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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1916)
Medford Mail Tribune Miff SECOND EDITION WEATHER I'rilr fonlKul it ml Hlinday, Mitt., fill! mlii., 210, Fortvflfili Tssr. Dii -T-i.iii Ymr. WUbtKWinUKtd: ADiuinocn mDT OF DOUIONI Northeastern Corner Pillar of Main Fortifications of Verdun Reported Stormed by Germans and Now in Their Possession Is Four Miles From Verdun. aiKRLLV, Kelt. SC U Is officially nunuunccil t tint Fort Doiinmont, ono of tho fortlflcntloiiH of Verdun, wis taken by storm yesterday afternoon and U now firmly held by tlio Gor ninns. Tlio official nnnotiucomant Ih as follew: "Tlio nrmorcd fort of Douamont, tlio norlhonHtcrn corner plllnr of tlio permanent nmln 11 no fortlflcatloiiH of the Bt'roiiRhold of Vordun, wsib storm ml yostordny nfturnoon by tlio twen ty-fourth regiment of Rrnndonburg Infantry nnd In now firmly In uor ninn hands." i Four billet Kitiiii Verdun Fort Doiinmont IIoh four mllos northonst of Vordun. It Is one of nearly a score of forts circling Vor dun nnd Is sltuattHl just to tho north of tho railroad runulnK oast from tho city of Mot. Doiinmont Is ono of it cluster of seven forts protecting Vordun from tho oast. Forts Do Sauvlllo, Do Tuv n nil on nnd St. Michel llo directly bo tweon tho position conquered by tho Uormnns and tho city of Vordun. Tho conquest of this fort was modo by tho right wing of tho Iiiiro nttock Iiir army, which has scored the greut ost advance In tho nssnult on tho Fronch position. Douamont Is some what to tho oast of what hns hither to been tho principal lino of progross, lie I n k situated four miles oast of tho Mouse rlvor. The main force of tho German attack us Indicated by tho previous communications, was being oxortod southward along tho Mouse. IiiiKirtniit Arhlowiiicnt Tho capturo of Douaumout is tho most Importnnt iioJilovomont wince tho inauguration of tho Gorman drivo nt Vordun an onslaught ulilch for fury and for weight of men and guns lias fow procedonts In tho wnr. Tho French war office has expressed con fidence that, notwithstanding the ad mitted groat strength of the Gorman drlvo, Verdun and Its protecting fortresses would bo able to hold out. Theso positions form what has boon rewarded as ono of the greatest strongholds of Kurojio. it Is tho strongest fortress of Franca and Is of particular Importance from tho fact that It offers direct communica tion with Paris, which Is ISO mllos to tho west. Vordun marks tho northerly point of tho groat Fronch dofeusea against direct attacks from German torrltory, the most southerly being llelfort, as between tho two points He tho stretch of frontier on which Germany touches France. Franco has other fortified points further north, but not of such Im portance. Tho most Important, prob ably, of thoso latter was Maubougo, which was taken by the Germans with sacrifices to thorn estimated it tho tlmo, In September, 1914, nu bo twoon ho.ooii and 1 n,ooo. TAMPA, Flu, Feb 27 I Grant L.wnan, under federal court Indict ment In Now York on charges of us ing the malls to defraud while oper ating under the firm name, "John 11. Putnam & Co.." today admitted his Identity whon taken before a United States commissioner for examina tion. 'J .y in an oxproased a dealro to bo re turned to California, whoro he Is un der sentence to serve IS months on a former oharge. Lyman said: "I whs sontenced to prison In California, but would Just as soon serve that sentonco In the Federal prison ut Atlanta, if that would be of convenience to the fed eral government. My bond has not been forfeited. If I choose to sur render to my bondsmen I havo every right to do so. and that Is my Inten tion. When I am released from prison the New York authorities can do what they see fit, but not before. Nobody can keep mo out of Jail If I want to go In." E SIOI X CITY, la , F-l -'! M. R. Murpli) of Omaha, genual manager of the Cudab) pat king plants, made the statement today that the Cudahy and Armour packing companies will luintfdlately advance the wages of emiiloes In all their packing punts v per ent More tlun jihui men -t.ii.L l.. 1 i i.ni.ihi - 1. 