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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 9, 1917)
WEATHER Maximum yesterday, 5G; miniinum today, 41; precipitation .03. FORECAST Tonight and tomorrow, fair, probably light frost Forty-aoventh Tear. Dally TwHfth Yenr. MEDFORD OftECOX, MOXDAY, APRIL 9, 1917. NO. 15 - Y9fl t BR V N BELGIUM on b An : TEUTON LINES 1 WIDE FRONT Brittish Deliver Strong Blow Against Germans From Cambrai to Lens . Sweep Over German Positions on Famous Vimy Ridge One of Greatest Spectacles of War Night Illumined for Hours by Bombard mentAttack Is British Answer. LONDON, April 9. Some 3500 prisoners have been captured In the now drive against the German lines by one of the British armies alone, Heuter's correspondent at British headquarters in France telegraphs today. The prisoners have been com ing In an endless procession, the cor respondent reports. The fighting Is increasing In intensity as the battle progresses. Tho British casualties thus far are reported comparatively slight. with the niiiTisir ahmiks in yKANCK, April 9. The I!ritih to day delivered a strong; blow against the (lei'mnns from Hie region south west of Cambrai to a point soulli of Lens. They swept over the German positions from the south of Arras, northward on the fa.mous Vimy ridj;o, i'ifrhtimr for the possession of which cost the Kretn-li 100,0(10 casualties earlier in the war. Once before, the British had pained the crest of the ridge, but under a tremendous ' con centration of German puns they were compelled to pive it up. All winter Ionj; Canadians have held a footing on the riiljro with the Herman lines looking down on them. All the fiphlinp today was apainsl dominating positions on liih ground, some of which had been held by the (iermnns J'or two years and were lavishly hemmed with wide bells of some of the touehest and longest garbed wire which has been seen in the war. Answer to d'cinmiiy. The preliminary bombardment of i lie ridpes attacked, delivered before dawn, proved to he one of Ihe preal est spectacles of Ihe war. The firing" at all times exceeded lhat which marked some of the sturdiest bailies of the Somme. The night sky was illuminated for hours by Ihe continu ous flash of puns. The attack was carried out in sev eral phases. Tim first lines had scarcely been entered when numbcis of German priouers bepan to come back. Cuii.iln l'lio Slow. The Gefman defensive barrogo or curtain fire, was slow in starting, notwithstanding frantic signals for help sent up with rockets all along the line, lirltish grids had been ham lncring tho Germans night anil day for a week past and most of their trench es were fairly pulverized. No estimate of the prisoners tak en Is jet available. Those captured were mostly Uavarlans, Wurttoinbiir gers and Hamburgers. lAfter a beautiful warm Easter Sun day, tho weather changed last night and today's attack was carried out in a pelting rain driven before a galo in which was the sting of Jan uary cold. The airplanes which have (Continued on Page Two.) XKW VOl.'K, April 0. One of the most sen-ati"Tial advances in the cot ton trade occurred at Hie market ' opening today. May contracts sold up to "..V and July .SM a bale above Thursday's clo'-inp prices. The upturn was attributed princi pally to the continued unfavorable weather cnt of the Missi-'ippi with the strength of the.mt -i'.iiiition a an ntldcd factor. !! HVtHW UK III IU WAR PURPOSES CONDUCT WAR Three Billions to Be Loaned Allies arid Two Billions for Conducting War in This Country Balance to Be Raised by Taxation of Big In comesAllies Need Aid. WASHINGTON, April 9. A decis ion to introduce the $5,000,000 bond issuo measure on Thursday in the house was reached today by Secre tary McAdoo and Uoprosentatlve Ilainey, of Illinois, ranking democrat ic member of tho ways and means committee. The measure will carry a $3,000, 000,000 issue for a loan to the allies and a $2,000,000,000 Issuo for con ducting tho war for this country. The $2,000,000,000 issuo is expected to meet approximately one half of this country's war expenses up to June 30, 1918. Consideration of plans for raising additional funds by taxation for conducting the war for this coun try will conij later. The most essen tial thing to be accomplished now, it is agreed, is to prepare the allies' loan in order that they may obtain much needed food and munitions Tenure Pioi Fixed. Another effort to rush the bond measure through the house will Jie considered by the ways and means committee Wednesday. Tho tenure of the bonds has not been definitely