University of Orcion j-MEDPORD I FORECAST Tonight and tomorrow, Fa(r. IBUNE . WEATHER Maximum yesterday, ;M; Minimum today, U7. Fortvalxth Year, pally Eleventh Yonr. El) FORT). OUlXiOX, MONDAY. DIX'KMBKU 11.191(5 XO. E S ILL, UNABLE 10 PETAIN TO LEAD ARE ORDERED RECEIVE SEALS LLOYD-GEORGE JUFFR OUSTED VILLA SECURED a FIGURE IN BRITISH MINISTRY i . . PROSECUTIONS RUMAN PLAN MILLION PESOS NEW DEFENSIVE FRENCH ARMIES A A BY PRESIDENT ON BUZEU RIVER New Cabinet Organized Small War Council With Curzon, Henderson, Milner and Bonar-Law Serving W(lh Premier Some Unknown Names in Ministry. LONDON', Dec. 11. Premier Lloyd George is ill. Ho was unnblc to go lo Buckingham palace today with mcm- 5ers of his cabinet to receive the NBcals of the office from King George. Official announcement was made that . the premier was suffering from a severe chill and that on the advice of his physician he was remaining indoors today. lie sent the following to nil members of the house of com mons, it was announced officially to day: Message to Commons. "Tho king has intrusted mo with the task of forming a government. 1 have carried out the command. 1 had hoped to make a statement lo the house on Tuesday. I now find it to be impossible. On Tuesday, Mr. llo- nnr Law, as leader in the house, w move adjournment till Thursday. "The one predominant task before the government is the vigorous pros ecution of the war to a triumphant conclusion. I feel confident tho gov ernment can rely on your support as long ns they devote their energies effectively to that end." New Ministry. Tho new war cabinet: l'remiev, Da vid Lloyd-George. Lord President of the council, hurl Curzon, who also will be government leader in the house of lords. Avthur Henderson, minister without portfolio. Lord Mil ner, minister without portfolio. An drew Uonnr Law, chancellor of Hie exchequer. Other members of the ministry are: Lord high chancellor, Sir Iiobert Biin natync Finlay; secretary of state for the home department, Sir George Cnvo; secretary of state for foreign affairs, Arthur J. Hulfour; secretary of state for the colonies, Walter Hume Long; secretary of state for war, Tho Earl o Derby; secretary of state for India, Austen Chamber lain; president of the local govern ment board, Union Iihonda; presi dent of the board of trade, Sir Albert Stanley; minister of labor, John Hodge; first lord of tho admiralty Sir Edward Carson. ' Sir Edward Carson; minister or munitions, Dr. Christopher Addison; minister of blockade, Lord Robert Ce cil; food controller. Baron Daven port; president of tho board ot edu cation, Herbert A. L. Fisher; post master general, Albert Illingworth; attorney general, Sir Frederick K. Smith; solicitor general Gordon Stew art, K. C; secretary for Scotland, Mr. Munro; lord advocate, James A. Clyde, K. C; lord lieutenant of Ire land, Baron Wimborno; chief secre tary for Ireland, Henry E. Duke; lord (Continued on Page Six.) JAPANESE TREATY BY U. 3. SENATE WASHINGTON. Dec. 11. An ot tack by Senator Works of California on the senate committee amendment to tho immigration bill which would exclude from the measure any refer ence to the so-called gentleman's pnssport agreement between the Unit ed States and Japan, caused the sen ate today to consider the subject be hind closed doors, because treaty rights are involved in the issue. The executive session was ordered after Senator Works had reserved the right to demand a separate vote on the amendment which was incor porated at the request of the state de partment after an inquiry about the uiiuiiti uiiu Mt-i'ii ujmic uv luu !),- anese embassy. Before the doors were closed, Sen ator Works declared the amendment was designed purely in the interest of Japan and nuardlcss of the in terests of (he I'nitcd Slate, l i j l i i.. i Defender of Verdun to be In Supreme Command on Western Battlefront Reorganization for Efficiency in Management of War Small Coun cil to Control as in England. WASHINGTON, Dec 11. Private advice from Paris received here to day telling of the secret proceedings in the French chamber of deputies during the last week confirm pre vious reports that General Pctnin, the defender of Verdun is to succeed General Joffre in supreme command of all the allied forces on the west ern battlefront, us the first result of radical changes in organization, which are to follow concentration of management of the war l.i a small council, as has been done in England. General Petain, little known out side the French army, was colonel at the outbreak of the war. Government (iinngc Tuesday. PARIS, Dec. 11. Premier Diiand was busy all day Sunday seeing not only politicians, but prominent busi ness men and manufacturers In view of the new combination; to facilitate which, all ministers and undcr-secrc-tarles will