Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, April 10, 1917, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., April 10, 1917, Page 1, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextUniversity f Orctan Library "WEATHER Maximum yostonlav, 57; liiuiinnnii today, 38. FORECAST Tonight and tomorrow, ram. Medford Maii UNE: MEDFORD OREGON, TUESDAY, APRTL 10. 1917. NO. 16 Dally Twelfth Year. 9.000.TEUT0NS,4OGU nmmn Bp ii5 j JL JLvLo ,IS 1 HE SS ! M MY RIDGE CAPTURED BY CANADIANS j British Offensive Between Lens and i St. Quentin Still in Progress and More Successful Than at First Sup- i posed Strategical Positions Are ' Taken Which Will Force German . Retreat All Along Extended Line i Drive Made in Snow Storm. LONDON, April 10. Tho British offensive between Lens and St. Quentin with which the spring opera tions have been opened and which is fitill in progress las proved even more successful than the earlier ac counts indicated. General Sir Douglas Haig today reports that yesterday's captures ex ceeded 9000 men, while forty guns fell into the hands of his troops. The Canndinns, who had one of the hardest bits of tho front to contend TeJth, are now in complete occupation of the famous Vimy ridge, even its eastern slopes bavinfr been cleared of Germans. The Canadians also have repulsed German counter attacks. These reactions by the Germans indicate the importance they uttach to this position, whence the. conquer ors look down over t ho plain of Douni. With Vimy ridge gone, the whole German lino covering the French towns and industrial districts to the north become a wavering one and any leisurely retreating retreat the Germans may have planned is made uncertain nnd precarious. Ground Captured. With the capture of the famous ridge the British made n considerable stride along the road to Douai, while the capture of the high ground north west of St. Quentin tightens the chain which the Anglo-French forces ire drawing around that town. A German diversion southeast of Yprcs, according to General Ilaig's report met wilb no success. Correspondents at the front re port tiie fighting continuing keenly throughout last night with tho Brit ish offensive gradually extending northwnrd, there being fighting thi morning in the direction of La Bus- see. Some 100 officers are among the prisoners already taken, these in eluding five battalion commander. Although forty guns captured is the official count thus far, the number is expected to reach three figures. while quantities of trench mortar bomb throwers, machine guns and nnimnnition also have been captured The Germans destroyed great quan tities of supplies at the last minute to prevent their enpture. J he weath er continues bitterly cold, with snow flurries, but the British forces nre clad in sheepskins and are kept well fed. " Over OOOO Prisonci-s. LONDON, April 10. It is official ly reported that the British forces captured over nine thousand pnso ners nnd more than forty guns in vesterdav's operations. Heavy fight ing took place last night on the northern end of the Vimy ridge, from which the Germans were driven. The eastern slope was also cleared. Near St. Quentin the Germans have been driven from the high grouin: (Continued on Page Two.) fl.VCTKMALA C ITY, Guatemala. April 10. Martini law has been de clared in Guatemala. The action was taken on information of disturbance nlnne the Mexican nnd Salvadorean frontier-, supposed to have been created with German assistance. AMERICAN LINER NEW AMERICAN UNER CENTRAL POWERS afk NEWYORK HITS ALL TO FOLLOW SOK MINEJJVERPOOL GERWIANYS LEAD fmmS: No Casualties Reported Vessel Reaches Liverpool and Docks Safely Little Damage Reported and All Passengers Safe Vessel Carried Navy Gun. WASHINGTON-, April 10. Tho American liner New York struck a mine at 7:40 p. m. last night five miles off Liverpool bar. No casual ties were reported. The vessel later proceeded to Liverpool. Consul Washington at Liverpool, reporting the incident to the Btate de partment today, said: 'The American liner New York struck a mine 7:40 p. in. last night five miles off Liverpool bar. Com pany reports passengers landed at Liverpool except four who are still on the ship. No casualtibs. Vessel pro ceeded under own steam and is now (one o'clock) entering her dock." LONDON, April 10. The New York docked safely at Liverpool at 1 p. m. (English time) and all pas sengers aro safe, according to a ca blegram received here today by the American Ine. The damage to the ves sel was small, the message stated. fifty-Eight Passengers. NEW YORK, April lb. The Am erican lino steamship New York left tills port on March 29 for Liverpool with fifty-eight passengers and mail. The passengers Included seven Amer ican citizens. She carried a naval crew of gunners and was armed. The ship's crew of 2.'