1..11, liaarr. -. w r . i- . o A.uitli inoie i.i4 ' LYMAN ASKS 10 RETURN 10 PRISON FHKXCII FORCKS IX CIIAMPAHXH CAI'TlKi: FIRST (3 Hit. MAX MM RTRLIX. Fob. 20 -The French forces In the Cham- pagne have niado nu attack on the German positions south of St. Mnrle-n-Py. The war offlco statement says the French pen- otrated the first Gorman trenches over n dlstanco of about 250 yards. Ciormnn newspapers admit that heavy lossos nro bolng sus- ' tnlued In tlio Verdun otfensivo fr and warn tlio nubile against ex- IravnRant hopes. The Frank- furtor Zoltung declares that tho German rcRlments aro ' fighting In a sea of fire." TRY 10 DEW E LISROX. Fob. 2S.--Tho Portu guese premier stated In tho chambor of deputies today that attempts had been made to damaRo seven of tho Teutonic Bhlps requisitioned by the government nnd that nn explosive had been found on tho steamship Huolow of tho North German Moyd company. The premier added that ho considered It In tlio best interests of Portugal that tho existing' treaty with Germany bo allowed to lapse and said that tho Portuguese govern ment was prepared for till eventuali ties that mlRlil arise from tho exor cise by PortURnl of her rights. Dr. Alfonso Costa, tho premier, In answer to a question by Doputy Cam aclio roRardlng tho employment to which tho requisitioned German nnd Austrian vessels would bo put, said that tho Rovernmont's action in req uisitioning them had been prompted by the necessities of tho nation's economic situation. Tho requisition, ho naltl, had been cnrrled out simul taneously In order to forestall, so far as was possible, attempts at willful damago of tho ships, which thoro was reason to believe could bo niado, nnd which had In fact been made on seven of them. An explosive apparatus had beon found In the boilers of tho steamship Iluolow. which would have caused nu explosion when the vessel moved. An explosion wns prevented, but tho steamship was damaged. Minister Costa said hr. furthor considered It wms In tho best Interests of tho coun try that the existing troaty with Germany should be denounced and allowed to lapse Juno 5, 1917. Iu conclusion he said "Wo aro prepar ed for all eventualities that may arise from our exercising our rights," IREE MEMORIAL 10 Ono Tuesdu), Marth 7. Ilurbank Day, the Greater Medford club, In conjunction with the Dramu league, will plant n tree on tho library grounds as u momorlal to Shakos ponro. In order that all of tho schools may participate, tho exorcises will not begin until 4:U0 In tho nftor noon. Tho Washington and tho Hoosovolt schools will ouch supply two chorusos tho high school baud will play and an address will bo given by a local orator. Representative illUeuu will plant tlio treo. All are Invited to come nnd holp to make this a memorulrte occasion. Dl-;S MOIXKS, la . Feb 2G Two full democratic tickets muv bo plac ed before Iowa voters at tho Juno G primary this year, as tho result of n decision oarly today by leaders of so called progressive democrats to en ter a slate of their own. After an all-ulght meeting tho con ference unanimously solectod Sena tor John T. Clarkson of Albla, leader of the dry forces In tho 3Cth general assomblv, to head the new ticket as candidate for governor In opposition to tho regular democratic tjekot. Ed ALLIES' ELEVATOR SlPKRlOR, Wis, Feb. 28. Watchmen guarding big grain ele vators containing millions of bushels of wheat for the allies were alarmed early today when an aeroplane, soar ing 3000 feet In the air, cireled above the docks (or half an hour. The machine was observed Just be fore dawn When It became light It disappeared In the direction of the nOw plant of the Minnesota Steel coiupan on the St I.ouls river n aeroplane r--t-Mh was sighted ne.ii the Duponf ,.oiii-r pUnt