Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, March 28, 1917, Page 1, Image 1

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    University f Orfflon
"WEATHER Maximum yesterday, 61 ; minimum today, 3 8 ; precipitation, .05. FORECAST -Tonight and tomorro w, rain. ' -'
edford Mail Tribune
i Ihrarv
Forty-seventh Year.
Daily Twelfth Year.
MEDFORD OREGON", WEDNESDAY, 'MARCH 28, 1917.
NO. 5
ENTIRE MILITIA
CALLED BACK TO
FEDERAL DUTY
Partly Demobilized National Guard
Units Ordered to Mobolize Again
Rapid Progress to Put Nation in
State of Preparedness Congress
to Organize on Partisan Lines.
WASHINGTON, March 28 Orders
were issued today by 1 he war de
partment calling nil National Guard
units which have partially domoboil
ized, back into the federal service.
The order applies also to troops
demobolized within (he lust few days
which the department understood to
still be in the federal service when
its previous orders were issued. There
ore about six regiments in this class,
which will be mobilized again.
Legislative, Program.
Congressional leaders today gave
informal consideration to the legis
lutive program to meet the national
emergency, but it was emphasized
thut definite steps to Hint end would
not be taken until after President
Wilson delivers his address to con
gress soon after it convenes in extra
ordinary session next Monday.
Meanwhile steps to put the nation
in a state of readiness to meet nny
eventuality went ahead actively.
More than -15,000 National Guards
men were under orders today to re
main in the federal service for po
lice duty at industrial plants and
other property in their respective
states. Altogether about fifty thous
and guardsmen have now been called
out for this purpose.
President Wilson was in conference
today with Colonel E; M. House, his
house guest and personal adviser, but
it was said that ho does not plan to
put his message to congress in final
shape until the last minute, nor has
it been decided, even after yester
day's cabinet meeting, just what
recommendations he will include in
it.
Donfcns Legislation.
Congressional leaders are counting
on having to deal with nothing but
measures relating to the international
crisis during the special session
Sokesmen for temperance and pro
hibition organizations have declared
their intention of not pressing for
action any nnti-liouor legislation, and
"although the federal woman suf
frnge amendment will be introduced,
there appears to he hltle hope for it.
I ROSSI
BERLIN, March 28. The idea of a
(great offensive ,against Russia Si
order to take advantage of her sup
posed demoralization is nut regarded
with favor by Major Moraht, the mill
tnry expert of the Tageblatt. Major
Moraht writes:
"The foreground of interest still
lies in the situation on the western
front where no chi.r.go may be ex
jiected for the time being. I would
.consider it wiser lo give the conflict
between the Russian nnuy and the
provisional government mure chance
fiio develop. This weakening of our
enemy can continue without our help
nnd yet without precluding our nt
tacVlit Ihe tnoniffnj when an inclina
tion is.'sliown to j:ini ifp resistance."
IE
ROME, March 28. The predict
ed great offensive against Italy by the
central powers continues lo be the
chief topic of discussion in milil.irv
nnd political circles. Kirhl Marshal
Von llindcnbiir.' is credited with aim
ing at an invasion of Franco across
the prostrate Italy. In this connec
tion General Dirossi, commander of
the Montenegrin troops serving with
the Italian army, w rite" :
"A terrible and despi rate attack is
in preparation against oar line.
F.veryone foresees it and even Hie
enemy nnnounces it in older to in
timidiito us by threatening Italy with
the fate of Kuiuauia aud Serbia."
WASHINGTON, March 28.
Hopes for a non-partisan
organization of the house of
representatives at the special
session next week was virtual-
ly abandoned today by Repre-
scntntive Mann, republican
leader in the last house and
proponent of the plan. After
a conference with Speaker
Clark, Democratic leader,
Kitchin and Chairman Fltz-
gerald of the appropriations
committee, Mr. Mann Bald he
saw little hope for coalition.
T
BATTLES CHECKED
By SPRING THAW
BERLIN, March 28 No military
actions of importance will be possible
for some time on the Mussina front
i'roni Ihe lialtic to the "Cnqialhinns,
owing to the setting in of the spring
Ihnw, today's nnuy headquarters
statement indicutes.
