WEATHEIt Maximum yesterday, 53; minimum today, 35. FORECAST Tonight and tomorrow, occassional rain.
Medford Mail Tribune
Forty-sixth Year.
Dully Eleventh Year.
NO. 307
MEDFORD. OREGON, TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1917.
UNITED STATES
E
CHINA CONFISCATES
V
OUT OF CABINET
STATE OF WAR
OF DESOLATION
GERMANSLEAV
WILSON SPURNS
PEACEPROPOSAL
i FROM MEXICO
NICHOLAS WEPT
LD
WEATHER
SLOWS PACE OF
IS VIRTUALLY IN
PER IE SCENE
WHEN INFORMED
OF THRONE LOSS
ALLIED ADVANCE
Cabinet Meeting Considers Situation
. While Speeding Program of Pre
paredness. President to Issue
Statement Trans-Atlantic Lanes
to Be Cleared of Submarines.
WASHINGTON, March 20. With
out waiting (or the proclamation
President Wilson Is expected to issue
today or tomorrow that a state of war
exists between the United States and
Germany, the government today pre
pared definitely for forceful action
to clear the trans-Atlantic steamship
lanes of German submarines and to
protect the coast.
As the cabinet convened the senti
ment was generally expressed that
the United States Is virtually in a
state of war.
Tho statement wns made tlint the
president nml cabinet discussed
every phase of the situation.
The most general Opinion in ad
ministration quarters wns Unit there
was no likelihood of a declaration of
war against Germany, although the
probability npicared to be for a for
mal recognition that a state of war
exists (because of Germany's nets
against the United States.
Cabinet is Silent.
When the cabinet adjourned after
a two-hour meeting none of the mem
bers would make any statement. Sec-
retary Daniels would only say there
had been no new orders to the navy.
Informally intimations were given
that some announcement from the
white house might be expected tonight
or tomorrow. ' '
The Impression grew that the pres
ident had determined to hasten the
convening of congress, already called
to meet in extra session April 16.
An soon as he returned to his of
fice from the cabinet meeting Secre
tary Daniels went into conference
with the navy general board. It was
not revealed whether the session was
the result of any new decision reach
ed by the president and his cabinet.
No Forecast Made.
As has been the case since all offl
clal Washington acknowledged that
a state of war practically exists be
tween the United States and Ger
many, there is a wide range of specu
lation on the precise action Presi
dent Wilson had finally decided upon
is no official ground for any fore
cast.
Calling of congress In an extra ses
sion before April 16, the day first
chosen for its assembly, still continues
foremost among the probabilities but
there are no Indications that Presi
dent Wilson had finaly decided upon
it. On the other hand there were
some Indications that the date of the
session would not be advanced.
Preparations for carrying out the
policy of armed neutrality to Its full
est degree are being hurried in the
navy department. The possibilities
of their execution range even to ac
tive co-operation at sea with the Brit
ish and Krench fleets to clean subma
rines out of the shipping lanes.
. Making War on I'. S.
It was learned definitely before
the cabinet meeting that the president
while considering deliberately all
phases of the situation, had not fin
ally made up his mind on any for
ward step beyond the aitlvo prepara
tion of the nary for any eventuality.
For the present, President Wilson
is taking the position that at all
(Continued on Page Four)
I
10 QUIT COMMAND
Eli PASO, Tex., March 20. An
American arriving from Chihuahua
City today brought a report that Gen
eral Francisco Margula, commander
In chief of the de facto troops In the
north had sent a message to General
Carranza requesting money with
which to pay his troops and muni
tions with which to conduct his cam
paign against Villa, threatening to
resign unless the request was met at
once. The report was In general cir
culation In Chihuahua City, the Am
erican said but could not be confirmed.
Vandalism of Retreating Huns Shown
in Deliberate Destruction of Ave
nues of Shade Trees, Chopping of
Fruit Trees, Dynamiting of Resi
dences, Destruction of Cathedrals.
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE, March 20 (From a
staff corresKndent of the Associated
Press.) The deliberate character of
tho destruction wrought by the Ger
mans before their withdrawal from
Pcromie is painfully, evident in the
once beautiful avenue of trees lend
ing to the railway station. These
trees wero untouched by shell fire,
but each one wns hacked in two with
axes and the gashes and chips show
that the work ..was done within the
last few days. The beautiful gnrdens
of the outlying houses were also
wrecked and every fruit tree within
several miles of the town was sawed
two-thirds of tho way through and
then broken down.
