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"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.