Fortv-BPVenth Ynr.
Dally Twelfth Year.
IA 0 IE
French Begin Great Drive in Cham
pagne Secfcr British Capture
Villaret and Are Fighting in the
Streets of Lens and St.. Quentin,
Though Neither City Has Yet
Fallen Large Captures of Guns
and War Material Made. '
LONDON, April Hi "News of the
opening of the great French offens
ive has spread like wildfire through
the British forees," telegraphs Neu
ter's correspondent nt British head
quarters in France today.
No official announcement from
Paris of a "widespread offensive
movement by the French has been
made. The indications have been,
however, that an offensive was about
to be opened by General Nivelle's
forees in the sector between Sois
sons and The Champagne, where the
cjirtillcry battle has been raging vio
lently for several days. Today's
German headquarters' report hints
that the battle has started.
IX)Vi)ON, April 1C -The British
''Stared last night the village of Vil
loret," south of Hargicourt, accord
ing to an official statement issued
by the British war office. 'They also
made progress northwest of Lens.
Large captures of guns and war
material were made by the British at
Licvin and on the Zouchez river in
the Lens region, the statement an
nounces. The cannon taken include
a six inch naval gun of long range.
Truck loads of new tools, many thous
and rounds of ammunition and quan
tities of bombs, grenades and engi
neering equipment also were captur
ed. Official Statement
The statement reads:
"We captured the village of Vll
lcret, south of Hargicourt, and pro
gressed northwest of Lens.
"Full particulars of the booty we
took at Lievin and on the Souchcz
river are unavailable, but the fact Is
established that our captures were
excedingly large, including a long
range six-inch naval gun, many thou
sand rounds of ammunition of all cal
ibres up to eight-Inch, a number of
trench mortars and great quantities
of bombs and grenades of all kinds.
In addition, truckloads of new tools,
many lengths of tramlines with
tracks complete nnd two large en
gineer dumps have fallen Intact into
our possession,
ltavnrinn Io'scs Heavy.
"The attack at Monchy-Le-Preux
" on the 14th was pressed by the enemy
with great determination. The third
Hayhrlan division which was brought
down to resist our offensive during
the battle of Loos in 1915 and later
took part In tho righting near High
Wood during the Soninie battle of
(IMG was again hurried down to re
inforce the divisions already In line.
It was ordered to retake Monchy-I.c-
( Continued on page six.)
GENERAL SHE MID
LONDON," April 111. Travel-
ers nrrivinn- in Holland frm
Germany, according to a dis-
patch from Amsterdam to the
Central News agency, my thai 4
" a general strike was conunenc-
cd tliis morning in Berlin, nnd
that riots have taken place in
the German capital.
IIISTTAuE BRITISH WIDEN , 'Z"'. pnn SEITETOPit
v u in? uuro oliulu in msmmii&.,MA.m 'fi ourunuMicu oqvl dilliuii
01. UULMII1 pcdmam I mid nil uirnurcn.v
WEATHER Maximum yesterday, 49; minimum
.MEDFORD
Bn uliuihii Line i- m r'tM$KMJ2?iBmmS UN IIUJnCdUHI
U St. Quentin Continues to Burn and 'HPtS 'SM BrU'Sh a"d Frenh Wal" CmmiS"
Lens Still Holds Out, Though Both rSl WvW'J WV2" sions to Be Received by Wilson
Cities Largely in Possession of the FiCyXiJ J? T& J-S ; Nfk fe ti : and Participation of United States
British Desperate Fighting In Outlined Balfour on British and
Process Along Entire Line. SAAW ' W V V'lMl' " encl, Board.
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE, April IB. Tlte British
continued today gradually to widen
the second gap cut in the Ilinden
burg line north of St. Quentin, hav
ing captured the position knoivn as
the Three Savages, east of Gri
court. i St. Quentin continues to
burn. Away to the north, Lens still
holds out. The Genaans have sev
eral strong positions about tile city
to which they still cling.
The British apparently would like
to lake Lens without inflicting too
great damage from an extensive
bombardment. They hint always
been in a position to reduce the city
to ruins, but the shells have been di
rected against selected spots known
to be used for military purposes by
the Germans. Nevertheless the Ger
mans continue their work of de
stroying the cily by blowing up build
ings. HanI-to-llanc Fighting.
Further details of the fighting yes
terday show the desperate character
of several Gorman attacks on the
new British posilions. The attack
which was essayed from both sides
of Quennt nnd temporarily pierced
the British line at Lagnicourt, was
exceptionally bitter. It began at
4 :.'!() o'clock Sunday morning nnd
continued forthree hours without in
terruption. British advanced posts
were driven in, but the support units
joined the issue with Ihc Germans.