There is some activity on the Rus
sian front and the failure of a Rus
sian attack on Magyros is reported,
together with the capture by Teutonic
forces of a strongly entrenched ridge
south of the Uzul vullcy. The state
ment reads:
'Between (he sen and ihe Carpath
ians the spring thaw lias begun which
makes the more important military
activities impossible. - , ; . I t
"The booty from the engagements
on the Shara has increased to twenty
mine throwers und eleven machine
guns.
"During a raid on the northeast
slope of Cumuli in the wooded Car
pathians, the raiding detachments
worked their way into a Hussion po
sition, blew up several dugouts and
returned with some prisoners and
booty.
"A Russian attack on Magyros
failed.
"South of the Uzul valley a
strongly entrenched ridge was taken
by storm. One hundred prisoners
and some .machine guns and mine
throwers remained in our hands.
"Army group of Field Marshal von
Mackensen nnd Macedonian front:
Outpost engagements occurred and
there was a revival from time to
timd of; artillery activity."
GILL ADMITS
SFATTI.K, Wn March 28. Go-v
eminent Prosecutor Heanies, cross-
examining Mavor llirain C. Gill in
the whiskey conspiracy Irial today,
propounded the following questions:
"While you wero negotiating the
settlement with the Billingslcys in
August, 1!)1(), didn't you tell George
F. Vumlcveer, their attorney, that
you were hard upt Isn't it true
that your salary warrants were as
signed iu advance? Hadn't the war
rants been assigned in April for a
year in advance?
Mavor Gill admitted Hint the war
rants hail been assigned.
NEW YORK, March 28. Two
women to every man applied for en
listment in the I'nited States marine
Curtis in the last week, according to
aptain Frank E. Evans, iu charge
of recruiting here. Several of the
women applicants, lie nsscrtcd, waul
ed to be detailed lo battleships.
"It was difficult convince them
that women are not H-nnittcd lo
erve ill any capacity on wurships,"
he said.
A recent rilling of Secretary Dan
iels provide for the enlistment of
wuuicu lo fill clerical positions ouiy.
BRITISH PREMIER
DECLARES FOR
Ei
E
Lloyd George Makes Declaration
Favoring Votes for Women As
quith Says Women Have Worked
Out Their Own Salvation Moves
for Electoral Reform.
LONDON, March 28. Premier
Lloyd George made a declaration in
the house of commons today in favor
of woman suffrage.
The premier said he welcomed the
recommendation in favor of woman
suffrage which was made In the pro
gram for electoral reform moved to
day by former Premier Asipiith.
The other reform measures also
were approved by the premier who
said that in the opinion of the gov
ernment it would be a national waste
if the results of the conference at
which the reforms were outlined
should be thrown away. He favored
a generous extension of the electoral
franchise by reducing to three months
the period for qualifying for voting
and by assuming the qualifications of
every soldier and sailor.
Asquith for Women.
Former Premier Asquith said In
the house of commons today that the
house would not be unprepared to
hear that he and other members no
longer regarded the question of wom
an suffrage from the standpoint they
occupied before the war. Mr. As
quith made this statement In moving
the adoption for electoral reform.
Mr. Asquith said his opposition to
woman suffrage always had been bas
ed solely, on considerations of pub
lic expediency. The women had now
worked out their own salvation. The
war could not be carried on without
them. What moved him and espec
ially, he added, was the problem of
reconstruction after the war. He con
sidered it to be neither just nor ex
pedient to withhold from women the
power or right to make their votes
heard directly.
Won by Loyalty.
The fact that for three years there
has been no recurrence of the "de
testable campaign which had dlsfig
ured our public life," said Mr. As
quith, would mako It Impossible for
anyone to say that In changing their
position In regard to suffrage he and
his associates had yielded to force
what they had refused to yield to ar
guments. Mr. Asquith also supported strong
ly the other proposals for electoral
reform and expressed the opinion that
the recommendation that all elections
should take place on one date, dealt
with one of the greatest reforms
which could be Introduced.
TOR BOAT
NEW YORK, March 28. Dis
covery of a motorbont containing 40
pounds of dynamite and sixteen de
tonating ciis within half a mile of
Fort Totten nnd not far from a l.nit
ed Slates destroyer on neutrality
duty, led to the detention by the po
lice today of a man who said he was
Malhias Johnson of Perth Amboy, N,
J. Johnson said he wus a wrecker
who had come from Perth Amboy to
blow up a wreck nnd hud put in for
shelter nt the basin near the fort be-
buusc of rain nnd darkness. The po
lice authorities asserted he produced
no license as a wrecker or to trans
port dynamite.