decided. Some mem bers of the committee prefer fifty year bonds but think that It would bo best to pay them off at different times. Tho question of raising money by taxation, still is being considered from many angles and no concrete plan has been worked out. 1C Is gen erally agreed that excess profits, in comes and certain luxuries will be heavily taxed. What will bo done about increasing the Inheritance tax, however, still is problematical. Op position to increaslng.it because of interference with state inheritance tax laws has appeared, but It Is not believed It will prove strong enough to prevent raising the government inheritance lax. Half by Tnxntlon. About $1,730,000,000 or one half tho $3,500,000,000 asked for army and navy purposes within a year, will bo raised by taxation and the bal ance by sale of bonds, house and sen ate leaders had virtually decided to day. It Is proposed that most reve nue should come from Increased tax es on Incomes, inheritances and ex cess profits and lhat an Issue of 3 16 per cent bonds be authorized for $5,- 000,000.000, of which $3,000,(100,. 000 would he invested in war bonds of tho entente nations and $2,000, 000,000 would cover tho balance of tho war expense not met by tnxatlon All of the two billion might not he neded within the year, according to advance estimates. BRAZIL TO BREAK ItIO JANIF.ItO, April 9. Dr. I.ouro Muller, foreign minister, has refus ed to receivo the German minister. lr. Muller then gave urgent orders that a steamer In itlo Janiero be mndc ready at once for a mission abroad. WASHINGTON,, April 9. In I.at- In-Anierican diplomatic iiuarters It was said here today that Muller' refusal to receive the German minis ter to Ilra7.il undoubtedly meant that the government definitely had dccld ed to sever diplomatic relations with Germany. Dr. Muilera orders that a steamer lie prepared "at once for a mission abroad,' 'was Interpreted as meaning 1 hn t tho Brazilian government also i had determined to arrange for the Immediate departure of the German 'officials. ASK FOR NT Senator Weeks and Representative Madden Introduce Resolution Call ing for Appointment of Six Con gressmen and Six Senators to Manage the Conflict. WASHINGTON, April 9: A Joint resolution for a congressional "joint committee on the conduct of tho war," ;as Inii educed simultaneously today by Senator Weeks of Massachusetts and Representative Madden, of Ill inois, both republicans. The committee would be composed of six members of the senate, Includ ing four demounts, and two rcp'i!--Ucans, six i'ro a tho house, evenly di vided between republicans ani dem ocrats. Sit During Sessions. The resolution provides that tho conunittde shall be known as tho joint committee in conduct of the war and "shall sit during tho sessions or recess of congress, shall make a spe cial duty of the problems arising out of the war, shall confer and advise with the president of the Unite! States and heads of various execu tive department and shall report to congress from time to time In its own discretion or when requested to do so by either branch of congress." The committee would bo clothed with the widest powers .of .Investiga tion, compelling testimony undor oath. , In the senate, the resolution for a joint congress war committee was referred to the rules committee at the request of Senator Weeks, who explained that it was designed to havo this congress follow tho course followed in the Civil war. A Connecting Link. "It would furnish a direct con nectlng link between the executive and legislative branch of the govern ment," said he. "We should corrol ate all tho forces of government in the conduct of this war. It is re ported that we arc to be asked to ap. proprlate vast sums of money and we have no direct knowledgo how or where tho money Is to ho spent, it Is the duty of congress to know tho methods of expenditures made and the purposes of appropriations by congress, it Is no reflection on any ono to havo expenditures so consid ered. Wo are going to war and It seems to 1110 wo should keep before the people at all times tho methods of making expenditures." ASKS $25,000,000 FOR DEPENDENT BELGIANS WASHINGTON, April 0 Senator Slerlinp of Smith Dakota, introduced a bill today to appropriate $2",i)W), 00(1 for the relief of liclpiims made dependent by Ihe war lo he disbursed by Ihe American relief commission. COUNCIL OF 3 (3 1 MW 4 ' A.; - TheM! men control the destiny of the United States when we go to war. They nro tho council of national defense ui:d Its civilian advisors, who are working night