Mirny hand-to-hand encounters
followed. There was also more ac
tually aimed rifle shooting than for
many months. During this fire the
Germans fell in clumps. They at
tempted to seek cover behind bushes
and in small thickets. The British
fired into these with good results,
llreuk in Flight. '
When the reserves came up nt last
the Germans broke into full flight.
Hundreds of theni were caught in
their own wire entanglements as they
attempted lo regain their trenches
and they died by scores. Prisoners
were taken along the six-mile front
of the German attack, more than IIOII
being brought in.
There was further fighting all day
about Mnnch Lc 1'reux, east of Ar
ras, which already had witnessed
some fierce encounters since the
battle of Arras began. Monohv in
its way is a little Vimy ridge all by
itself, standing sentinel as the In.-t
high ground over miles upon miles ol
plains sweeping eastward. The Ger
mans held out there for two days
after the Arras battle opened and
have launched half n score of conn
ler-attacks against it, without sue
cess. The place lends itself to coun
ter Intueks because of outlying
woods, where troops ordinarily could
assemble unobserved.
Air ftnttles nt Moiirhy.
There has been notable air fight
ing over Monchy and many machines
have been brought down there in the
last two days. Large German fonn
nlions have attacked the British
couls, and the patter of machine
guns overhead has been almost con
tinuous during the daylight hours.
(Continued on Page Six.)
BRITISH DEFEAT
LONDON. April If,. The British
forces ill Mesopotamia have driven
hack to their position on the Jcbcl
haiirin hills the Turkish forces
which made an advance from the
hills beginning April !, the war of
liee announces,
MEDFORD
Society nnd professional women linvo formed n volunteer recruiting orgonljitlon in Now York and nro
gathering in men fit for aiiny and navy. Mrs. Cyrus Field Is captain and Sirs, Samuel V. Strelt, lieutenant
of this ooiniMUiy of women recruiting officers, called to motor squad of the city commltto for women's ser
vice. Ilelow, Miss Frances Starr, the famous actitws, Is shown starting with Miss ltobluson Smith on n remitt
ing ti'ip. 1
IS"
UNDER ARREST
WITH HIS STAFF
TASKENT, Asiatic Russia, April
1C. General Alexi Kuropatkin, gov
ernor general of Turkistan; his as
sistant, General Verofeiff, and Gen
eral Sivers, chief of staff, have been
arrested by the council of soldiers'
delegates.
General Huroft commander of the
Siberian brigade and General Tsuo
millen commanding the local brigade,
also have been placed under arrest
and confined to a guard room.
The officers are charged with dis
tributing arms to Russians In various
districts for defense against natives
In event of an attack. This action
has been held to he of a provocatory
character.
The Cossack guards of General
Kuropatkin appeared at the meeting
of the soldiers delegates and announc
ed they would not defend him.
Colonel Tchcrkcs, commandant of
the town has been appointed
temporary commander of tho Turke
stan troops.
General Kuropatkin has sent a tel
egram to tho Russian premier and
minister of war at Petrograd point
ing out the necessity of distinct mil
itary and civilian jurisdiction. He
asked that ho be given command of
the grenadier corps and sent to the
front.
General Kuropatkin was appoint
ed governor general of Turkestan
last August. Five months earlier in
the year be had been made comman
der in chief of the Russian armies on
the northern front In ruccosslon to
General Nicholas Kuzkln. Prior to
that time ho had acted as chief of the
Russian grenadier corps. At tho he
ginning of tho Russo-Japanese war
General I'uropatkln was In chlot com
mand of I lie Russian forces In .Man
churla.
ARRIVES FOR TRIAL
Deputy Sheriff Paul Anderson re
turned from Eugene Sunday with
Mrs. M. M. Garwood, who was ar
rcsled in that'ity with W. E. Hemp
hill last Thursday in connection with
the incendiary fire at the Slrb kfad
den house in Ashland last March.
She is now a prisoner nt the county
jail.
Sheriff Jennings is exacted back
Tuesday from Sealtle wilb Mrs. Nan
S rickfadilcn and Mrs. L. llrvfoos,
other implicated in the same case, in
custody. County Prosecutor Huberts
will also return to Mcdfoid on Tues
day from Portland ami Scuttle,
today, 33. Precipitation, trace. FORECAST Tonight
OREGON". MONDAY, APRfT,
GERMANS' STILL
WASHINGTON, April Hi. Fur
ther evidences of German activities
in Mexico, spreading anti-American
and nnti-cnlenle propoganda and ex
erting German influences upon the
Mexican government lire contained
diplomatic di-patrlics passing
through here to European capitals.