hand in their resignation!). In the meantime, according to the Matin, the re-organization of the higher command In tho army, being nn essentially administrative ques tion, will not be settled until after the new government makes Its bow In tho chamber of deputies on Tues day and is endorsed by a vote of con fidence. "In addition to forming a war coun cil of five ministers on the model of that in England," continues tin Ala tin, "Premier Uriand lias decided, in the Interest of the economic organi zation of the country, to throw the old administrative machine Into thQ melting pot and oblige all minister ial departments, hitherto congealed in superannuated mtthods, to get in lino with the rest of tho country, which Is freely spending its blood and gold. Flee II u ml to Minitser. "In the conversations he bad with prominent men, Premier Briand an nounced that ho Intended to give a free hand to the ministers, under secretaries and directors, forming nnrt of the now ministry. The met absolute powers will be granted to them and if it is found that the methods meet resistance or that cer tain habits are persisted in, tluse powers will bo still further Increased and drastic measures taken. Th3 composition of the .new combination will ?lcari show tho new spirit, 't vlll be I he most complete possible re construction, as will be scon when their names are published." IN11EASI AFRICA LONDON, Dec. II . Successful British operations n German teas'. Africa, by which the British line of Investment was advanced fifty nulls along a front of 20!) miles, are de scribed In a Router's dispatch from Nirggoro. Tho advance was made from New Iringa and Kissakl to the coast. ft, ...s ,,-c.x. .-itfJtt.LM. tta V -5Ai' 1 fe. .... .. s..- Bandit During Brief Occupation of Capital Made Everybody Contribute Ransom Property Confiscated by Wholesale Many Chinamen and Mexicans Slain. LOS ANGELES, Dec. 11 Fran cisco Villa demanded and obtained a million pesos in silver from the in habitants of Chihuahua City during his recent occupation of the town and stated everything possessed by Am ericans in Mexico would bo taken from them, according to a letter from Mrs. Harnett Dannis, now in Chihuahua City, written to her son, Samuel 15. Dannis, an attorney here, and received by him today. The elder Mr. Dennis, nn Amerienn citi7.cn, proprietor of n general mer chandise store there, telegraphed his son recently that all his property had been confiscated by the bandits. Mrs. Dannis' letter gave some details. Stripped of All Ih'opei'ty. 'We certainly nrr grateful to the Almighty that we escaped witli our lives, hut everything that we had was taken from us," the letter said. "Ev erything from the store was cleared out, and from the house also. 'Three times did I go to Villa's headquarters and ask him personally that he would not disturb at least our house hold goods nnd lie treated me wilh utter contempt, lie would not listen to anything I asked him, but said that everything the Americans pos sessed now living in Mexico would be taken away by the Mexicans Aid that orders hud been given his men that what, could .nut .be .taken away should be destroyed. Tile l'ixl arcs in the store, the showcases, shelving and counters were absolutely destroy ed. "We stayed ill hiding for six days. During that time we had to have 'something to eat and I dressed like a native woman and in that disguise managed to get about the streets un molested. In that way I managed to reach Villas' headquarters nnd also to interview Villa, but did not succeed in my undertaking, ns upon my leaving his headquarters it woidd seem that a 'special order was given directing the destruction of all that we had. Many Were Slain. 'Alter looting the city nnd making away wilh $ 11)0,0000 worth of mer chandise, destroying and burning ev ery building that belonged to for eigners, Villa demanded 1,000,000 pesos in silver of the various resi dents in the cily under threat of burning the town. The money he got. He slated that be had to have as much loot as possible, as the expedi tion lo Chihiinhun had cost him a great deal of money. "China men nnd Mexicans were killed by (he scores. Dead are strewn all over the city. When I say that we lost everything you can imagine what I mean when 1 tell you that this morning I had to buy a shirt for daddy and a pail of stockings for myself, as the only things we man aged to save were the clothes on our backs. .In the store we had accumu lated a little hit of gold and silver, and that also was taken. Were it not tor the Alverez family I don't know what we would have dune, as they have been exceedingly kind in many and various ways, relieving our distress nnd our needs nnd wants. ' FIRST PICTURE OF BRITISH "TAN Top Left to right: Sir Edward Curson, new minister