smell of smoke, tho cnickliug of the fire mid the tinkle of breaking gluss, Thoy awakened their little charges and with all hut the five who ntu dead, marched through smoke-filled hallways, down stairs to safety.' Threo infinn women, two of them blind, wero n'suued by Pntrohnnn O'Roiirke. O'Kourkc. climbed through n window into 11 room whero Miss Mary O'Gonnaii stood, with her cs enpo by other ways cut off by thu fire. Miss Ellen O'Hricn and MIsh Mnry Montnguo were found later by O'Roiirke, wandering nunlessly through rooms not then attacked by the fire. Children In Nighties Tho threescore women and children conducted their fire dull 111 their night clothing. Ouu little girl, cooler than others, began dressing when nroused and came out fully clothed. A favorable wind spaicd St. Jos oplt's hospital, closo by, where thoru aro housed more thn.it 200 patients. Nurses uud patients watched from tho windows of thu hospital and saw tho long lino of httlo gnU in their night clothes march from tho door, shivering and frightened. Hundreds of persons gathered by tho alann threw coats ami cloaks about tho children mid aided them. TOSINKBRI LONDON, Sept. 1. Woul was ro ceived by Lloyds toduy that the Brit ish bark William T. Louts, owned in Sail Francisco, was still allout. Shu is wutorloggotl. A mossage received in San Fran cisco yesterday said that tho William f. Lewis had been fired 011 by n Ger man submarine off Queenstown and wits liolioved to liao bouit sunk. She sailed from Evorott, Wash., on March 21) for ShcrnoftH, England, with a cargo of lumber. A subsequent ua blegram from Quceiintowu said tho vessel was reported to ho a derelict and that her crow had been rescued. ALABAMA LEGISLATURE COMMENDS PRESIDENT MONTGOMERY, Ala., Sept. !.--Tho Alabama aeualu and house to day adopted a joint resolution uon grHtulating President W1U011 for M htHiul 011 siibmnriiio warfare nnd praising hu efforta to obtain aafety for Anu ueuns traveling on oceun Imer, RECLAMATION ERIE MAKES WATER ORB Investigation of Irrigation Possibili ties In Rogue River Valley to Be Made hy Federal Reclamation En gineers, Jointly with State Engineer Cost to Be Ascertained. I H Mall Tribune Medford Portland, Sept. -1. Reclamation service hns or- "" dered thnt investigation by fed- "" crnl engineers ns petitioned for by Water-Users' nssociation bo "" t mndo of wntcr resources of tho "" Rogtto River vnlloy. (Signed.) GEO. E. CHAMI3ERLAIN. Wnshingtou. D. C. Aug. 28. fr. Henry Hart, president Wn- "" ter Users association, Jlcd ford, Or. My Dear Sir: Your loiter of Autrttst 18. ad dressed to tlie scerctaryof tho "" " interior, rclulivo to invcsligntton "" "" of feasibility of irrigation in tho " Rogue Rivor vnlloy has been ro- " fcrred to this office. "" Tho reclamation commission " has considered this matter caro- "" "" fully nnd has decided that bucIi " investigation as yoit request -f- f " to liuvo this work Hturtcil nt na "" should bo undertaken. Instruc tions will accordingly be issued early date. Yottra truly, "" -f a i tiavir. f early date. Yottra truly, A. P. DAVIS. Director nnd chief engineer. Dr, Henry Hart, prcaldont ot tho Water Users' association, rocelvod tho nhovo lottor Saturday from Ar thur P. Davis, director and chlof cn glnoor of tho fodornl reclamation nor vlco, Washington, D. C, formally ap proving tho application mado by the association for a federal uurvoy ot tho wator resources ot tho Ilogtio river vnlloy Jointly by tho fedoral and state governments. Tho survey will bo mado nt onco by Engineer Whlntlor, who Is division cnglncor nt Portland, In conjunction with Btato Engineer Lowls, and will bo paid for from tho fund sot asldo by tho stato an dgovornmont for Joint reclamation work, Tho object of tho survey Is to ascer tain definitely tho area ot tho valley that can bo Irrigated, tho amount of wator avallablo for Irrigation from tho various sources, tho estimated cost ot construction and recommen dations as to methods of securing tho water, Tho amount ot wator that can bo dovolopod from each avallablo source, tha cost of developing and placing It on land, tha comparative merits ot tho various Irrigation schemes will bo definitely ascertained by non-In-torcstod and authorltatlvo engineers, whoso recommendations will form a deflnlto plan to present to tho pcopla to sccuro needed Irrigation, Hlthorto tho leaguo has boon work ing blindly without a deflnlto plan for securing wator. Its efforts hava been directed to arousing Irrigation Rontlmont. Not having tho funds necessary to sccuro tho survoy, appli cation was mndo to tho reclamation (Continued on page six) ?3 ANDERSON LEAD MILE RAC E FORT SNL'LLINO, Minn., Sept. -J. Promptly at noon Starter Fred Wagner scut on their way tho four teen cars entered in today's 500-miIo automobile race. Rostn, Anderson, Cooper and Do Puhnii comprised tha first squad to loue, tho others following' nt per iods of ten seconds. Ideal weather prevailed. Coopor led nt 300 miles, with hu toammato, Audorson, in second place. Anderson took tho lend at ,'101 miles whon Cooper stopped for gas. Cooper and Audetson had ft twolvo-milo lead on O'Donncll, in third position. Coop, er's avcrogo for this dtsluuco was $828 miles an hour.