and day to mobilize the country's military, naval and Industrial resouices for use In case of war. They are, serted. left to rlKht: Iiavld F. Houston,, secretary of agriculture; .loscphu Daniels, secretary of the navy; Newton I). Baker, secretnry of War; l-'ranUlln K. I.nne, secre tary of the Interior; William II. Wilson, secretary of labor. Standing, left to right: (Irosvenor It. Calrkson. Julius Itosonwald, Bernard M. Bunch, Daniel Wlllard, D. F. II. Martin, Dr. Ilolllfi Godfrey. Howard Coffin, W. H. Glfford. Below, right, Samuel Gompers; left, William C. Ileilfleld, see. retary of commerce, RECALLED AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR TO UNITED STATES. I V ' X v" I t i Rv-v, ij i 1. hm:Jkbmi AMERICAN SHIP SI. BY PURE LUCK NKW YOiiK, April !). liunninp safely thrnuph the dmipors of the German submarine blockade without sighting a periscope either on the out ward or homeward journey, the Amer ican muil and passenger liner St. Louis arrived at her home dock to day. The St. Louis was the first Ameri can passenper bout to be armed and travel through Ihe danper zone around the Hritish isles since Ger many's declaration of January 3.1, and she was well armed for tho trip. The homeward voyape was a stormy one. A hundred miles off tho coast of Ireland n galo threalened the destruction of tho lifeboats, which had been partly lowered and it became neeessnry to lie-to for two hours while they were made secure. This was uji anxiuus time, as tho stop was made directly in the nor mal path of German submarines rc turninp to their home base. The St. Louis arrived off the bar off Marsey before dawn. There was no pilot boat at hand and the Ameri can liner was compelled to sleam outside (he bar where it was known a (Ionium sulnnnriiie had been work ing the nipht before, until driven away by patrol boats. During this time u neutral steamer, which had been in Ihe harbor had attempted to go lo sea. She was cuupht. dropplm: mines inside Ihe bar, eighty of them being slrcwn alioul, it was reported. Pnlrol boats picked up or destroyed all but Iwo of these. About 1111 hour Inter the Hritish steamer Javlin Head crossed the bar, struck one of the lost mines mid sank. The SI. Louis could not linv'j missed Ihis mine by more than twenty feet. How she escaped destruction was a mystery lo the Hritish of- nceis anu nie ama.cii Americans were conprul uhilcd when they reach - cadi - ed their dock. NATIONAL DEFEN SE WHICH CONTROLS THE NATION'S DESTINY - IS :.?iV'(i!l J 9 fa,',?..'.. JX. , fry ".jivvVKU,-- UNITED STATES , SEIZES AUSTRIAN HOSTON, April II. The' Austrian steamer Krny, war bound here, was sei.ed today by (tort officials after announcement from Washington lhat A 11st riu-1 lungary had broken off diplomatic relations with the United Slates. The Krny is the only Aus trian refugee ship at this port. NHV YOHK, April 0. The Aus trian steamships Jlarlha Washington and Himalaya, self-detained in port here, .were today seized by the cus toms authorities. NKWl'OHT NEWS, April ). The Aiisliiiin steamer Ididnpcst tied up here since shortly after the outbreak of Ihe Kuropeun war was seized to day by federal officials. I'lllLAlll'.LI'HIA, April !). The collector of the port of Philadelphia today took physical possession of the Austrian steamer Frnneonia. NKW OHI.KANS, April 0. Threo Austrian strainers, the Clara, Auno and Teresa, were taken in charge by federal authorities Ihis al'lcrnooii. RESTRICT FEDERAL WASHINGTON. April !. l-Vdoral nutlmrily to prnsrrtitt! Omuls in kcii ornl htnlo elrctinns and 1'iiihul Shilos soniilorinl primaries whs ninteri'illy rest rifled by supreme rmirl deeisiniiM todny. Federal indiclnieiits fur alleged corruption "conspiracies' in 101 I inififli' Island en!i'rcMntnil cleclintiH 1 iiiwl the 1! Wi'M Viryii ll(S seniilorinl primary in una were dismissed. SUPREME COURT UPHOLDSOREGON WELFARE LAWS Minimum Wage for Women Declared Constitutional Law Limiting La bor of Men In Mills and Factories to 10 Hours a Day Also Declared Valid Exercise State Police Power. WASHINGTON, April 9 Oregon's law fixing minimum wages for worn on, tho first compulsory minimum wape statute ever before tho supreme court, was today upheld as constitu tional by an equally divided court Similar compulsory lows of Washing ton, Colorado, Wisconsin, California, riah, Minnesota and Ohio wore like wise sustained. The. supreme court upheld as con stitiitional the Oregon law liiuitting luhor of men in mills, factories and manufacturing establishments lo ten hours a day, hut permitting thirteen hours labor if paid lime and 11 half for overtime. 