at w.i'vbii'iin. MAN SHIPS SEPORIS K MEDFORD FRENCH FRONT E Germans Claim Considerable Ad vances Made East of Mcusc, in Presence of Kaiser Attack De velops Alorn Wide Front South and East of Verdun. HKIILIN, Feb. 2C An offlclul statement Issued today says that con siderable advances havo been made cast pf tho .Mouse In tho region north of- Verdun, iu tho presenco of Kmpr or William. Tlie war office also announced tho capture of tho hills southwest of tho village of l.otivemont nnd tho forti fied positions to tho east thereof. Resistance of tho French broke down on tho Woovro plain along tho outtro front to Marphovlllo, south of tho highroad from Paris to MoU. "Wo nro pursuing tho retreating enemy." tho statement says. Wldo Front of Rattle. Tho German statement Indicates n development of tho attack along n wldo front south nnd east of tho re gion north of Verdun along which pressure hitherto hns been exerted. Tlio highroad from Paris to Motz referred to runs through Vordun, passing slightly to tho southeast. It Is crossed at a point about fifteen miles east of Verdun by thu German lino, bending southward in tho sal lent to St. Mlhlel. Vordun Is thus balug nssallod simultaneously from tho north, northeast, cast and south cast. Apparently tho Germans nro de veloping an nttnek similar to that employed frequently with marked success against tho Russlnn fortified positions In tho campaign of last summer. Their tactics were to bond buck tho Russian Hues on both sides of the selected point of nttack nnd compel evacuation of tho fortress Itself. The town referred to In tho Gor-J man statement ns marking th,o south ern end of tho portion of thu French front which has been broken Is prob ably Mnrclicvllle-cn-Woevro. This town Is Just south of tho Pnrls-Motz highway, thirteen miles east of Ver dun. Official Statement. Tho stntemont follews: 'Wostorn frent: On tho night of Fobrttury 25 an. advance by n Ilrlt- Isli detachment east of Armentloros was repulsed. "In tho Chnmnngno tho Fronch mudo an attack south of St. Mnrlo-a- Py position which wo captured Feb runry 12. Thoy succeodod In pone trntlng our first lino trenches over n width of 250 yards. "lCiift of tho Meuso, considerable advances were made on tho bnttlo front In tho prosonco of tho king- emperor, our bravo troops gn nod possession of tho hills southwest of tho village of l.nuvomont nnd to tho group of fortified positions situated east thereof. In the fierce rush for wurd Rrnudonbiirg roglineuts pushed on us far ns the village nnd armored fort of Dounuinont which thoy car ried by storm." "In tho plain of the Woovro, tho enemy' roslstnneo broke down along the entire front as far as tho neigh borhood of Marphovlllo (Marchu vllle), south or thu national highroad fiom Paris to Mot. Our troops aro closely pursuing the rotioatlug enemy. "Tho rapture of the village of Champhcuvllle, reported yesterday, was based on erroneous report'' F, E DKS MOIXKS, la, Feb. SHI. -I.ouls D. Ratos, a farmhand who workod for twenty years on farms owned by tho lato Kdward Howell, and his daughtor Jennie with salary, oxpectlng as a reward that Miss lion oil should bo his wife, will ro colvo J 15,300 us the result of a Jury's verdict In thu Polk county district court. Ratos contended he worked with an understanding that when Mr. Howell died he would marry Miss Hawell. .Mr. Howell died, and tho death of his daughter followed soon after. Rates sued the estate for 140,000 back pav. 10 OBJECT OF WAR LONDON', Feb. .it. -Philip Snow den, socialist member of the house of commons for lllackiiurn, has given notice that he lutends to ask Premier Asiultb Tuesda Mhether the Rrlt lh government ascertain front the allies of this nation before the con clusion of the agreement not to make a separate peace what their object was in Ke war and what tht- expect ed In the wj or Kuaiaiitt-t , territoi mI lomexiKus diidj trade uud uou- lllili Of.X'tt 'Iflllf IV PLAIN A BIN ARMHAND1 GIVEN