Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, April 18, 1917, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., April 18, 1917, Page 1, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text3 University tff 0.uC;on Library WEATIIEI? Maximum, 50; niiniimmi, 20. FORECAST Fair tonight and tomorrow; light frost tonight Forty-seventh Tear. MEDFOTtD OKEGONV WEllNESDAY, APWL IS, 1917 Dally Twelfth Yen r. NO. 23 w4 I FRENCH CONTINUE VICTORIOUS - ADVANCE KEY POINTS 0F LlllL lplcIiE 0F F w mm By GERMANS BRITAIN SHIS Mill nt pfdiiai BETWEEN DDIS ISSUt, .-n , APPRECIATION OF nppnQFntn . I Eonbbimt toMttrtKl AMERICA'S 1 Ef,!TI LlllL Uri Work f Bringing Up Supplies. Guns EPflSS House of Commons Gives Unanimous UU I HULu UN Chavonne and Chivy Captured East of Soissons Heavy Losses Sus tained by Germans In Champagne Quantities of Munitions. Guns and Supplies Seized Prisoners Now Exceed 14,000 Hill 112 Is Stormed Forced to Call Troops. PARIS, April 18. Important progress was made last night by the French in their attack east of Sois sons. The war office announces the capture of Chavonne and Chivy.' The French pushed pn north of those points, reaching the vicinity of Braye-en-Laonnois. The Germans made three desperate counter at tacks in the Champagne last night. They were checked by the French, who inflicted heavy losses on the at tacking troops, Since Monday the French have captured upward of 14,000 unnounded Germans. In the Champagne large numbers of ma chine guns and trench mortars have been captured and also twclvo cuu non, including three .of large caliber. PARIS, April 18. The latest French victory, while on a smaller scale than that of Holiday, is an equally important success. Both of the sections attacked hud been left alone hitherto on account of the ex ceptional natural strength of the German positions. The French com mand held that an assault could only be successfully undertaken when ov erwhelming resources had been ac cumulated and the general situation was favorable. The general who commands Ihe ar mies of the right center had been planning the attack for several weeks (pid iiad left nothing to chance. Ev erything vttrs provided for nnd the chiefs under him had nothing lo do but follow instructions to the letter. Tako New Positions. As soon as the result of the battle between Soissons and Rhcims was known the order was given to attack. Punctually at 4:45 the French infan try "went over" well supported by n powerful mass of artillery. They swept forward in mngnificcnt style nnd in two hours the first lino sys tem had been captured. Later news came that the French soldiers were carrying all before them nnd taking prisoner's by the score. They seized Mont Cnniillette, nnd all the crests commanding the region. From their new positions the t French now look down upon Moron villiers and Nnuroy. This Moronvil licrs chain of hills was regarded by all French soldiers who had over been in the section as virtually im pregnable, nnd its capture caused the liveliest satisfaction to everybody. Sike 75's followed up the infantry rapidly nnd were soon in action. They caught large bodies of the enemv massing with the object of making a division nnd decimated them. Ac cording to onlookers, such carnage had not been seen since the action of Chnrme Gap at the beginning of the war. On the right wing the struggle was equnlly to the advantage of the (Continued on Page Four) fflHlIK MM LONDON, April IS A Pel rod ad dispatch says that Premier LvnlT and dome of the other ministers who have bcqn visiting army headqunrlcrs reported on their return that condi tions on tile front had considerably improved, especially in regard to the supply nf the principal food prod ucts. They say that food nnd trans port conditions arc satisfactory. Work of Bringing Up Supplies, Guns and Munitions to Renew Forward Thrust in Progress Captured Documents Show Enemy Knew Of fensive Being Planned at Arras. BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IX FRANCE, April IS. Operations of the British front may said to have received a tenqiorary holdup stage alon g the line of the recent advanne. Townrd Lens and St. Quentin the process seems to be one of absorp tion. Minor assaults here and there are improving the British positions, but the general battle scheme is awaiting the development of its next stages. laill Is Necessary. War operations involving such numbers are now opposed on the wes tern front necessarily move in waves. The work of bringing up supplies, guns and munitions during apparent lulls often is more strenuous thun the actual assaults, and it is of equal importance. The British plunge for ward in Easter week reached a greater depth in a shorter time than any attack on such a largo scale since entrenched warfare began on this front. The total of 227 guns brought