Medford mail tribune., March 23, 1917, Page 1, Image 1

University if Oregon
"WEATHER Maximum yesterday, 53; minimum today, 2 9. precipitation, .01. FORECAST Tonight and tomorro w, rain,
Forty-sixth Tear.
Dally Eleventh Year.
MEDFORD. OREGON,- FRIDAY, MARCH 2H. 1917.
NO. 1.
MEDFOKI)
11 All
IfJBLiOJLJ
o tv tra AffltniteflWo-mLLcu.oi oUPBiAmwc
NO WARNING healdion loss sr: Germans hali former czar
in TiNKFR GRAVE ADDI1I0N mW&f RETREA1ATNEW KOW PRISONER
Ul UuUfll Cabinet Reviews situation and &k? MwJv0t Extensive Military Works Contracted
American Steamer Healdton Hit
Twice by Torpedoes Outside of
Barred Zone Oil Set Afire Life
Boat Capsizes and 20 Perish No
Aid Given by Submarine Sur
vivors Drift Two Days and Are
Picked up by Trawler.
TUB HAGUE, March 23. The
second boat from llio Healdion lias
been brought to Ten-hulling by a
Dutch torpedo boat. One Dutchman
had .jumped overboard, losing his life.
The third boat, containing 19 men was
overturned when tho ship capsized.
All were drowned, making a total of
20 lives., out of the crew of 41. Of
the 13 Americans on board only six
were saved. Two Dutchmen also
were among the victims, others of
whom were Spaniards, Norwegians
and a Finn.
'i KIcctric Sign Shot Away.
Detailed accounts of the sinking
show that the Healdion, after con
siderable delay nt Halifax on her way
to Rotterdam. nroeerdod to HnriMin
Norway, where she received orders to
resume tho voyage to Hottenlain.
Nothing of especial importance hap
pened until Wednesday at about 8 :15
p. m. Notwithstanding the electric
ally illuminated words "Healdton,
New York," between the masts, the
vessel was bombarded suddenly by
nn invisible submarine, which first
t. .i ... .
wiui. away ine illuminated name ami
thereupon without warning twice tor
pedoed the vessel. Fire broke out nt
unco followed by nn explosion in the
machine room and the erew imme
diately sought safety in the boats,
not having a minute to dress or col
lect any of their belongings.
All efforts to save the nineteen men
in the overturned boat were fruit
less. The boat with thirteen men,
including tho captain, were sighted
on Thursday by the steam trawler
Java, which had just put lo sea, but
immediate- returned to '..'miiidcn with
the shipwrecked men.
Survivors Suffer Greatly.
A number of these survivors were
in their underclothes and all wore
terribly exhausted by tho nights fa
tigue and cxposuro in tho open boat
to bitter cold and snow. They had
not even enough strength to come
alongside the trawler, whose skipper
had to apply his best seamanship f6
approach tho boat without runninc it
down. Once on board the trawler
Koine of the survivors fell to the deck
in n faint from exhaustion.
According to the captain of the
Healdton, one of the torpedoes hit his
.vessel in tho stern and the other
amidships. Dutch fishermen say
they observed the glow of the burn
ing steamship in the distance, at first
believing it to be the northern lights.
Nothing could be distinguished of the
nationality of the submarine which
fired without emerging fully and dis
appeared immediately.
In addition to tho illuminated sign,
the Healdton's nationality was indi
cated bv the fact that she was fly
ing tho American flag find had her
name painted on the sides. The Dutch
cook was among the four survivor.-,
of a ship recently torpedoed.
AMSTERDAM, March 23. The
(Continued on Page Six.)
LONDON. March 2.1. The British,
French and Italian ambassadors at
Fetrograd conveyed to tho fillister
of foreign affairs yesterday nn olfi-i-inl
recognition by their governments
of the Kus-iuii provisional govern
ment, says a Ucnlcr telccram from
J'etrograd under Thursday's date.
Passes Upon President's Address XJVTvSt V. N f J ViV From Cambrai Throuph St. Quen-
o Con3ress-No Change in Situa- Jk WSU jM M U " La"-GermanS
tion as State of War Already Ex- tfh X TtvvSjJ Attack In Region of Ham, but Are
ists-Work on Defense Program. E vV$ " WT'Sf Driven Back.
WASHINGTON, March 2.1. The
American government has decided
that steps to meet the situation with
Germany shall include preparation for
effective (and nggrespve 'warfare
in addition to measures for the pro
tection of shipping.
So far, it was learned after today's
cabinet meeting, there has been no
decision as to whether the sending of
n military force to Europe shall be
proposed, but the army as cell ns the
navy and industrial resources of the
nation are to be made rcadv for any
demand that may be made upon them.