Scores of Ruined Villages.
The correspondent of the Associat
ed Press was among the first visitors
to Peronne in tho wake of the Eng
lish troops who have now swept well
beyond that place. It was necessary
to pass through a score of ruined
villages which only n few days ago
were within the zone of intense artil-
Jery fire, before reaching the banks
of the Somme. Crossing that stream
on an improvised bridge and trudg
ing through Hullo, Peronne was
reached over a road which had been
constructed within twenty four hours
over succeeding rows of German
trenches and Uirough recurring muss
es; of rusted, barbed wire, some of
these being nt leust six feet in height
and fifty feet in width.
In' the outskirts of the city Kng
lish Tommies were encountered wear
ing German "pickle" helmets nnd
grinning from ear to ear in the great
square of Peronne, which is sur
rounded by melancholy mins, wns
(lie British lieutenant who led the
first pntrol into the city. He was
mounted on a splendid little German
pony which he had enptured with its
full equipment. Several other offi
cers arrived during the morning nnd
begged for the privilege of taking a
eunter about tho pluco on bonrd (his
prize of war.
Ghostly Silence.
There was a ghostly silence in
most sections of the city. No sound
of war was to be heard except once
when a prying German airplane scud
ded over the shelter of high clouds
and nnti-aircrnft guns opened, driv
ing him to quick retreut.
British officers pointed out build
ing after building where nppnrently
the total damage had resulted from
interior explosions. In many cases
(Continued on Page Four.)
AND NAVY SIDE
WASHINGTON, March 20. Com
plete co-operation of both the Rus
sian army and navy with the new
revolutionary government was re
ported todny by Ambassador Fran
cis to the stnto department. The
ambassador stated ho had received
his information from official sources
and confirmed it to his own satis
faction unofficially. The fact that
he mentions no disorders leads offic
ials to believe that good order pre
vails.
The question of the recognition of
the new government by the United
States is becoming increasingly im
portant. Officials say tho receipt by
the stnto department from the Rus
sian ambassador of Foreign Minis
ter Milukoff s statement to the world
does not constitute such recognition
nor will such action by England,
France and Russia's other allies
hasten the decision of the United
Stales. It is possible, however, that
action may be taken shortly and Hint
even if it is not, congress may pass
resolutions felicitating the new gov
ernment, after it convenes April 1C.
ARiSTIDE. ERiAND j
Disagreement over the policy of
Premier Briund of France has over
tiirown the ministry and resulted in
the fonuntion of a new cabinet in
which Uriand declined a place.
POLITICAL FACTIONS
PARIS, March 20. The minister
ial crisis was so completely over
shadowed by other events that
there has been little comment on the
new cabinet. It was well enough re
ceived nnd is considered adequate
for tho tusk hut probably never be
fore did a political event of such
importance leave tho public so in-
ditlerent.
Alexandre Iiibot, in setting up the
cabinet in 48 hours, is understood
to have beaten all speed records and
,his task was not an easy one for the
list wns changed many times before
it became permanent. Many persons
appointed - by him refused while
others accepted at first, but later
withdrew.
All sections of republican opinion
is represented in the new cabinet.
Premier Ribot belongs to the republi
can union; Albert Thomas, the min
ister of munitions, to the unified so
cialist group; lieno Viviani, the min
ister of justice; Professor Paul
Painleve, the minister of war, and
Maurice lolctle, tho minister of sub
sisteneo, to the socialist representa
tives; Louis Malvcy, minister of in
terior, Jules Stccg, minister of pub
lic instruction, Ferdinnnd David, the
minister of agriculture: Leon Bour
geois, the minister of labor, and Dan
iel Vincent, under secretary of nvia
tion, belong to the group of radicals
and socialist radicals, while Andre
Muginot, the minister of the colonics
belongs to tho republican left, and
Joseph Thierry, minister of finnnce,
to the democratic left. All liavc
been in office before except Georges
Desplas, who is one of the Paris dep-
ulies; Maurice Violclle, a deputy lor
the department of Eure-et-Loir, and
Daniel lucent, a deputy for the de
partment of Dn Nord.