ot munitions, Herbert A. Asqulth, former premier, and leader of liberal opposition, An drew Bonar-baw, new chancellor of the excheguer. Lower, left to light: David Lloyd-George, new premier, Arthur J. Balfour, new secretary ot state for colonies. I AS WITNESS IN WASHINGTON'. Pec 1 1. The papers signed by President Wilson lo qualify Louis .). Smith ns n govern ment witness in 1 he tieufrnlily trial in. Sun Francisco, restore Smith's citizenship by executive, order. SAX FRANCISCO, Dec. 1 Trial of Franz l!oi, German consul gen eral, consular co-dci'endants, nnd others on charges of conspiracy to aid Germany by sinking entente mu nition ships and damainj; railroads in Canada, was under way nujiin in (lie I'nitcd States district court to day hardly three minutes when the dct'ense . opened a lejjnt skirmish against introduction as a witness of Mrs. Louis ,1. Smith, wife ol' a de fendant -and a rovcrnmcnt informer. The government won nnd Mrs. Smith was put on the stand. Judc William II. Hunt ruled, however, in substan tiation of the defense of the position that she must not testily ugiiiu.-t her husband. I1KRL1X. I Ice 11 The Oversea News agency say-: "German nsws papcrs state that the French destroy er Vatagan, sunk in collision with a Hritish transport, is the fifth French destroyer lost in this way during- the war." K" ON S0MME FRONT IN ACTION E FOR NAVAL FUEL WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 1 . Califor nia oil prospectors, whose claims would ho legalized by tho I'helan amendment to the oil land leasing bill, now before congress, which Is opposed by the navy department on tho ground that it threatens the na val fuel reserve, are considering a compromise proposal designed to're- niovo all governmental opposition to i the pending bill. It is proposed that tho claimants Induce the Standard Oil and asso ciated companies lo relinquish to tho government holdings In tho conler of what Is known ns Section One of the California oil tract and that tho en tire tract of 3S,0nn acres bo held ex I clusively by the government for tho naval reserve. If tiiat can bo accom- 1 plishod, the claimants have been told I the navy department would withdraw all opposition to relief for claimants in Section Two. Tho proposal was informally con I sidered today at a meeting ot the I senate lands committee, which will ! meet again Wednesday. I Senator I'helan said tho conipro Imlse had been submitted to the clalm Innts, who had agreed to undertako i making it nfferUve contingent upon ' tho navy departnYc nt agreeing to the M'ADOO DOES NOT 1 INTEND TO RESIGN WASHINGTON, Dec. 11. Secre tary McAdoo today disposed of re ports ibat he intended to resign witli the following formal statement : "I have no intention of rcsinin from tin- cabinet." Investigations of High Living Cost to be Followed Vigorously Grand Jury Probes Underway in New York and Chicago Retailers to Disci pline Speculators. WASHINGTON. Dec. 1 1. fulled Stales Attorney Anderson of lloston, In general charge of tho Roverament's investigation into the, high cost of living, went over plans for grand jury Investigations with President Wilson late this afternoon. The president directed that the Invostlgntlon be fol lowed vlgirously and prompt prosecu tions brought if any violations ot law discovered. NEW YORK, Dec. 11. Tho fed eral government's inquiry into the high cost of living began here to day with preparations for a grand jury investigation of tho coal busi ness. Similar investigations will be made in Chicago, Detroit, Toledo, and Cincinnati. These Inquiries will be Interlocking and will exchange In formation. According to Frank Swaeker, spec ial prosecutor, representing the de partment of Justice, the government already has discovered that there is no real shortage In the supply of anthraclto coal at this port and no warrant for tho high prices charged by some dealers. Mr. Swaeker said that the Grand Jury would also con sider evidence relating to conspira cies in fixing tho prices of food'coni modtllcH. Tlii'cei (liienKO I'ltibes. CHICAGO, Dec 1 1 Three sepa rate investigations Into the cost of food Bluffs are under way hero today. The national executive committee of the llotail Grocers' association met hero today and one of tho chief pur poses of tho meeting, according to Frank U. Connolly of San Francisco, vice-president of the association, Is to find means for disciplining food speculators. Tho federal grand jury reconvened nnd continued its Inquiry into tho causes of the high mice of food and the state public utilities commission started a hearing on the conduct of cold storage warehouses. According to one member of tho commission, it is planned, lo place a time limit on the storage ot each kind of food. ALLIES DEMAND E( LONDON. iMre. II. The inn-i-n oltHT Inilny slntfd that tin- Uiitish eminent was cntistiltin with (ireat Itritain's allies iti nn cl'toit t" reach a very rinlical solution of the (ircek ff)l)leni. r LONOON, !). 