ORK(K)N SATl'HDAV. I.OJHMim .1 II t V.MAX ASKS I.IUVK TO WORK tTH)X (jlll'ltCH RHPORT -4 CHICAGO. Veb 20. Permls 4 slon to work on nn annual church report ' Instead of plny- lug cards" di ring sparo mo- inents, shouli he decline as n Juryman, wns granted Arthur V Parker, who has beon tent ! atlvely ncceptHl liv both sides for the Jury In the trml of Wll- Ham Lorlmor, former United States senntor, charged with ! fraud In connection with the collapse of the Ln Sallo Street Trust & Savings Hank. Parker Is treasurer df a local church. ICIght Jurors have been nccopt- cd tentatively by both sides. OF 140,000 VOTED BY COMMITTEE WASHINGTON Feb. 2fi. Tho house military committee today voted for n regular standing army of 1.17. 000 men, with n 2 per cent allowance for recruiting, bringing tho number up to 1 -10,000, which Is slightly more than tho war department nskpd. Tho republicans nnd three democrats car ried tho vote. Voting began nt a proposal for 220,000 men. The number was grad ually scaled down, until n proposal for 150,000 men wns beaten by one vote. Then the republicans nnd three democrats put through tho pro vision ns It was finally accepted by tho committee to he Incorporated In the bill to bo presented to tho house. Tho wnr department's vstliuntn for additional officers for the regular nrmy was Increased from 7C8 to 1000, Tho section of reorganizing (ho Na tional Guard was framed to provide Tor n maximum strongth of 121,000 men, of which SO per cent must bo recruited within two years. The senate committee hns prac tically agreed on a provision for sovornl summer student encampments nt the direction of the president Thoso who take the Instruction would bo mustered Into a special federal reserve pledging themselves to servo tho country If needed, but bolng quite npnrt from tho regular nrmy reserve or the National Guard. Tho plan resembles the continental nrmy scheme somewhat BLUE STEM WHEAT Sll PORTI, VXD, Ore , Feb 20 -April bluestom wheat quotations on tho Portland grain exchange plunged downward Ur today on rocolpt of rumors that Verdun had fallen and In sympathy with drops Iu mld-west-crn markets. There wore no suIom but all bid prices were nffocted, Tho bid prices for April bluostem foil from $1.01 to 0.1c por bushel. March bluostom fell from $1.03 to !Kc; spot bluosteiii foil off He, de scending from $1.02 to 93c. Thu grain that held stondlost was forty fold, but this slumped Re, going from IHc to S7c Oats fell from $ar..C0 a ton to2"i while barley fell from $29 to $2 10 E FEINT PARIS. Feb .0 -The Petit Pal Isleu suy that the battle now raging I before Verdun was pi Heeded Febru ary 12 by a feint In Champagne In toudod to divert attention ironi the coming attack on Vordun. The at tack In tho Champagno February 12, conducted Iu three successive waves, fulled chiefly becausu the change of wind, tho Petit Parisian says, ren dered Ineffective a large quantity of asphyxiating gas and flame-throwers Vhlch were relied upon for the suc coss of the attack " SKRIIW-OF ACCIRIt.VM . OAlhi: SMALL PAPKIt The Mall Trlbuno Is forced to 4 nnnmir lit nl.lircivln In. I f..,. .. 5- (lay, through shortage of paper occasioned b a series of mis- -fr ; naps. 4 Hluli walttr rnrrml tlia nlnulnir ' of tho paper mills at Oregon City ana neiayeu me manufacture and shipping of tho car of paper a week after its supposed da 's1 liver). The car In which the paper was shipped broke down at Koaeburg ami is held for re pairs. Through the courtesy of the Southern Pacific, it) aide tracked ear at Itaseburg was rour page paper shipped for this issue. ODtHWi auu a .'luu-noumi run r ftff -r t f sIndI "armF DROP GENTS FKIlUrVRY 12 lfUi IIFRENCH ASSERT i LiNESSTILLHOLD i ABOUT VERDUN Germans Contfiiiiinn Violent Attacks Without Rerjard to SacrificesAt tacks In Region of Douaumout Al iened to Have Failed With Tremen dous Slaughter. PARIS, Feb. 20. Tho (ierniaiiH are continuing their violent nttnrks north of Verdun without regard