1 unds ot a number of foreign
banks are reported to be in danger.
Circulation of any matter at all fa
vorable to tho I'nited Stales or the
entente is disapproved by Mexican
officials and the newspaper El Uni
versal recently was suppressed be
cause of publications disapproved by
German agents. The public here and
elsewhere have been summoned be
fore a military tribunal.
Properly of foreigners, Germans
excepted, is said lo be ill constant
danger; efforts of the German pro
pagandists and agents being direct
ed especially against inulcrials which
might he of nssiMaiioc to the ene
mies of Germany. A wriler of one
of the dispalches says that he has
information that 12,0(10 barrels of
oil, the properly of the Eagle Oil
company, n British concern, has been
burned at Muzntlun.
The German bank and the German
legation in Mexico City arc said in
these rejMirts to he dominating Mex
ican affairs more than ever; the for
mer having intimately connected it
self with Mexican finances and the
hitler guiding and advising the gov
ernment. BILL INCREASING
WASHINGTON. April Hi The
bill increasing the army gem-mi
staff, increasing machine gun com
panies, proiding armored motor car
companies for each division anil to
pay if l.i monthly In dcM'ndcnts of en
listed men in time of war ami a half
year's salary in case of their death
was reported favorably today to the
senate.
SARAH BERNHARDT
TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
NEW" YOlil-C, April Hi. Sarah
Bernhardt has been removed from
her hotel here to a hospital, it wns
learned today. Her condition is not
serious, physicians said, and denial
was made of a report that she was
to be operated on. The nature of her
malady was not disclosed, The act
ress has been ill for several weeks,
Shu is 71 years old.
1(5, 1917
WILSON PLEADS
FOR UNITED ACTION
FOR LARGER CROPS
WASHINGTON, April III. Fresh
impetus was given lo the nution-wide
campaign for more food crops today
by President Wilson's plea for unity
of notion in furthering America's
success in the world war.
The president's appeal, addressed
to bis "fellow countrymen," urged nil
the people to join in making the na
tion a unit for the preservation of
its ideals and for the triumph of de
mocracy, but particularly emphasized
the need of growers concentrating
their energies on planting of crops
so I hat the I'nited Stales might ful
fill ils task of feeding tho armies and
peoples who arc fighting Germany.
"Without abundant food, alike for
the armies anil the peoples at war,"
said the appeal, "the whole great en
terprise upon which we have embark
ed will fail. 1'pon Hie fanners of the
country, therefore, in large measure,
rests the fate of Ihc war and the fate
of the Millions."
WASHINGTON, April 10. Gen
eral Hell wires Senator Chamberlain
bis approval of the proposal made
by the mayor and Commercial club of
Medford for connecting the railroad
lino from Itutto Kails to Bend. "This
line would he a valuable military as
set," said Hell, "and If the Medford
proposition Is practicable, I cordially
recommend It." 1 to says the lino over
the Slsklyous Is well guarded.
.Mayor Gates last week wired Sen
ator Chamberlain suggesting that the
government condemn the Pacific &
Eastern and extend the railroad lo
llend lo afford an eastern outlet III
case the Southern Pacific lines were
put out of commission.
WASHINGTON, April Hi. -One of
the first efforts of the Itiiti.-h com
mission coming to America will be lo
round up all the slackers who have
been avoiding military service by re
maining in the ('nilcd States ami
force thorn inln cither the American
or British iinnjcs, ,
and tomorrow, showers.
UNE
WASHINGTON, April -Hi. It was
announced today that President Wil
son would meet the British commis
sioners coming to discuss cunduct of
the war at the white house on Wed
nesday. Foreign Minister Balfour
beads the commission.
It was also announced that the
president would receive the French
commissioners on the sumo day if
they havo Ihen arrived in the coun
try, ilio l'Tench commission in
cludes Former Premier Yivinni, Gen
eral Joi'lre and other distinguished
Frenchmen.
Both sets of commissioners will he
formally welcomed to the country by
official delegations representing the
army, the navy and the civil depart
ment of the government. Elaborate
preparations have been made for
their cnlertaiiinieiit.
Vice-Admiral Chochclrat, jlcnn of
tho French vice-admiralty, nnd be
cnuso there are no admirals in the
French navy of tho highest rank in
that service, will represent the
French navy on the commission. This
will make the commission consist of
M. Yiviuni, minister of .iustieo aiid
former premier; Grand Marshal Jof-
fre, representing the army ;Vice-Ad
miriil Chochoctrat, of the navy, nnd
Manpiis Pierre de Chumbrnn, repre
seating the French chambers.