!4 men1 included 114 Americans. i lie American citizens wiio were passengers on the iN'ew York, with their addresses given whei passage was secured were: John M. Curtis, Mrs. Maude Au gusta Dowllng. and It. It. Gamble, New York City; Archer O. Jones and Mrs. Jones, Richmond, Va.; Charles K. Gale, Philadelphia, and Captain Iawrle, Elizabeth, N. J. The New York Is commanded by Captain W. J. Roberts. Tho gun crew was In charge of a naval lieutenant. The vessel, of 10,7!)S tons gross, was the third American passenger ship to leave armed from a United Stntes port. Damage Is Small. The mine came In contact with the (Continued on I age Two.) SALEM. Ore., April 10 llerhert Nunn. a Portland civil engineer, was appointed state highway engineer by the highway t onirntsslon here today. N'unn's salary will le $lt,fiO0 a year and ho will aunia his Jutles Immediately. YORK, WHICH STRUCK A MINE War Between Austria and United Statec Expected to Follow Break in Doplomatic Affairs and Bulgaria and Turkey Believed Ready to Break Diplomatically Also. WASHINGTON, April 10. War between the Unlttc States and Austria-Hungary seemed practically cer tain today following the break in diplomatic relations. President Wil son, however, was believed to have no intention of forcing it by asking con gress to declare that a state of war existed unless some future overt act is committed. The seizure of a num ber of Austrian Bhips In American ports may bo lnterpeted as an act of war by Austria. Bulgaria to Follow. Intentions of Bulgaria and Turkey were not known today, but officials generally believe they also would break relations eventually. . Arrangements for the departure of Austrian embassy officials were be ing made at the state department to day 'by Swedish Minister Ekongren, who ill take over Austrian Interests here. Early official ord was expect ed concerning plans for withdrawal of American ambassy staff from Vienna. A statement given out by the state department disclosed that ten days ago Austria notified the United States that a diplomatic break would occur if the United States entered war with Gernuyiy. Austria's Farewell Note. WASHINGTON, April 10. Aust ria's note to American Charge Grew at Vienna, sevorlng diplomatic rela tions with the United States because of this country's declaration of war with Germany and offering every fa cility for the roturn of American of ficials in Austria, was made public at the state department today with an official statement as follows: "The following dispatch dated April 8th from American chargo d'affaires, Vienna, has been received by the state department: "Minister for foreign affairs has Just Informed me that diplomatic re- ( Continued on page six.) LAKE HIGHWAY IRK WASHINGTON, April 10. The sundry civil bill, reported to the sen ate today, contains appropriaf ions for the continuation of the Portland pnstut'fice, :i(i.'),(l(lll; enmplelion of Ho-cbiiri postolfice, $.'11,11110; roads in ( rater Lake, $."0,0llll; protection of Oregon & California railroad grant, VJ.'i.OOOj Umatilla irrigation, 107,000; Klamath, $J3U,0U0. OFF LIVE RP00L BAR, BUT SUCCEEDS IN MAKING PORT SAFELY J f jTI W II I i I bill' I I T" BRAZIL BREAKS OFF RELATIONS RIO JANEIRO, April 10. Brazil has recognized the new government of Russia. LONDON, April 10. Diplomatic relations between Brazil and Germany have been broken off, according to the Evening News. RIO JANEIRO, April 10. Tho of ficial report regarding the sinking of the Brazilian steamship Parana, which the governintnt has been wait ing before laking definite action to ward Germany, Is believed to have been received today from the lega tion In Paris. It is expected the gov ernment this evening will sever rela tions with Germany. Switzerland will tnko charge of Brazilian Inter ests at Berlin. The minister of murine has re ceived from the commander of the Brazilian destroyer Alagoas which Is stationed at Deslerro, a report that signals aro being exchanged between Germans on the count and ships cruis ing in Brazilian waters. The minis ter will transmit this report to Presi dent Braz. RIO JANEIRO, April 10. A Noito under the title of "German militar ism at home." takes up the ipiestlon of the German rifle societies in the south of Brazil. It denounces these organization for their affiliation with tho Icngue of German Marksmen of Nuremberg, which, it says, gives them an undeniably military character. The paper declares that Brazil should take warning In time. AMSTERDAM, April 10. The Vi enna evening papers announco that Emperor Charles of Austria-Hungary has accepted tho resignation of "Gen eral Rltter Von Krnbatln, Austro Hungarlan war minister. .jtv !ii .'t ! ''17' ' S ATTACK IDE UNDER BLINDING SNOW SQUALLS British Press Charge All Along Line From Camlirai to Lens Much Booty Is Taken Many Villages Captured Airplanes Direct Fire Against Trains. WITH TUB BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE, April 10. Under blind ing snow squalls with Intermittent flashes of sunshine, the British press ed their attack against tho Germans today all along the Hue from a point south of Camlnal to tlio vicinity of Lens. So much booty was taken In tho first rush of this new assault that It has not all been reported, but It Is said a large number of guns wero cap tured. Yesterday's fighting and gains far surpassed the first days of the bat tle of the Somino last July. The Canndinns today commanded tho Vi my ridge and are reported to bo well beyond It at sonto point. More villages were captured today 111 l"R onecuon oi lamonn ami me ngniing there is iniciiKc. Airplanes Assist. Clearing weather yesterday after noon prompted the airplniics to de tect German tralus moving toward the railhead, apparently for a counter attack on Vimy ridge. This fact was reported to the artillery and all long range guns for ten miles around were concentrated suddenly on the Indicat ed point In what probably constitut ed a new record for long dintance bar rage fire with heavy kuiis. Thus the plans for a counter atlac's were abso lutely destroyed before the reserve troops could detrain. The British casualties have been IIkIiI. due largely to the splendid ar tillery covering. Men who are walking back to Ihe hospital stations from the forward moving front glvo glowing acouuls of how tho Germans are being "done" (Continued on . ige six.) WITH A LL ABOARD. 