in, together with ammunition by the thousands of rounds and other supplies, exceeds any haul made dur ing u similar period of the war. All German documents which have been captured show that the enemv knew an offensive wns being planned about. Arras because of the massing of troops and batteries. It is evident, however, that the Germans expected their first or second lines to hold. This wns particularly true of their positions on Vimy Ridge, which was the northern Gibraltar of the Ilinden hurg line. Lens 0H'lntlnns. The operations about Lens are proceeding. The British already hold positions on nil the western ap proaches, although the city itself has not been penetrated. Lens is the central portion of the Gemutn min ing district which stretches for miles in all directions. It is an ideal place to defend against ordinary attacks, each slag heap and factory building being an individual fort. The weather continues to be mis erable with no sign of spring. The temperature was below freezing last night with n winter downpour. WASHINGTON. April 1 S. The largest single war credit, In history will he at the disposal of the admin istration as soon as the house ap proves senate amendments to the 17, 000,000,000 wa rrevenne bill. This may be today. The measure passed the senate last night by unanimous vote. The bill will be rushed to Presi dent Wilson for his signature as soon as the house approves the measure. Treasury officials, anticipating the action of the house on the hill began today to work out the policy to be employed In issuing the bonds. Sec retary McAdoo will seek the advice of leading financiers of the country regarding the best means of floating the issue. TEUTONS REPULSED PKTIfOtlUAD. April 18. Teuton forces yesterday made a violent at tack on the Russian positions on the Danube river northwe-t of llniila. the war office announced today. The attackers were rcpuUed. First piclure of I'cronne, France, to arrive in this country, showing Ihe city left totally destroyed and desolate by the Germans before they left it on their retreat lo the "llindcnbiirg line." Not a soul of Ihe SOOO inhabit ants is left in the city. I ' COUNT TISZA OF LONDON, April 18. An Amster dam dispatch to the Central News agency says that the Budapest so cialist paper Noweszavk announces the resignation of Count Tiszn, the Hungarian premier. AMSTERDAM, April 18. The Vi enna newspnpers announce that Dr. Urban, minister of commerce, nnd Dr. Bnernreitber, minister without Mrt folio, have resigned. " Dispatches from Germany connect Ihe resigna tions with, the convocation of the Austrian parliament next month, which they sny is considered in German circles as inopportune in view of the political events abroad. There have been several recent resignations from the Austrian cab inet. Early in the present month the minister of justice, war and finance tendered their portfolios ns the re sult of a graft scandal in connection with army food supplies. The em peror refused to accept the resigna tion of Minister of Justice You Schcnk. Shortly afterwards General Von Krobatin, Austro-IIungurian minister of war, resigned. E WASHINGTON, April IS. The periscope of a submarine running sub merged was sighted by the deck of ficer, quartermaster and deck watch of the destroyer Smith Monday morn ing Just before the wako of a tor pedo was seen crossing the destroy er's hows. This Information was contained In a radio report from the commander of the Smith received today at the navy department. Navy officials said this confirms the report of the presence of a German submarine In American waters. The officer on watch on the Smith reported that the perlscoiie was dis tinctly visible at a distance of .100 yards from the ship. The quarter master and the members of the gun crew agreed to the report. EuMENI ' SHIP CARPENTERS WASHINGTON, April 1 8. Ap proximately 2500 of tlio 15,000 ex perienced ship carpenters needed by the shipping hoard to build Its great fleet of wooden vessels have been found by tho department of labor in two days of Its national Inquiry. The work Is still progressing. Preliminary Yeports from Ran KranelBco Indicate that fi.'iO ship wrights, 150 caulkers, ,100 Joiners, 100 hot builders, and 100 machine hands have been found In that vicinity. E WASHINGTON, April IS. All alien encmiia residing within one half mile of fort, camp, aircraft sta tion, navy yard, factory or worshop for manufacture of munitions are re quired to remove prior to Juno 1 un der penalty of summary arrest, un der instructions issued today by the attorney general to United States marshals. ' The attorney general's Instructions also cover tho enforcement of other regulations proscribed in the presi dent's proclamation. Allen enemies found with forbidden articles In their possession after April 21 shall bo ar rested