Henry While, former American
ambassador to France and Italy, ha:
tendere'd the use of his home here
adjacent to the French embassy, for
the uccommodalion of the French
commission, nnd the offer lias been
accepted.
NEW YORK, April Hi-Bankers,
brokers, directors of corporations,
lawyers, actors and actresses, sport
ing men and restaurant proprietors
and people from Ihc poor sections of
the East Side who had been relieved
by his benefactions were among tin
cosntopoliian throng which filled St
Agnes church lo overflowing today
at funeral services for James Bu
ehaiian Brady ''Diamond Jim."
Hundreds unable lo enlcr the edifice
remained in the slreet until the ser
vices were over.
CONSUL FROSI IS
WASHINGTON, April Hi Consul
Wesley Frost at tueeiistown, whose
name has figured in more than a
hundred reports of submarine out
rages, today was advanced a grade
in the consular service as a reward
for his work.
Frost's first big ease was the I,u
silauia, mid his name has bcciunc
well known to newspaper readers
since.
$200,000 FIRE AI
Y
NEW YORK, April Hi. Twelve
cottages were destroyed hv fire anil
twelve others damaged, with an es
timated property loss of 'J0II, 110(1 to
day at Kockanay Park, a residential
section nf Long Island. Members of
the Home Hel'cn-e league, organized
after the war wilb Germany began,
saved much Ihiealeiicd properly by
fighting Ihc flames,
NO. 2
REVENUE .BUT
Finance Committee Approves War
Measure That Passed House Sat
urdayMinor Changes Made
War Embargo Bill Introduced
Merchant Ship Measure.
WASHINGTON, April 10. Tho
$7,000,000,000 revenue bill which' lias
pnssed the house was approved to
day by the senato finance committee '
and will be taken up in the sennte to
morrow for passage.
The committee voto was unani
mous, nnd senato lenders expect to
make an effort to put the bill through
in one session.
Three minor changes were made in
tho hill as it came from the house.
One in tho title is to mako more ap
parent its purpose of nssisting in tho
prosecution of the war; nnother sug
gested by Secretary McAdoo ' is ; to
permit funds raised under tho meas
ure to be deposited in banks not
members of tho federal Reserve sys
tem. A third is to more clearly ex
empt certificates of indebtedness
from taxation, ,
War Kmlmrgo Itlll.
With the approval of the adminis
tration, Chnimmn Adamson of the
houso commerce committee today in
troduced a war, embnrgo bill to cm
power the president to forbid export
of any sort when ho deems it in the
public interest to do so.
Senator Swnnson today introduced
the administration hill to authorize
the president to requisition merchant
ships in time of wnr for' compensa
tion lo be fixed by the government.
Senator McCumher introduced a
resolution proposing creation of a
new federal bureau composed of ex
perts to study ami stimulate inven
tion of means to combat submarines.
Hrastic penalties for damaging or
obstructing railroad property aro
provided in n bill introduced by Sen
ator Chamberlain. If death to pas
sengers or trainmen result, those
guilty would be subject to penalties
for murder or manslaughter.
To lvtcnd Prohibition.
Senator Culberson, chairninn of
the senate judiciary committee, today
introduced the house bill proposing
that the allies be permitted to recruit
forces from their subjects residing in
this counlry.
As a means to extend prohibition
because of the war, Senator Kenyon
introduced a hill increasing tho in
ternal revenue tax on distilled
liquors to $10 a gallon.
Senator Jones offered resolutions
prohibiting liquor sales within twen
ty miles of any military training
camp, sale of liquor to uniformed
soldiers or sailors or knowingly to
them when not in uniform.
DISCOVER PLOT 10
I IKS MolNES, la., April
I'nilcd States secret service oorat
ives, it was learned today, have been
ilispaP licd lo Clarion, la., to investi
gate the lire which Sunday destroy
ed Ihc Chicago, Great Western round
house there.
Officials here staled that evidence
hail been obtained which pointed to
Ihc existence of a plot to destroy
railroad buildings and equipment
Ibrougliout the stale ill an effort to
impede increased transcontinental
transportation resulting from the de
claration of war on Germany by the
I'nited States. The loss was esti
mated at $.10(10.
AMSTKIIDAM, April Hi. The
Gorman Reichstag, according to the
Cologne Gazette, will meet April 24
and continue until tho end of May.
Chancellor Yon Hethniann-Hollweg is
expected during this session to make
another statement In regard to Uus
sln, . ,