to their sncrlflcus, tho war offlco ail iiounccs this Afternoon. Tho (lormnu attacks In the region of Douaumout, east or the Meuso, huve foiled, the war offlco said, not withstanding repented attacks and tremendous slaughter. The text or tho stntemont follews: SnciiflcfH Xol Counted "The fighting Is still being carried on bitterly In the region north of Verdun, whore the onomy continues his efforts on tho front onsr of' the Meuso. Aftor the last engagement our troops retained tholr positions In spite of tlio repeated assaults of thu enemy, which no longer counts his sacrifices. "In tho region of llouumont the battle which Is still raging has taken on a most snugulnary character. "On the front of the Woovro tho advance post which we held ns llpos of observation front Omos to Mun noniont since tho buttles of last fall havo been attacked by Infuntry forces from both sides of the Mouse Our artillery on both right and loft banks of the river replies without ceuslng to tho bombardment of tho unomy,' Line Still t'libiMkeu "Sorlous, but not disquieting," Is tho common phrase which Is used to day In official and parliamentary cir cles rognrdlng the progress of tho (lermnns In tholr attack against Ver dun. I'liurfocted by the snow storm, the (lermnns hammered nway alt day Friday at tho French lino, which; although unbroken at tho end of tho, sixth day of battle, was, liowevofj) again rectified us a meusuro of nru- dense, the left wing being drawn lutoj Champiiouvllle and the right wing ueing Drought back n little south of Omos. The new front, barely threo miles Iu length, extends along tho heights, offering every ndvantngo for defense and forming ono of tho most formidable obstacles before tho en trenched camp of Verdun. It Is In this nanow space that the crown prince Is hurling his ninssow. Military observers hero express tho belief that the counter offensive will be launched from this line nt n pre cise mid decisive moment. and that It will drivo back noross tho ground already covered with tho dead bodies of tholr comrade" the. battal ions which aie being hurled forward In the most bloody assault which (his war has yet seen. Hottest Ibitllc Vet "The work up there Is hot. In deed," said nu officer who has Just arrived Iu Paris from tho Vordun battlefield. "The nro gnawing at our lines a little faster, hut with no positive advantage for themselves Previous attacks mndo by the (itr inaus In that section aro nothing to what the) aro now delivering. I can not, of course, glvo details, but I can sav that we are holding well against their formidable attacks The hi III len exchanges are Intense, our bat teiles, admirably handled, have (banned ground In nwsterl.v stle, and tin losses to the eueui) are real l'. mtxiloiix Ours are Might, a feeble pi in nlane of theirs ' SN(.TON. 1 1 'i .'i. Norman Hupgood, lormer cdltm of Colliers Weekh. loda told the senate Judl larv subcommittee Investigating the nomination of l.oul D Rrandeix to the supreme court, that the icuxoii Collier's had e)nploed Mr. RiaiideiH Iu the Rallluger-Plncliot Investigation was because Collier's wanted to sup port L. It. (Ihivls, whose chuiges against Mr. Il.illlnger It hud publlh ed nnd for whom Ilrandels oateusibl) appeared. ' "We trad published Mr. UlaWs, charges and thought he ought to be full supported by us," said Mr. Hapgood Wi, felt tlM$ If thi news paper appeared In the lltlffatigu It uould detraet from the main. Issue. We wanted to uvO'id the uppuarunce or desiring to get Into the limelight " Xo attempt had been made to de ceive anyone about Mr. Ilrandels' emploMueut. Mr. Hupgood said. ' During the hearing," he added, "at least three witnesses referred to jol liers In such a way aa to show they knew Mr. Ilrandels wits representing It " On oue oeeaslou Air. Hangood said he printed an edltorta! In reply to a newspaper saying la rather a satirical way that of tours (tslr's was palug Mr. Ilrandels, and would ua) fur any other