STATE FACTORY INSPECTOR
DIMISSED BY H0FF
SALEM, Ore., March 28. State
Labor Commissioner O. II. Hoff an
nounced here todnv he hud dismissed
Deputy Commissioner C. II. Gram
who has been factory inspector for
the Oregon coast district for the past
ten years. Hoff assigned his action
to the "good of the serivce.
GOOD ROADS MEETING
TOO MUCH FOR ASTORIAN
ROSFIil'RO, Ore., March 28 Hen
jnmin F. Worsley, Astoria, Ore., who
came here to address a good road
meeting, was overcome by heart fail
ure in a hotel lobby here today.
Physicians said his condition was
critical.
QUALSUFFRAG
,
. LONDON, March 28. The
British transport Tyandareus
"was torpedoed on February
9, Bays an official statement
Issued th is evening. A bat-
talion of the Middlesex regl-
ment was on board, and, Bays
the statement, "upheld army ,
traditions." The ship was
saved.
E
WASHINGTON, March US. Of tic
lal reports from the southern depart
ment, made public today, say reports
that many Germans have crooned Into
Mexico since diplomatic relations be
tween the United States and Ocrniany
were broken off are without founda
tlon. The records of the Immigra
tion authorities and of the army In
telligence service along the border
show that only three Germans have
passed into Mexico since February 3
in the Brownsville district and 78
from the Laredo region; 34 of the lat
ter having returned to the United
States.
The statement follows:
"Press reports have stated recently
that many Germans are crossing into
Mexico. Reports from our Intelli
gence officers Include the records of
the Immigration officials at various
points do not confirm these reports,
Since February 3 there have been but
three crossings at the Brownsville
district and 78 in the Laredo district
and none at other points. In the Lar-
do district, 34 of those who crossed
have returned to the United States.
"El Paso reports Bhow many cross
ings bark and forth but only those of
residents in the usual transaction of
business."
WASHINGTON, March 28. Sec
retary Redfleld will name shortly a
committee of business men to advise
his department In framing measures
to safeguard tho country's commerce
if war comes and to meet conditions
after the war. He conferred today
with Willard Straight of New York
representing the National Foreign
Trade council, whoso members have
approved the plan.
The committee will serve as an In
formal body. It will work out with
the department plans for a pcrma
ncnt organization to co-operate with
the government In promotion of for
eign trade.
Commerce department officials
realize that the war has changed so
completely the ponitlon of this conn
try In the financial world that a fu
ture practical national policy miiHt
he outlined. Officials believe It Im
perative that foreign trade and for
eign loans bo encouraged by the gov
ernment since the United States Is
now a creditor nation.
WASHINGTON", March 28.-Thc
Swiss legation has been authorized
by the federal department of finance
in Berne lo deny published reports
that the Swiss governmental insur
ance institution in I.uccmo has in
vested money iu Gennaii war loan
securities. The department of fi
nance which administers the general
insurance fund was said to have
made no new inystmenU sinco the
outbreak of the war. The institution
itself disposes of no money.
m dMAMPiMn nr
n r uiiio iiu ur
FOREIGNCOMMERCE RUSSIAN SOCIALISTS
DUTCH VESSELS
INBRITISHPORTS
REPORTED SEIZED
Refusal of Dutch Merchantmen to
Carry Cargoes to British Desti
nations Said to Have Resulted in
Confiscation of Steamers Swed
ish Ships Being Held in Ports.
WASHINGTON, March 28. Dutch
steamships in Hritish ports wero re
ported here today lo have been con
fiscated by the British government.
Tho information reached here from
a grain house, which sold the Dutch
government the grain uhoard many of
the vessels, it could not be confirm
ed nt The Netherlands legation.
About forty Dutch ships now are ill
ports belonging lo Grent Britain nnd
a fleet of fifteen grain carrying ves
sels is understood to be on its way
from a Holland port to the United
Slates. Many of the Dutch ships
now in British ports huve been de
tained for from six to eight weeks.