11. Tin- latest re ports tmni Athens s;iy that the nnte of the entente jnvernnients to (iivrep is remly and miriniilitedly will le pre sented tonini row , The imlc will he short, in the nature of a preliminary to a seeond note, which w it! contain more detailed demand--. It is understood that the demands on (irecec may require complete de mobilization of tile aniiy, restoration of ronl ml liy the entente over the post?., telegraphs and railway- and the release of the imprisoned Veni.e lists. Advices from the llnti-h minister indicate that condition a re more calm. Kai'e numhers of allied na tionals continue to leave Athene Telegram received here today from Athens say that a revolution has broken out in the ("yelades nmp of (ireek islands in the Aegean sc.-i. The fiieek battleship llvdia. which is under the control of the entente al lies, lias intercepted, the (!nek advice- say, win-less me :.i;es from Kin.: 'oiistanl ine addre--ed to Itcr lili. Ail the (Ireek eommiinil ie in Kypl it is added, have renounced their aN h-'.'iaiiee to Kini: ( 'oilplant inc. Withdrawal of Defeated Forces Into Moldavia Continues Russians i . Hammer Away With Success m Carpathians Little Fighting of Im portance Along Other Fronts. BERLIN, Dec. 1 1. Strong forces of Russians yesterday again attacked tho Teuton troops to the north of Tartar puss In the Carpathians, ill tho Byatritsa sector northeast of -. tho Gyergyo mountains and on both aides of the Trotus valley, in western Ru mania, but without success, says to day's Gorman official statement. The pursuit of Field Marshal Von Mackensen's troops of the retreating Rumanian armies continued in splto of a pouring rain and the destruction of bridges. At places some resistance was met, the statement adds, and tills has now been broken. Several thous and more Rumanians were taken prisoner. v lefon-sivo IJne. Indliations today point moro Htrongly than ever to tho probability that tho new defensive line ot tho uinmiliinH, following their retreat from BuchareBt, will be drawn along ' the Iliizeu river, forming the southern boundary of their northern province of Moldavia. Additional reports from Petrosrad indicate a 'considerable measure of success by "tho Rumanian northern, army in holding up the Teutonic ad vance northeast along the railroad from Woechtl, north of Bucharest, to the town of Buzeu, located at about the center of tho Huzeu river Hue, which Ktretrhos eastward to the lower reaches of the Danube. , .. . . , .. . To (lieiek Advance. r n It Is necessary to the apparent pur pose of the Rumanians for them to prevent an Austro-Oerman advance here until the Rumanian forcos fur ther south in eastern Wulluchlu, re treating from the region between Bucharest and Tchernavoda have j reached the Buzeu river line, unless, I indeed, the Rumanian military au thorities have decided to retain a hold on more of eastern Wallachia. than it now seems their purpose to defend. These Rumanian forces are threatened not only by Field Marshal Von Mackensen's Danube army, but by new contingents of Bulgarians, which have crossed the Danube be tween Kllistria and Tchernavoda. Meanwhile the Russians are hammer ing away at the Austro-Cierman lines on tho western frontier of Moldavia nnd report making headway in tho valleys running toward the west. To Cut Flunk. Their object apparently is not only to hold the Moldavian frontier safe, but possibly to achieve an eventual success In breaking well through into Hungary and cutting In behind the Austro-Cerman supply lines leading into Rumania from the north. There Uur been little fighting of an important nature on the other fronts. In Macedonia, the Serbians report having driven the Bulgarian hack in one sector northeast of Mon astic On the Franco-Belgian front little has developed beyond intermit tent artillery activity in the Sommo area and aviation operations on a considerable scale. W A S 1 1 1 X i T O X , Pro. 11. Many leaders of foreign bora population irt the t'nlted States attended hero to day the congress of oppressed or de pendent nntlonalilio ) called by ills Jane Addams and other women peu?e advocates. Hepie.K-niuHves of each rationality explains he hopes of their people fo. Independence A member expressed Hio lope thai he I'nitcd States wotit I :jrtlclpate In the peace conference after the war and make representation:', on behalC of the submerged nationalities. POl fil.AS. Ariz... Pec. II Oeneral I'lutnrco' Klin- CaMcs, military com mander of Sonera, retired Saturday to become a candidate for governor of Souora. according to a report aiming his friends here today.