contributor who got into trouble VMIllaiiiH Youngmuii testified at l-naili tiiiuiit the anen will i-d,-. iilQIinli Mr ii,inilr-!i wh ,iii af'r lie VERDUN HAPGOODS TELLS nruDMPDDAMnne ui iiimnuiunHiiuLio 4- UP.II.MAXH RKPI'LSRI) WITH 17.0(10 I.OHNKM l l'l..XIUltS ATTACK fr AM8TKKRAM. Feb. JO. -The (lerinniiH have gnlhered a, con- siderahlc number of troops In ! Flanders slid artillery reln- forcemeiits have been rontluii- ousl arriving since Deeembor, according to the Keho Itelgo. Xot le than elghteon at- tacks were made recently by tho flermnns ngnlust tho nnrrow S- front at Stconstruoto. on the Comliies rnnnl, south of Hill No. too, declare tho nowspn- per. Only two nttacks had any success, but tho Oerninn losses must have beon hoavy, It bolng cstlmntcd that tho kill- cd and wounded totaled 17,000. ITALIANS EVACUATE DURAZZO, ALBANIA FOLLOWING.DEFEAT ROMH, Feb 211. via Paris. The re port that Dtinuxo. an Albaulnn port on tho Adriatic sou, had been ovuo uatud by tho Italian troops stationed there Is confirmed. An official stnteiiieut'snys: "The Italian hrlguth$ at Durnzro has been withdrawn and has em barked, the Albanian government having lert tho place, Hie withdrawal of the Serbian, Montenegrin nnd Al banian troops from Albania has beon completed. " , RURL1X. Feb. 23, via London, Fob. 20. Reports from Austrian prosa headquarters predict thu early fall of the Albanian city of Hurnzo ns a result of thu defeat on Wednesday of the Italians and thu Albanian forces under KhkhiI Pasha tho provisional president. A strong line of outer de fenses for the city have been con structed nnd the Indications woro that spirited resistance wohld bo of fered. The Austrlaus and (SorinanB at tacked at daybreak. Tho defondors wore soon ojoclod from their posi tions nt llannr SJnk. Shortly after ward the Italians on the southern bank of the lower Arson woro forced to, abandon their positions. The Aus trian crossed tho rlvor and pro reeded southward. At noon a decisive action east of Ilnsar SJuk drove tho Italians from strong positions. Tho same fnto was suffered by thu defenders of Saasa Illnuco, six miles oast of Duriuo. Ry evening the entire outer girdle or de fenses was taken The attackers ad vancing to their Inner positions, es tablished the fart that the Italians were embarking their troops hur rledl). WASIUXfiTON, Fell :'i, - doii tlon of the coiiiiiiIshIou plan of deal ing with walerwii) problems of the country, which would Include contin uing annual appropriations was agreed upon today as u general pol icy to be recommended to the presi dent In a conference between cabinet officials Mild a committee of sena tors. tittcietailes I j lie, Houston mid Redfleld, who were named by the president with Former Secretary Harrison to Investigate the problem and Senators New lands, lirousaard and Raiuulell, participated In thu conference. The policy agreed upon, It Is believed, will h recommended to congress by President Wilson Iu the near future The agreement proposes that there shull be given special Immediate at tention to the lower Mississippi rlvor below (alio and that approximated $lii,iiiiii.iiiiu Mhall be appropriated roi mi 7 ror this project. What an nual river aud harbor liiipioveiiienlx will he reioniiiiendi-d wu not ilnuliv agreed upon WHEAT TUMBLING CHICUIO, Fell J "Wheat val ues broke about " cents a bushel to day on ui count or depression in the Xew Yoi k stoi k market Apparent ly mail) traders heie jumped at the conclusion that the Wall street de elln pointed to liuiettsed tnttsloH over the plan of (Jermsuy for at tacks on armed merchant vessels, against $1 J Kit, t yesterday's Hutch. Heavy slop-tfjs selling took place. Rumors thai Verdun bad fallen accompanied ,t be fall of price. De nials of the rumors railed to rark to auy material extern he downward plunge of the market At thu leilieaie Lnwrust figures . reaclntd. Wy liet SU itown ,". ' 'l I I ! ' I ne in.ii I-. ! i (o'ied ex tile. I at ' In .' in