PORTLAND PUPILS
PORTLAND, Ore., March 20 Ap
proximately 25 per cent of the pupils
of Portland schools are under-fed
and under-nourished as the result of
parental neglect or poverty, accord
ing to a report made pu'ilin hero to
day by Dr. Edna Slicrill, city board
of heullh inspector. Parent-teacher
associations arc planning to cstnh
lish milk depots in various school:
to remedy affairs.
NO LIVES LOST ON
NEW YORK, March 20. No lives
were lost in the sinking of the Ameri
can steamship City of Memphis in
the German submarine rone. Th
bout which wns missing containing
Cuptuin lloriim nnd seven men has
reached Glasgow safely, according to
a dispatch received hero from the
fuptnin todny by the owners, the
Ocean btcuniship company.
Note to General Carranza Declines
His Suggestion for Neutral Action
to Bring Peace to Europe by Cut
ting Off Exports Calls Attention
to Conspiracy.
WASHINGTON, March 20. The
note to General Carranza, declining
his proposal for neutral action to
bring peace to Europe by cutting off
exports of supplies to belligerents
was made public today at the state
department.
Iho refusal wns based, first on
the apparent lawlessness of peace
at the present timo ns shown in the
futility of President Wilson's efforts
and Germany's attempts to embroil
Mexico nnd Japan in wur with this
country and in the belief that any
restriction of commerce with the bel
ligerents would in effect bo an un
neutral discrimination.
Nevertheless, the note concludes,
"tho president would not bo "nder
stood as desiring to impede the pro
gr xs of a movement leading to the
resumption of peaceful relutions be
tween all the belligerents and would
not, therefore, wish the Mexican gov
ernment to feel that his inability to
act in the present slate of affairs
should in any way militate against
the attainment of the high ideals of
General Carranza by the co-operation
of other neutral governments in
the use of their good offices and
friendly mediation to bring about the
end of tho terrible war."
Plot Is Mentioned.
The note mentions the "enrcful
and sympathetic consideration"
which tho United Stutes has given
to tho proposal, refers to the now
vigor of the wurfnro and goes on to
say:
'lo render the situation still more
acute, the government of the United
States has unearthed a plot made by
the government dominating tho cen
tral powers, to embroil not only the
government nnd pcoplo of Mexico,
but also the government and people
of Japan in war with tho United
States. At the timo the plot was
conceived the United Stutes was at
peace with the government and ico
ple of the German empire nnd Ger
man officials and German subjects
wero not only enjoying but abusing
the liberties und privileges freely-accorded
them on American soil and
under American protection.'.'
I'l-oposal Declined,
The cote then takes up the pro
posal to cut off commercial relations
with the belligerent nations and re
fers to the American note to Austria
Hungary to show the policy of this
government in declining to stop mu
nitions shipments.
"Relieving that this position of the
United Slates is based upon sound in
ternational law," the conclusion says:
"and is consonant with the estab
lished practice of nations, the pres
ident cannot bring himself to con
sider such a modification of these
oriiiciplcs or of this practice in com
pliance with General Carranza's pro
posal to sus)ond commercial relu
tions with the warring nations would
entail."
F!
OF 18,000 TONS
SUNK BY U-BOAT
HKHT.I.s, March 20. A French
battleship of the Dnnton class was
sunk by a (lermiin submarine in the
Mediterranean yesterday, the ad
miralty announced todny.
The admiralty statement reads:
"A (lermiin submarine commanded
by Lieutenant Captain Moralit, on
March 1!) in the western Mediterran
ean, sank n large Krench battleship
of the Denton class, protected by
dcslroyers.
"The battleship wns running a jtiir
xng course. Immediately after being
hit she listed heavily and capsized
forty minutes lalcr."
Warships of the Ilant.m class dis
place 18,020 tons. The complement
consists of OBI officers and men.
GERMAN CONCESSIONS
LI YUAN - HUNG
Ll-Yunn-Iluiig, president of China,
who lias severed diplomatic relations
with Germany, seized interned ships
ami confiscated German concessions
in Cniiuu
POWER TO AVERT
BY ADAMSON BILL
NEW YORK, March 20. Pull
power of the government through
congress to prevent railroad strikes,
in the opinion of tho railroad offic
ials as expressed here todny, is the
country s cluet gain from the decis
ion by (lie United Slates supreme
court yesterday upholding the
Adiimson act.