WASHINGTON, March 23 Sink
ing by a German submarine of the
American 'steamer Healdton with the
probable loss of a score or more of
her crew, ninny of whom were Ameri
cans, while another grave addition to
the long list of (leniian aggressions
against American commerce, cannot
cause any immediate change in the
situation between the United States
and Germany, it wns said hero to
day. A virtual state of war already
exists, government officials believe
and they are doing everything pos
sible to prepare the nation to meet
that condition.
The destruction of the Healdton,
however, will be included by Presi
dent Wilson in his summary of Ger
man attacks on American commerce
when he goes before congress, which
meets in extraordinary session on
April 2.
Official Reports Received.
The president received his first of
ficial reports on the incident early
today. The news came in n cabled
report last night from American Con
sul Mahin at Amsterdam after the
president hud retired. The consul
reported that the vessel, which was
unarmed, was torpedoed without
warning oft Ihe coast of Holland on
Wednesday.
The president is devoting his al
most undivided attention to prepara
tions for national defense and it is
expected that he will continue lo do
so in the interval between now und
the convening of congress.
President Wilson's address lo con
gress wa's taken up in its tentative
form at todoy's cabinet meeting.
While its exact nature will be de
termined by the developments of the
next ten days it is expected lo be
specific in character and probably
will outline just what steps he be
lieves congress should take to meet
the warlike 0K-rations of German
submarines.
Germans Si 111 llusy. '
Administration officials realize
that during the period of wailing .a
sustained effort is being made in Ger
many to place the resMinsibility for
war on Ihe United Stales. The hint
of an offer of mediation is regarded
as an added evidence of this move
ment, but the president and all his
advisers are determined that if nr
actually comes it sha'l be clear to the
world that it has nol been of Ameri
ca's choosinir.
The president, to keep in touch
with army and navy preparations,
cancelled practically nil engagements
today cx"ept one with Governor Mc
Call of Massachusetts, who wanted to
confer on ways in which the state
niiL'ht co-operate with the federal
government.
AMSTKHDAM, March 23. The
bread ration in Germany will bo di
minished one-fourth beginning April
l,i, owing to the seun itv of wheat.
:n cording to a dispatch from licrliu
in Ihe We.-er Zcitung of llremen,
OF JEWISH RACE
WASHINGTON!, March 23. First
steps by the new Russlan'governmont
toward th emancipation .of Jowb In
Russia wero reported today by Am
bassador Francis, who said all ed
ucational restrictions as to both
schools and colleges had been re
moved. Officials hero look on this step
as a forecast of freedom for the Jews
In Russia. Incidentally also It fore
casts removal of passport restrictions
because of which the United Statos
abrogated the commercial treaty with
Russia and leads to confidence that
the treaty soon may be renewed.
Combined with steps toward home
rule In Finland and promises of au
tonomy for Poland, it convinces of
ficials that the new leaders intend to
carry out their liberal program at
once, as establishing a firmer foun
dation on which the war can bo pros
ecuted moro successfully.
BARRED ZONE 10
LONDON, March 23. A Renter
dispatch from Clirisliania says the
German minister has communicated
to the Norwegian government n com
munication that in the future part
of the Arctic sen lying east of 24
degrees east longlitude and south of
7) degrees north latitude, excepting
Norwegian territory, is to be regard
ed as dangerous for all navigation.
Ships will meet with dangers and
must enter the territory at their own
risk. They will be subject to altaek
without warning after April 5.
The effect of the German declara
tion is to extend the barred none to
Ihe waters giving access to northern
Russian ports throiiuh which in t lie
summer months Russian war supplie ;
are imported from the United tSates.
CRANE LIKELY TO
WASHINGTON, March 23. Cha?.
K. C rane of (hicaco was understood
today to li under consideration by
President Wilson for appointment n
ambassador to Japan to succeed the
late Ambassador Guthrie. Mr. ( rani
was apHinted minister lo China in
the Tall administration, but win re
called before he left Sun Francisco,
because of a published ii.tcrvicw deal
ing willi fur Kiislcrn questions,
FOR WAGE RAISE
WASHIiNiGTON, March 23. Sev
eral of tho country's largest railroads
filed, a petition with the Interstate
commerce commission late today ask
ing that they be permitted to increase
tholr rates generally, except on coal,
coke and ore and that the new tar
iffs bo permitted to become effect
ive In thirty days instead of being
suspended for investigation.
Only presidents of eastern roads
signed today's petition but similar
action will be taken tomorrow by
moro than a score of western lines.
"Nothing Is more essential to the
welfare of the nation," said the state
ment, "than that the railroads should
he in position to respond to the full
est demands made upon them either
by the general commerce of the coun
try or In connection with tho sub
ject of national defense."