1 WASHINGTON, April 10. Colonel Roosevelt culled on President Wilson at the white house today and was received ill Hie vxcculive mansion. Colonel Iioosevelt was accompanied by liis daughter, Mrs. Nicholas Long- worth. Colonel Iioosevelt laid bis plan for raising a division of troops for for eign service, before the president and said he had been received with the "utmost courtesy and consideration." On departing from tho whitu house after tin 1 1 an hour's confluence with the president, Colonel Iioosevelt gave out a statement which in part lol- lows : t "I nm heart and soul for the prin ejple of universal military training. I would favor il if its aim were to raise three million men. 1 am for both iiuiversul obligatory training and service. Call it conscription and I will snv ves. You cannot frighten me hv any name. "The division that I nsk permission to raise would be made up of men who would not be taken under con scription. They would be over 2i years of age or of the excepted classes under 20." Several hundred persons gathered outside the white house gates and cheered Iioosevelt as he left. 10 BE SPEEDED DP Telegraphic orders wero received from Portland Tuesday noon by Ser geant J. E. Brooks in chargo of the U. S. marine corps recruiting station at Mcilfonl, to speed up recruiting for that corps. "Spied up recrullliig to the ut most," read the telegram from Capt. I.. P. I'lnktnn, In charge of the Ore gon recruiting for the marines, "to Impress all men for the urgent Im mediate need for thousands of men to reinforce the marines nt tho front. We must havo 4000 men at once. Ac cept minors over 17 with parents con sent." 100 PERISH IN MUNITION EXPLOSION At Least 100 Dead, 200 or More In jured by Blow-Up In Great Muni tion Plant at Eddystone, Pa., Owned by Russian Government Suspect Explosion Work of Allen Enemies Ruins Catch Fire Vic tims Mostly Girls. CHESTER, Pn., April 10. At least 100 persons, mostly girls, were killed nnd two hundred or more in jured by nn explosion today in the great munitions plant at Eddystone, Pa., near bore, owned by tho Russian government. There is a suspicion that tho blast was not due to acci dent. The first explosion occurred soon after ten o'clock in the pellet i'oom of tho shrapnel building where about 100 girls wero putting the finishing touches on shells. In a building ad joining, approximately 30,000 sheila wero stored. A second explosion de molished the structure. " The ruins caught fire, but the fire men, called from surrounding towns, extinguished! he fire ; fter two hours work. Meanwhile charred bodies wore being pulled from the wreckage nnd injured persons taken' to Chester, a mile nway. The two main hospitals of the citv were soon filled nnd others hired were tnkeu to nn armory and to a frame tabernacle recently erect ed here for religious services. Owned by Russia, Tho plant was originally con structed soon after the European wur started by the Haldwin Locomotive interests. Recently it was taken over by the Russian government which has been employing 10,000 workers. . The place has been thoroughly guarded night and day and aftordark immense senrchlights made every por tion of the ground as light as day. In addition, secret service men and detectives worked ill the plant dis guised ns munition makers. There have been whispers of a plot to de stroy the plant. At one undertaker's thore were 80 bodies, 79 being those of girls. Thousands of girls were employod nt the plant, most of them coming from Philadelphia, ten miles away. They were attracted by tho high wages paid. Hovcitil Explosions. The first explosion originated in the structure known ns the 10-F building. Immediately thore was another explosion in the old F build ing adjoining. These two structures were destroyed. About 400, mostly women and girls, worked in these buildings. At 1 p. in. firemen, policemen and others were still dragging bodies from I lie wreckage, Shells wero found scattered about the scene for two blocks. Cause Incendiary. Basil Greenko, n Russian inspector in the billet department, who wns in jured, snid tbero was no powder in the blading room and no fire. "I was standing near one of the tables, when from under the door of the loading (Continued on Page Two.) HALF MILLION LOSS BY ELEVATOR FIRE MINNKAI'OI.IS, April 10. Two grain elevators were destroyed by tires believed to havo been of in cendiary origin here enrly today, The total loss will he nearly 500,000, it was estimated, fully insured. Na tional Guardsmen patrolling tho dis trict reported that in both instances several explosions wero heard in the struitiircs before the flames wore discovered.