excopt lu cases where tlio marshal shall bo satisfied they are not dungorous to public safety. Aliens who fall to remove from these zones by Juno 1 shall he sum marily arrested as enemy aliens. Per mits may he Issued by marshals to alien enemies to pars through their zones or to enter them where their dally work carries them Into forbid den territory. In certain instances v-hcro tho residence of aliens within , the zones Is deemed not to bo against public policy exemptions will he made to tho order requiring them to move. All permits shall be revocable at any time. .Allen enemies who tear down, mu tilate, abuse, desecrate or Insult the flat are to bo regarded as "a danger to ihe. public peace," and summarily arretted. IN ASSAULT BY SEATTLE THUGS SEATTLE, Wash., April 18. The body of Mrs. Florence Wehn, wile of J. A. Wehn, a sculptor, was found this morning at the bottom of a gulch on West Wheeler street, in the Queen Anne district, near her home. She had evidently hen struck over the head and her body dragged from the street to the gulch. Mrs. Wchn's hum! was cut, and there were other evidences that she had fought with her assailant. A clump of her ou hair was found plastered lo her breast by a clot of blood. Her handbag lay near by. Hoys playing in the gulch came upon the body. Mrs. Wehn was a daughter of Paul I la i ill lis, a policeman htntioncd at headquarters. Mrs. Wehn, who was 211 years old and attractive, hud passed the even ing lit a birthday celebration at her father's home and departed for her own home nlmu! 10:1111 o'clock. It must have been about J 1 o'clock when she left a street ear near her home. The deputy coroner gave it as his opinion that the woman died about 4 o'clock, and the iittaek upon her was made apparently about II, so that she lay in the brii-h alive for hours alter her assailant fled. Her cloth ing wns lorn from her by her ussail-uiit. OF FUG HEARD OFF CAPE BOSTON, April 18 It was offi cially announ:-ed at the' navy yard lute todav that no credence was plac ed in reports from three coast guard stations on Cape Cod that heavy gun fire hud been heard off tho const. The positive statement wns made that there hint been no naval en gagement nnd that warships had not exchanged salutes with foreign ves sels. BOSTON, April 18. Reports of heavy gun fire at Ihe entrance of Massachusetts buy sent a Ihrill along (he const today. Three coast guard stations on ('ape Cod successively reported that they had counted dis tinct nnd repealed guns from the north nnd northeast of the tip of the cape. Inside the cape a heavy fog hung over Ihe water, but outside the weather was calm nnd a gentle breeze was blowing. No warship was sighted by the three stations and af ter thirty minutes the tiring ceased. It was suggested that ships of the allies which are constantly on patrol duty might have come up with friendly warships and salutes ex changed. However, naval men could not understand warships on active duty betraying their location through naval etiquette. They believed that there was no saluting unless prear ranged, and of which there was no knowledge nl the navy yard. Subsequent attempts to learn something more definite fuilcd nnd an explaining of the; firing awaited reports from war vessels in the viein- iiy. TAKEN IN BATTLE HLIU.IN, April 18. Tho number of prisoners taken by the Germans on the French battle front yesterday, ac cording to the official statement is sued today by the German army headquarters staff, was Increased lo more than .". p 0 officers and men. French attacks In the Champagne yesterday over a 12 nil In front, the German statement adds, wero pre vented from piercing the Teuton Hiicb by tho German barring positions. Part of tho wood between Moronvll lers and Aulierlvo was wrested from French colored divisions which had reached there. During tho fighting on April lfi twenty-six of tlio numer ous French armored motor cars were destroyed. lll'.ltLIN, April 18. German forces la Macedonia, tlio German official statement says, drove French from positions ono kilometer wide on the Crvena Stcaa, which were captured by tho French last .March. House of Commons Gives Unanimous Approval Amid Cheers to the Res olution Moved by Bonar Law Stars and Stripes to Fly Beside the Uf.Ton Jack on Public Buildings. LONDON, April 18. In the house of commons today unanimous ap proval was given amid cheers to Ihe resolution moved by Andrew Bonar Law, chancellor of the exchequer, and seconded by Former Premier As quith, expressing appreciation of the action of the I'nited Stales in joining Ihe allied powers in war upon Ger many. In moving in the commons this res olution, identical with ono moved in tho house of lords, Mr. Honor Law said: "We deeply regret ihat Ihe premier is unable to be present himself to movo the resolution. Not only the members