Tho applications say that wago In
creases necessary under the Adam
son law mado Increased rales imper
ative. The new rates would apply
generally but exceptions would he
mado In the case of conl, coke and
ores on which specific advances have
been recently authorized or are under
consideration.
Tho formal application will be fil
ed tomorrow on behalf of the eastern
roads and for the western later In
tho week. Pasengor rates will not
bo included.
Till-; IIAGUK, March 23. The
llnndclshlnd of Amsterdam says to
day that the minor has reached it
that Holland has refused (ho request
of Ihe United Stales for tho udmis
sion of American untied merchantmen
to Dutch ports and that consequently
the Dutch harbors will be closed to
American and Itntish ships.
"The government," adds the news
paper, "will nssiimc n great responsi
bility which ever way the decision
may full. The government seems to
believe Germany would interpret ns
an unfriendly ad any decision on
our part by which we would conic
into line with international usages,
the justice of which Germany recog
nized before Ihe war."
Fcnr o,' reprisals by Ihe United
Slates or Great llrilain now or nflcr
the war is expressed by the news
paper, but. the Dutch government, it
declares must do only what justice
and the interests of The Xcllioijniiils
dictate.
renter, Queen Mario of liiiiiianhi;
top, left, Empress Eugenic of France;
right, Queen Mllcna of Montenegro;
lMittoin, left, Czarina. Alcxnndin of
Russia; right, )i EllznlK-th of 1U-1-gium.
V IUU1
WASHINGTON'. March 23. The
American tanker Healdion, torpe
doed jind sunk off the Dutch coast
Wednesday night was insured by Ihe
government's -war risk bureau for
$41)0,000.
The loss of the Healdton is the
greatest yet sustained by the bu
reau. The next largest was the loss
of Ihe steamer Illinois, insured for
$2.")(l,000.
Approximately $(11,000,000 in in
surance has been issued by the bu
reau on American ships and cargoes
within the last Ihirly days. Much of
this amount has been issued since
tho restriction against insuring con
traband was removed. Total profits
to the bureau, it was said today, have
approximated $4,000,0(10 since it be
gan business in September, 1014;
losses have totalled about $1,(100,000.
The increased demand for govern
ment insurance on America:; ships
and cargoes to belligerent ports was
maintained today. Another large
number of applications was received
by mail and telegraph.
y
AMSTKHDAM, Maren 23. Indica
tions of renewed tension between Nor
way ami Germany are appearing In
the German newspapers. The Col
ogne Gazette makes a feature of an
editorial headed "Norwegian Inso
lence," in which It says:
"The press of Norwny In these days
has assumed a tono of an Insulting
character which Germany cannot tol
erate Tho Norwegians would do
well to remember that their unbrid
led press campaign onco before led
to diplomatic tonnlon. A.scnso of
responsibility should havo kept the
papers from aKiiln singing the same
tune."
l'KTROGHAI), March 23. Tly nu
merous counter attacks tho Russians
have repaired the breach mado In
their lines by the Germans near the
Boreslna river eaRt of Lida on the
Russian front, In a recent attack the
war office announced today.
The Russians are feeling out the
Teutonic lines south of Galltz, one tho
Rumanian front and have succeeded
In driving out the garrison of two
stations near Vadenl, between (lalalz
and Ilralla, the war offiro announced
today. German airplanes dropped
bombs on Gulntz.
PARIS, March 23. The last batch
of repatriated FrencW from tho Soni
me region who have arrlvod here
agree that the Germans havo estab
lished a defenBlvo line running thru
Cambrai, St. Qiicntln, La Kcre and
Laon. One of the rofugeos said: "For
sevoral months past tho Germans
have been concentraing In the neigh
borhood of this line, particularly be
tween St. CJuentln, Cambrai and
Guise. All civilians deported from
northern France and Belgium wore
forced to carry out military works
feverishly constructed. They were
compelled to labor under terrible
threats. Tho Germans constructed a
complete new system of railroads
and dug deep shell proof shelters.
Localities south of the lino wero
Bystematlcaly evacuated and the
greater number of tho Inhabitants of
the towns and villages were repa
triated, only men and women capa
ble of working being held. None of
the people in St. Quentln or Laon
I wore repatriated, howover. On tho
'contrary, the Germa'ns di'cw a cor
don around theso towns and the
most severe measures wero tnken In
rocent months to provent nnyono
from either entering or lonvlng thorn
French Officiol Report.
TAR IS, March 23. A violent at
tack was made by the Germans last
night north of St. Simon In the region
of Ham. Today's war offlco an
nouncement says tho Germans gain.
cd some ground at the beginning but
wero counter attacked Immediately
and driven back as far as Serau-coiirt-lo-Grando,
three miles north
east of St. Simon.