The British government for some
time litis been insisting that a certain
percentage of Dutch merchant ton
nage carry cargoes to British desti
nations nnd the Dutch government
has refused.
To Take Over Ships.
NEW YORK, March 28. Repre
Lsentntives here of the Holland stenm-
;hip lines were informed yesterday
through unofficial sources that the
entente allies were negotiating with
tho Dutch government to tnke over
all freight ships controlled by Grent
Britnin. - Inquiry made by the lines
at the state department and nt The
Netherlands legal ion at Wushinglon
and by cable to llollaiul bus so fur
brought no reply.
Advices were received today by the
Royal Dutch line that one of its ves
sels, laden with government gmin
had been released from a port of call
and had sailed for home.
It was also learned todny from the
representative of a Swedish steam
ship line that more than 200,000 tons
of Swedish ships aro being held in
porls controlled by England and her
allies. Among theso ships is a pas
senger ship, which left New York
more than one month ngo with dO
persons on board. Snmo of the pas
sengers abandoned the voyage nt n
port of call and returned home.
IN FAVOR OF WAR
PETROGRAD, March 27. A
group of social democrats has put
out a declaration which it is declared
fairly represents Ihe majority of the
party toward Ihe government. The
declaration, which is signed by half
a dozen locally prominent names, fa
vors a vigorous prosecution of Ihe
war, leaving the demands of the roc
i i I democracy in abeyance until the
country is safe from the danger of a
return of the monarchy.
On the subject of tho war the
declaration says:
"The subjugation of the entente
would bring a return of the old re
gillie. It is necessary now if ever to
continue the struggle until the last
bulwark (if miiiliin-liinl control in Eu
rope has fallen."
NEW YORK, March 28. Cuban
revolutionists stole an entire one.
ring circus except the tents and Ihi
saw dust, iiccorliug to Edward anr
Lottio MoOinloy, members of Hi
show who arrived hero today on a
steamship from Culm. The rebels.
ordered by llieir chief lo commandeer
the circus horses nnd food supply,
made off with Hie garments of Cae
sar and Cleopatra alter drawing lots
for distribution id' them and captured
also a twenly-three-yenr-old lion and
llaltie, I lie elephant. -The circus was
playing nt the time nt a town about
twenty miles from Havana, tho nr
rivals said.
RECRUIT IS ROLLED
UNTIL STRETCHED TO
REQUISITE HEIGHT
KANSAS CITY. March 28.
Karl I. Wheeler, who applied
for enlistment with the Third
Mjissouit infantry today, was
found to bo one inch short of
Ihe required five feet, four inch
regulation. To remedy the de-
feet half n dozen iruardsmcu
messaged nnd rolled the uppli-
cant for an hour, when ho was
again brought before the exam-
ining physician and wus ne-
cepted. Wheeler's stature was
" said to have been decrensed ns.
a result of currying sucks of
cement.
-t-
;fi
COPENHAGEN, HUrch 28. The
result of tho recent stock taking of
tho grain, potatoes nnd other food
stuffs was so unfavorable ns to
cause general apprehension, accord
ing to tho Berlin Vorwacrts which
quotes remarks made before the rcich
stag committee on food by the social
ist deputy, Ebert.
According to this renort Deputy
Ebert said an inventory showed that
tho 1010 yield of bread grains was
only 500,000 tons or 15 pounds per
'tu above the 1015 harvest, a har
vest wlwch Juid been regarded as ul
most In mil ions. Earlier reports on
Iho 11)10 harvest had described it as
good and a rationing scheme was
based ou an estimated excess of 1,
000,000 tons. The reduction in the
visible supply by one-half explains
the cut in bread rations which was
announced by the authorities as soon
ns the results of the census were nt
hand.
Deputy Ebert added that a similar
deficit apparently existed iu other
food products. He demanded that
everything imported from Riitnunia be
reserved for human consumption.
LSOf
NEW YORK, March 28. Official
appeal to organized labor to join in
signing a pledge to support Ihe presi
dent ill protecting American rights
was issued today by James P. Hoi
land, president of the New York stale
federation of labor. The pledge is
being circulated by the majority of
New York s committee on national de
lease, copies having been sent to
public schools, clubs, restaurants,
holds and all public places, where
hundreds of thousands of signatures
huve been affixed to them.