i ileilin)i wnlj COMMISSION PLAN FOR WATERWAYS WAR RUMORS SEND NO. 2H0 MAT ras OF Advices From Berlin Forecast Pro positi for Discussion of What Con stitutes an Armed Merchantman One of Entente Allies Replies to Suygcstcd Disarmament. WASHIXllTOX, Feb. 86. Tho Fnlted States, Secretary Lansing In dicated today, may discuss tho ques tion of what proporly may bo re garded uh armument on a mcrchnnt ship, If the question Is raised. Confidential advices from Merlin have fort-cust a proposal for such n discussion by normally, which con tends that nrmnueut permitted un der liiit'iHiltoiial law as defense had become offensive with tho advent of the submarine. Until tho question Is ruined Mr. Lansing regards It as premifwro to announce the position of tho stnto department. Oue of the entente allies, to which Secretary Lansing suggested disarma ment of merchant ships, replied to day but tho nnturo of the reply or the name of tho government which made It will not bo disclosed until all of the allies havo answered. Thu Impression prevailed that It was Italy, and tho reply iirguinentiUlvo rather than consluslvo. Senators Heady for fMie. Chairman Flood, of thu house for eign affairs committee, exchanged views with Secretary Lansing nt thu statu department. Senator Lewis, of Illinois, demo cratic whip of the sonatu, notified Senator Stouo Hint tho supporters of tho prosldent woro ready for tho (loro resolution to warn Americans ngulust sailing an armed merchant men to come to u vote ut any tlmo. llo said u canvass of the senate showed there was u safe majority against thu resolution. Senator Lewis had prepared a res olution which would commit tho sen ate to an endorsement of tho presi dent's International policy In tho present dlplomutlc crisis hut could not Introduce R today under thu rules. Xo Transfer to llcrlli:. Mr. Lansing today Buld thoro wait no Intention of transferring tho ne gotiations to Rerlln to bo conducted between Ambassador Uorurd and tho Ilorllu foreign offlve, as was Intimat ed In dispatches published abroad, nnd reiterated that the stato de partment had heard nothing moru from (lermany on Its request for u declaration Hint tho now siibmnrluo campaign would not bo conducted In violation of provlotis usaunuiros for the safety of Americans traveling on unresisting liners. WAHIIIXtlTOX, Feb 2U us Irlu, supplementing her request for more Information concerning tho American protest against tho subma rine nttaek on the American tank steamer Patrollt In the Mediterran ean, has informed the United States that her version of the affair Is Hint the submarine commander thought the Petrollte was ati enemy ship dis guised under the American flag; that he fired uki her us the ship changed her course, and he believed she was alout to ram him, and that the ivirollte's captain volunturlly furnished provisions to the submers ible. e retarv Lansing said today that Austria's t-ommunloatlon was not it reph iu the American protest, and could not be considered either ao ceptutile or unacceptable. Ml the fuel available to tho stato ilepmtinent hae been sent to Vienna ami .i nn titer reply Is being awaited. VILLA REPORTED Ll. PASO, Texas, Feb 2. Gen eral Francisco Ilia was icported at Ciuas Cirandes late esteidu) with I tin men, stiordliiH in advU-es today to Ueueral Halirlvi tlavlra, com mandant at Junrci After obtaining reports of the strength of tho Cur ranxa garrisou thai Vllia depsrtc south, Ir Ih naid Oeueiul Heitant with seterul hun dred Cairausa Uois left Casus Urundea on the Msalea'j urthwt ern rallr-vd, parallel to Villa's ouurso and Is duo at Madero toda Oeuoral Oavl'oy reported Ueniul LuU Her rera moving northward from Uunr, i-ere to Intercept Tllg. at aantu Aim. (euvral .lut luto Trevluu oniniaud- us .triiilua forces of the north im .f it-itirted at Piedras Negrad en runt' M iiiiinuhua to take chargo o' tun a,ai,a ugaingt ilia. 1MN MERCHANTMEN AUSTRIA'S EXCUSE IN PETROLITE CASE CASAS A tjj&V if