Tho French continued to advanco
north of Soissons. FroBh detach
ments crossed tho Ailletto.
Tho ntatemonl Bays details which
had been received regarding the at
tack by the Germans on tho Vregny
ChlvroB lino show that they Buffered
heavy losses. Two companies of
French chasseurs who were Isolated
for a moment from tho remainder of
tho troop cut their way through and
brought back prlsonors.
German Official Report.
IIHHLIN, March 23. Heavy losses
were Inflicted by the Germans yostcr
day upon French troops who had
crossed tho Somnic-Crozat cunal In
tho vicinity of St. Simon, army head
quarters announced today. The
French wero repulsed and 230 pris
oners and several machine guns were
taken.
Engagements developed last night,
between tho Olso and tho Alsnn west
and south of Mnri;lval, In which nt
tackB by strong forces of French
troops wero rcpulncd with heavy loss
es. SUFFERING A SEVERE
LONDON, March 23. Prl-
vato messages havo reached
!Tho Hague that Emperor Wll-
Ham Is suffering from a severe
nervous breakdown, an Ex-
change Telegraph dispatch
from Tho Haguo reports.
Tho emperor's physicians nre
said to havo ordered him to
take the euro at Homhurg,
Nicholas Romanoff Arrives at Tsais-koe-Sdo
and is Interned Mrs.
Romanoff Also a Prisoner Five
. Children III With Measels Spies,
Leaders and Generals Together.
TSTRSKOE-SELO, Russia, March
23. On his arrival here today In the
custody of four members of the duma
Nicholas Romanoff, the deposed czar
was turned over Immediately to the
Tsaraskoo-Selo commander and tak
en to the Alcxanderovsky palace,
whero tho former Empress Alexandra
already was Interned. The special
train carrylag the former ruler ar
cived at 1:30 o'clock on the branch
lino outside Alexandrovcky park. On
leaving tho train Nlsholas entered
an automobile accompanied by his
adjutant. Prince Dolgoroukoff, the
only courtier of the first rank who
accompanied him and by the four
Tho former rulor held hlmsolf erect.
driven to the palace.
IOoks Indifferent
Nicholas was met at the door in
the wing of tho pnlaeo by Count Ben-
ckendroff, who was his marshal of
tho court and la now under arrest.
Abe former rulor held himself erect.
looking calm and indifferent, al
though he stopped with a nervous
haste from 1i1b automobile. A bat
talion of. ihe First rifle guard regi
ment was at tho railroad depot. The
commander at Tsarskoe-Selo is Col.
Kobulllnsky, formerly commander of
the Potrogradsky regiment, stationed
In pence time at Warsaw. To him
the duma commissioners announced:
"Our mission of handing over the
cmperod Is finished. We now go to
Potrograd to announce this fact to
tho duma."
The correspondent drove to the old
Tsarskoc-Solo palaco, which is de
serted and wlthoufguards, and then
to the new palace where the former
Imperial family Is Interned. The pa
lace lies In a lnrgo park which Is sur
rounded by a plain, spiked fence, five
foot high, coated with silver paint..
Within tho park ovor the broad ex
panse of snow, not a Blngle person
was vlslblo. Apparently thore were
no guards within the park but out
side tho fence, every fifty ynrds along
tho roadway wero double sentries
from tho Potrogradsky regiment In
long coats, with fixed bayonets.
Family Iiils Monties
iN'car the cast end of the palace Is
a detatchod building which formorly
served as a kitchen. It Is now oc
cupied by tho Btnff officers in com
mand of the troops Hoarding Nicho
las. Further on Ib tho chief part of
tho palace, a long two-story building
of pnlo yellow stucco with white cor-
t ii t h i u ii col ii ins reaching to the roof
and two vast projecting side wings.
The palace when seen through a
blinding snow storm makes a deso
late and unattractive appearance.
Concerning Alexandra and other
(Continued on Pag Six.)
HF.liI.IX, March 2.1. Entcnlo
looses in warships have now reached
a total of H.")0,000 Ions, says nil Ov
erseas News agency announcement
today. This compulation includes
the French battleship of the Dnntnn
class recentiv announced to havo
been sunk by n German submarine.
The statement says :
'-r.y Ihe sinking of n ship of tho
Danton clus Ihe warship losses of
our enemies, excluding nxiliary ships,
have reached ill round numbers 8"nV
000 tons displacement. This is equal
lo the combined tonnniro ot Russia
and Japan at. the beginning of tho
war und is only (10,000 tons less than
the tonnage of Ihe 1'niled Stntcs navy
which was the third largest in the
world at the beginning of (lie war,1'