Tho brotherhood chiefs nnd a sub
committee of the managers conferred
todny to work out the general prin
ciples by which existing pay con
tracts on the various railroads muy
be made to conform to tho agree
ment -reached here which averted a
strike and to tho Adiimson uct.
The actual labor of effecting de
tailed changes in pay schedules will
be done in conferences between the
indiviuul managers of roads mid the
general chairmen of Iho four brother
hoods on these roads. Willi some
200 roads represented in the recent
controversy approximately 800 forms
of contracts will have to bo revised
so that 250.000 employes in freight
service may receive increases
averaging $210 yearly, or a tolnl of
$00,000,000 yearly as estimated by
railroad heads.
ST. Jul IN, K. It., March 20.
Sinking of the Hritish steamer limy
I lend by a (leriimn submarine March
14, was announced today by the
owners of tho vessel ut Holfast, Ire
land. Ciiplain Hoy and seventeen
members of the erew, tuo message
said, were missing.
NEW YORK, March ;0-Tlie Bray
Head registered .'1,077 gross (oils.
and was .'CIO feet long. She was
built nt New Castle in I00H.
Agents were advised lliat Chief
Officer McCnrlncv and sixteen of the
crew were landed and Hint two of
these had died of exposure. Kolhing
was known regarding the fale of
Ciiptnin Hoy mid Hie others. The
Itruy Head, owned by the Ulster
Steamship company, ltd., of Hclfust,
sailed from here for thai port March
1 with n heavy cargo.
L CONFERENCE
HOLDS FIRS! SESSION
LONDON', March ,20. The Hiitish
iinMrial conference wns itinugiiriilcd
today. For (lie first time the colon
ial statesmen sat wilhltie members
of the Hritish government around a
labia in tho council room at Premier
l.loyd George's official residence.
Czar Taken by Surprise, Rejects
Plan of Appeal to Germans Wish
es to go to Livardia... to Work
Among His Flowers Pitiable Ex
hibition of Weakness by Ruler.
PETROGRAD, Mar 20. The hist
ory of the last hour of Emperor Nich
olas as ruler of Russia Is related by
a correspondent ot the Outro RosslI
of Moscow ns follows: -
Two trains arrived at the stntlon
at Vlshera (on the Moscow-Petrogra.d
railroad 125 miles southeast ot Pet
rograd) on tho night of March 14.
One train carried the emporor'a suite
the second the emperor, General Bar
on Fredericks, minister of the im
perial house, and Admiral Niloff,
General Zubel and others. Nicholas,
called from headquarters by the em
press, was on tho way to the Tsarsko-
Selo.
Kmperor Notified
Commander Voyokiff of tho lm
perial train entored with a telegram
stating that 700 of the St. George
cavalry wore on the way to Tsar-
skoe-Solo to prosont a cross to the
emperor and had arrived at the near
by station of Duo, headed by General
Ivanoff.
"Your majesty," said Voyekoff, "It
Is enough .that you appear at tho
Tsarkoe-Selo In the midst of these he
roes and with the Ksarskoe-Selo gan
rlson go to the duma. All the troopi
will remember their oath. It will be
easy to overcome these young sol
diers." "It Is a He your majesty," shouted
General Zabel. "You are docclved,
Read these telegrams. Here is the
order: 'To the Imperial train at Vis
hera: Do not send the train to Tsar-skoe-Selo,
but to Petrograd.' "
Tho emperor arose and exclaimed:
"What does this mean? Is It revolu
tion? Is Grckoff (who signed the or
der to divert the train) commander
in Petrograd?"
IKiclarod Dethroned.
Thon Gonoral Zahol spoke out, say
ing: "Thore are 00,000 troops, with
officers, backing the temporary gov
ernment. Your majesty has been de
clared dethroned. It Is Impossible to
go further."
Nicholas, completely non-plussed,
exclaimed: "Why was I not told be
fore? Why tell mo now when all Is
finished?"
After a moment ho added with a
gesture of helplessness: "Let it be
so. Thank God. I will abdicate it
that Is what the people want. I will
go to Llvadla (the estate of the Rus
sian Imeprlal family on the south
coast of Crimea) to my gardens. I
am so fond of flowers." Tho train
(Continued on Pago Four.)