11 was the first gen erril hours of luhor or stole law ever before the supreme court.'' In opinion given by Justico Mo Kenna I ho court iilTrrmod' Oregon eourf decrees upholding the ten-hour day law as a valid exercise of slate "police powers." r'niukliu O. Hunt inp, a Lakoview, Ore., flour miller, had appealed from conviction of its violation. J he ease was twico nr. piled before the supreme court. Juslice Hrandies took no part in the case, having been attorney for the Oregon officials in tlio first hear ing. The sole question of validity, Jus tice McKenna said, was whether the law is a proper exercise of slale "po lice imwcrs" -whether it is a wage fixing or hours of service law. It was sustained, five to three, Chief Justice While and Justices Vandevan ter and Mclicynolds dissenting, with out opinions. The majority rejected the argument that the law is 11 wago fixing statute. WASHINGTON, April 0 Tlio rank of lirijindicr-gpneral in the regu lar army l" Mi'' I'niled Slates is abol ished by il provision of tho army ap propriation bill taken up today by the, senate. All general officers, after its enactment, would have no less rank than that of niajor-p'iieral. SUBMARINE BASE FOR ATLANTIC END OF CANAL WASHINGTON, April 0. An esti mate of tl,."i7:i.U"0 for a submarine base on the Atlantic side of the Pan ama, canal was submitted today to the senate. IN TIME OF WAR. jr RECALL OF ENVOY ASKED BY mm Austro-Hungary Severs Diplomatic Relations With United States Fol lowing Declaration of War With Germany Austrian Ships Are at Once Seized in American Ports Not Expected That Break Will Ex tend to Hostilities. WASHINGTON, April 9. Austria Hungary, undor the pressure ot Ger many, has severed diplomatic rela tions with tho United States. Baron Erlen Zwcldenik, charge de affulres of tho Autsro-Hungarlan em bassy here, called at the Btate de partment today and asked for pass ports for'hinisclf and embassy staff. Almost at tho same time, a dis patch was received from American Minister Stovall at Borne, saying the dual monarchy had broken off dip lomatic relations with the Unltod States a't Vlonnt yesterday. It Is pre sumed this was dono by handing passports to American Charge Grew. American Ambassador l'enfleld, who had loft Vlonnt on Saturday, probab. I ly did not know of the government'! action. Spain Titkes Over Interests By pre-arrangoinent, Spain will tak over the diplomatic and consular In terests ot tho United States In Ana-trla-llungnry. All Austrian consular agents will depart from the United Slates with the diplomatic mission as was the case with Gormnny. . Up to tho time Chargo Zweldenlk asked for his passport, no similar action hnd been taken by Bulgaria and Turkey Gorniany's two other allies and their representatives here disclaiming having any knowledge of tho Intention of their governments, It Is expected ncro thoy will follow by breaking diplomatic relations. Austria's broak with the United Stntes undoubtedly Is the prelude to a declaration ot a state of war. Sixty two days elapsed between tho break in relations between the United Stntos and Germany and the formut declaration of a tsnto of war. Wur Not Kicctcl It Ih quite possible, however, that thore may not be a rvarllke ope-a- tlon between tho forces of the two governments, unlesi (Jorniuny carry ing further her domination ot the Vienna government should force it. Charge Grew at Vienna also ulll turn over to Spain, lirltish and Jap anese Interests which tills govern ment has looked after since the be ginning of tho war. Italian, French ami It 11 nui n lull Interests In Austrla- llungarla previously looked after by the United States wero ordered turn ed over to tho Swiss minister. American ambassadors, ministers, ami consular officials In France, Rus sia . Great Britain, Serbia, Japan, Greere, Morocco and Kgypt will stand ready to turn over Austrian Interests which the United States has replaced In those countries slnco the beginning of tho war to whatever nation tho Austrian foreign offlco shall Indi cate. Itclfiiscd of Prisoner. The United States by the break In relallotiM Is released of the care of probably 2,000,000 war prisoners. In Russia alone. It Is estimated that 1, 2rin,000 Austrian prisoners wore un- (Contlnued on Page Two.) SEVENTEEN AIRPLANES AT Fl I'.KIil.lN, April !), via London Seventeen entente airilancs wero broiurht down yesterday on the west ern front, Ihe war nffi.-p announces. The slulemciil snvsj that the haltlo of Ann-!, bedim this morning after several bourn of slroni; Kun fire, continues,