of parliament, but all Ihe people of tho British empire and the allied countries welcome the new ally with heartfelt sympathy. War's Tinning Point, "This is not only the greatest, event, bul, as 1 believe, the turning point of (he war. Tho new world has been brought ill, or has stepped in, lo restore the balance in tho old. "Ueing in, the I'nited States has already shown that her enemies must beware of her, and despite the fact that the path itumediitlely before us is more difficult Hum ever before, I venture to express the hope end be lief that a change is coming Ihat the long night of sorrow and anguish which has desolated the world is drawing lo a (dose." The government today gave in structions, Sir Alfred Mom (old the house of commons, that on Fridnv, when America's entrance info the war was declared, the stars and stripes should he flown beside the 1'nion Jack on as many public build ings as possible. Adopted by Lords. A resolution similar to that adopt ed lu the houso of commons on tho entry of tho I'nited Slates Into the war was passed unanimously In tho house of loiMs this afternoon after speeches by Karl Curzou, tho Marquis of Crowe, tlio Archbishop of Canter bury and Viscount Hryco. LONDON, April IH. Thiv weekly report of llritish shipping losses, is sued today, shows nineteen vessels of more than HUM) tons sunk nnd nine vessels of less than KillO Ions. Twelve fishing vessels also were sunk. During the past seven weeks, the period in which statement of the losses of lirilish merchant vessels have been made in their present form, the figures show that His vessels have been lost, the total for vessels of more than 1'ibO tons bcini: lift, and for vessels nf less than that ton nage, f2. This week's los-cs of twenty-eight merchant ships are liglilly in excess of Hie average, which is twi'iity-l'our lor Ihe seven weeks period. WASHINGTON, April IS. As n part of the program to encourage na-Hon-wldo growth of foodtsuffs every employe of Ihe treasury department throughout tho Pulled Slates was re quired by Secretary McAdoo to culti vate all the limit In his possoslon or control. House Committee Votes K to 8 to Have New Army Bill Provide for Volunteer Enlistment Senate Committee Votes for Selective Conscription President Wilson Firm for Conscription and Will Consent to No Compromise. WASHINGTON, April 18. Oppon ents of selective conscription plan got the upper hand In the house mil itary committee today, voting 12 to S to have the new army bill carry a provision to first try to raise the new force by volunteers. Meanwhile the bill including the conscription provision was approved by the senato military committee 10 to 7. . While the two committees were acting, Presldont Wilson was at the capltol conferring with senate lead ers on the adoption of war measures, particularly the army bill. Wants No Compromise. Tho senato committee rejected an aniondment by Senator McKellar au thorizing the president to call for ."O(l,O0q vohtntoors and made only few changes In tho bill as drawn by the army general staff. Ono amendment would baf liquors from nil camps where the new army is to he trained and another would Include persons cngagod In agricul ture In tho Industries exempted from service on account of military rea sons. Tho president told sonators he would consent to no compromise be ruuso tho war department experts after careful consideration and dis cussion had decided that selective conscription was tho only effective way of raising a strong army. Tho president was assured that the majority of tho representatives In tho house wore fighting his plans. Creates Confusion, The vote In tho house committee threw tho situation into confusion. Tho opponents of straight, conscrip tion plan immediately began to draft amendments In the hope of getting tho conscription element to Join In a united voto. Chairman Dent and Representatives Field, Shallenberger, Anthony, Caldwell, nnd Hull of Iowa, conferred over a plan to use con scription after a call for volunteers apportioned among tho states to be offered In the same way as the pro posed administration bill. Senators who voted for the McKel lar amendment wero Heed, Klrby, Thomas and Hitchcock nnd McKellar, democrats, and New and Sutherland, republicans. Senators on the committee said the war department estimates that If the measure passes tho first 500,000 men will ho In training camps by August 1. For Volunteer System. Tho house committee's action was a straight out decision for the prln- (Contlnued on t age Two.) RUSSIA 10 REJECT PEACE OVERIURES OF WASHINGTON, April 18, Assurances reached Washington today that under no conditions Unit lire now conceivuhlo will I be provisional government of Russia yield to the overtures from German and Austrian so- cinli-tic representatives to no- Kotinte a separate peace. f !