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