In explaining the action taken, Mr,
Holland said :
"I am not unmindful of the noise
lhat has been raised by some people
who arc opposed to any action for the
defense of our national rights, but 1
am convinced that in the ranks of
labor such a policy of surrender is
favored by only a small fraction. A
a body, worlungincn and men of litis
country are solidly behind the presi
dent iu this stand for resist.iucu to
foreign aggression.''
LOS ANGELES BUYS
GUNS FOR DEFENSE
I.OS ANGEI.ES, Cul., March 28.
Purchase of one machine gun and
four hum! 1 rifles was directed to
day by (he city council ami a call
for ten thousand volunteers, bringing
their own anus, for organization of
a home guard, was issued by Chief
of Police John J.. Duller. A hundred
and fifty members of Ihe polico de
partment who have had military ex
perience were ordered lo prepare to
command Iho volunteers.
F
RENCH ADVANCE
ALONGINREGION
NEAR SOIS ON
Violent Artillery Fighting Continues
In Champagne Progress - Made
North of Ailette River French
Attack Near La Fere Fails States
German Report.
PARIS, PARIS, March 28. The
advance of tho French in the region
north of Soissons was continued dur
ing the night. Progress was made
north of the Ailette river and east
ot the Leuilly Neuvillo-Sur-Miirgival
lino where important positions were
captured.
These gains nre recorded in to
day's official report which nlso indi
cates unusual activity further east.
The artillery of both the French and
Germans kept up a violent fire yes
terday and during tho night on the
front between Butio du Mosnil and
Maisons de Chnmpngno. Heavy ar
tillery fighting is in progress in the
region east of tho lower forest of
Coney.
French Official Statement,
Tho sthiem- at follows;
, "Between .e Somra- and the Oise
nnd south of the Oiso there were no
importunt events during the night.
The artillery firing wns rather heavy
in the region cast of tho lowor forest
of ( oucy. North of the Ailette we
mndo further progress und also in the
sector cast of the line Leuilly-Neu-ville-Sur-Margivnl,
whore wo captur
ed several important points of sups
pott. "The, region of Rheims we made
a surprise attack enst of Neuville,
taking prisoners. In the Chnmpngno
Into, yesterday and during the night
thu artillery fighting became violent,
especially in tho region of Butte du
Mosnil and Maisons do Champagne."
(ionium Official Statement.
BERLIN, March 28 A French at
tack on tho west bank of the Oise
near La Fere failed yesterday with
heavy hisses, tho war office an
nounces. French trenches in the
Champagne south of Kipont were cap
tured by tho Germans.
The statement follows:
"Western front: With the majority
of Ihe armies Ihe day passed quietly
in tho dislriet on both sides of the
Somiiic und the Oiso there were only
minor cngiigments. The successful
munner in which our troops there are
accomplishing their task is illustrated
by the fact that in tho field of tho
c.ngngenient of llatreh 20 between
Lngnicourt and Morchics about 1000
British deud wero counted.
"Yeslerdny tho French suffered
sanguinary losses on the west bank
of Iho Oise near Ln Fero, during the
failure of an ultack.
"In the Champagne some French
trenches smith of RiHint were enp
tured. There nnd in enterprises south
of Suint Souplet nnd near Tahure
300 French were taken prisoners and
several machine guns und mine
throwers captured.
"North of Rheims nnd in the Ar
gonne hostile reconnoitering detach
ments which had entered our positions
were driven uway by a counter at
tack." YEAR CERTIFICATES
WASHINGTON, March 28. Plans,
for the issuance of one yenr certifi
cates to provide finances temporarily
for the government probably will bo
announced by the treasury depart
ment within tho next forty eight
hours. Ml;1
Secretory McAdoo has Intel under
consideration for the past several
days details of the issuance of suf
ficient certificates to tido over the
government until collection of tho in
come tax in June. Under tho law ho
is authorized to issue ono year cer
tificates up to $:i00,(!00,000'at a rate
of interest not exceeding three per
cent. The balaneo iu Ihe general fund
of Ihe treasury stood today nt ap
proximately r8,000,000, hut will bo
reduced $2.").0IM),000 Saturday when
the warrant for the pimnent for the
Danish West Indies is issued. This
will so depleto the fund ns to make
temporary financing an nlinout im
mediate necessity,