ENLIST UN
E
OF Ell
WASHINGTON, March 20. Sec
rotary Daniels today ordered naval
comniuiidiiiits at shore stations nnd
i.i! recruiting officers lo bo prepared
to enlist women in the nctiial navul
service, in case of an emergency.
The judge advocate general has
ruled that women can bo enlisted
under the laws regulating recruiting.
Wliilo it is not intended to place
women aboard ships, they may be
utilized for shore duly in connec
tion wilh the commissary depart
ment. They may rpmlify ns stenog
raphers, clerks, typists or similar po
sitions. Another grade of work for
which they may be designated is that
of radio telegraphy nnd other com
munications divisions.
Difficulty of obtaining men stenog
raphers and clerks for Ilia nnvy from
iiiong die regular enlisted personnel
caused the question of women's em
ployment to be taken up. Hy filling
the positions on shore wilh women,
the department expects ill tune of
emergency In relieve Iho men for the
fleet service nnd other duties.
RGENCYtNTEr
German Retreat Continues Witn
British and French Maintaining
Contact with Germans Patrols
Everywhere Active East of lew
Lines No Heavy Fighting.
LONDON, March 20. Telegraph
ing from the British headquarters ill
France, Heuter's correspondent says:
"Tho pace ot the German retreat
seems to have Blowed down consider
ably during the past 24 hours, a fact
for which the very wild weather may
well be responsible. A violent gaU
has been roaring over northern
France and is still very heavy.
"Many rain squalls hove swept ove
the battle area but these have not suf
ficed to render the ground bad and
there Is a keen drying edge in the
wind. Notwithstanding the tempes
tuous weather, however, our troops
have made considerable progress. Fol
lowed roughly from the south of Ar
ras, our front now runs through or
on tho edge of the following places:
Now British. IJno.
"Beauralns, Mercatel, Bolry-Bec-querelle,
Boyelles, St. Leger, Vaulx
Vraucourt, Beugny, Hapllneourt, Ba
rastre. Bus, Lechello, Etrlcourt.JHols- '
lalns, Peronne, Doingt, St. Christ, '
Voyennes and Canisy, to the neigh
borhood of Ham on the eastward
bend of the Somme. .
"Our cavalry and Infantry patrols
are every where active east of this
line. We hold the line of the Somme
in strength from Peronne southward
to Canlzy. Our reconnaissance pa
trols are activo as far east as Mons-
en-Chausse. In several sectors be-
airy maintained their touch with the
enemy all yesterday. There was a
good deal ot skirmishing, but no ;
j French Still rursuo. 1
PARIS, March 20. The war ot
flee announces' that. the French ara
still maintaining contact with the
Gormans along the section of the
front over which the retirement is
taking place but that the advanca
has become more difficult by reason
of the destruction of all means of
communication and on account of bad .
weather.
Gorman attacks at Avocourt wood
and Hill 304 on the Verdun front
were repulsed. Serious Iosb was In
flicted on the Germans.
Kngagoinonts Reported.
BERLIN. March 20. Thars wam
several engagements of Infantry and
cavalry aetachmonts yesterday be
tween British and German forces la
the territory on both sides of the
river Somme and the River nine.
abandoncd by the Qormans, accord
ing to the official statement issued
today by the army headauarlarn staff
The French yosterday and last night
dlrectod vlolont attacks against tha
Gorman positions on the left bank of
tho Mouse, the statement adds, but
everywhere they were rqpulsed.
ITE
RETURN TO ATHENS
LONDON, March 20. -The minis
ters to tlreeco of tho entente nations"
Imvo again taken up their residence f
in Athens, KcuterV correspondent-
thcro reports. Tho discharge of a ii
cargo of wheat destined, lor Tiraeus
begins today. , ,
1 - -i US .
Tho admission of wheat to Greece
.nd.eules the lifting of tho blockade
which has been in cfrCct for severat
weeks. The Greek government has
mndo repented representations that
widespread suffering wn, beiuif
enused by tho shutting off of food
supplies to which the entente re
sponded that Iho blockade would be
lilted when Greece hud complied fuMy
with its demands. The most ira
portunt of those demands were tho
transfer of the army to lower Greece
nnd tho disbanding of tho reservist,
ror-t ho purpose of removing the pos'
s.bi l.ty ot an attack by Greek troop,
n the renr of H,0 uliiud f
Macedonia.