Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, April 23, 1917, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., April 23, 1917, Page 1, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextUniversity Ornn Liiwarv WEATHER rax. yesterday, 70; nun. today, 15. Precipitation Similar, .27. FORECAST Fair; cooler foiiilit; liglit frost. EDFO Fortv-seventh Tear. MEDFORD OREGON. MONDAY, APRIL 23. 1017 NO. 27 Patly Twelfth Year. M Mail t RIBUNE m X3 13 GOVERNMEWT WINS OA ClAWD GRANT ALL RIGHTS r s OFFENSIVE Himnun dpipbini x in both houses ic DENFUiFn I U 111 LI I LU British Foreifln Minister and Mem- y .' XI 'M Administration Measure to Create U I Dili I lull . 1 i;ir Htnh nnmrntuian cn.nrf h. - 'WJS' Big Army Under Debate in Bath . Supreme Court Decides 0. & CAand Grant Case in Favor of United States Southern Pacific Loses Title to 2,300,000 Acres of Land, and All Rights to Proceeds From Sale of Timber and Minerals Chamberlain Bill Sustained. WASHINGTON, April 23. In de ciding the Oregon-California: luiul case today the supremo court offirm ed the Oregon federal court's decree enjoining the Southern Pacific rail road from disposing ot timber and minerals on its lands received by con gressional grant. By the same decision the govern ment won in Its suit against the Southern Pacific railroad to regain nearly 2,300,000 acrcB of Oregon and Washington laud worth $30,000,000. Chamberlain Hill Ipheld. The Chamberlain-Ferris, law of .916 forfeiting and divesting the railroad's title to the lands granted by congress in 1SCC and providing for federal sale of the lands, timber and minerals was upheld as constitution al. Through Justice McKenna the court held .that the Oregon federal, court's decree enjoining the sale by the rail road of timber and minerals on the land was entirely in accordance with the supreme court's previous orders. The decision was unanimous and en tirely In favor of the government except as to costs of the litigation a considerable sum the court order ing that the government should not receive its costs. When the caso was fiHst before the supreme court In 9 1 r , the court re versed the Oregon federal district court's decree forfeiting tfcu land bat directed an injunction prohl'ut tjlig future sale by the rai.ioad at note than $2.50 per acre pending action by congress to provide regu lations for propert disposition of lim ber and minerals thereon. Points of Contest. Upon this suggestion, congress passed the Chamberlain-Ferris act of 1916, absolutely forfaiting and "divet:tlr&'' the railroads title for breach of the settler's sain prirj o! $2.50 providing for disposition by the federal government and for ulti mate payment to the railroad of lands forfeited at $2.50 per ace (Continued on paeo six.) JUN'EAU. Alaska, April 2 3. The flooding of the great mines of the Treadwell system on Douglas island, on the opposite siilo of Clastinau channel from Juneau, throws out of employment thousands of men em ployed by the system, which is own ed by the Alaska Vnitod iiold Min ing company. The stamp mills at the surface, the largest In the world, are uninjured. Some ot the men who lose employment will he taken up by a company that is developing ore bodies on the mainland, near Juneau t The officers of the Treadwell system I had always been awaro of tho dan ger of their works under tho sea, and had taken every precaution agnlnst an Inrush of the sea water. Explorations had shown that the whole of Douglas island was under laid by the low grade ore which had already yielded $110,000,000 of gold. It If. hoped that this ore will he reach ed by new workings. So far ns known there was on loss of life. Machinery and equipment valued at $ 1 0,000,000 is believed to be a total loss. Day in Social Formalities-Arrival ,I0ITX :T Senate and Hollse-Selec,ive Co"- of French Delegates Awaited Be- k 0 J) jSv scription Likely to Pass Both fore Conferences Begin. JSP y i f I Hollses-Germans Protest. WASHINGTON', i,i 23. Brit ish Foreign Minister Balfour unci members of the high commission here to discuss conduct of the war began their first official day in Washington with a round of calls, the i'irst of which was at tile state de part nient. Soon nl'ler 10:30, Mr. lialfour, ne compnnicd by the British ambassa dor, Sir. Cecil Spring-Rice, drove from the mansion which has been given orcr to him, to the stale de partment building, and paid a formal call on Secretary Lansing. The British umhiissador and Hugh L. Gibson of the stale department, who has been detailed ns Mr. Bal four's aide, remained with Secretary Lansing and the British foreign min ister only a short time, and then withdrew, leaving the two high offi cials together. Social Koiinalitios. The conference between Mr. Bul lour and MY. Lansing was not pro longed nml at its conclusion the two men left the building to cross over lo the while house, where the British foreign minister wns received by President Wilson. It was made known by members of the commission (hat today anil to morrow are to he devoted to social formalities und that the stage of conferences is not expected to he reached before Wednesday. All the attaches of the commission have not yet reached Washington. Some are expected to land in the I'nited States from a passenger ship today or tomorrow. Meanwhile, the French commission is expected, but it was said today there were no plans for joint conferences at this stage, although undoubtedly would be some later on. The conferences arc not expected to he prolonged and it was said today that alter the principal subjects have been gone, over, it was probable I hat Mr. Balfour and some other members ot the conunission might return to Fnghinil, leaving details lo be work cd out by subordinates. Courtesy to America. It was emphasized again today that the controlling motive of the I'.riti-h commission's visit to tin1 I'nited States was one of service and courtesy to American people, with the view of enlightening this govern men! "en the price Great Britain paid" ns one of the commissioner: put it -for her mistakes on entering the war. Measures by which tile I'nited States can extend to its allies the most readily available assistance will first, be discussed, and foremost among Ihese nre questions of ship ping and food. It was said that the food situn tion in Knglunil is not ns acute as hai been represented, but that Great I'ntain, having pooled her resources with her allies, is called upon to sup- ply food for France and Italy where the situation is more pressing. H i: possible that before Mr. Balfour leaves the I'nited Slates he may he invited to address I be senate. AS UNITED STATES WASHINGTON', April 21!. Fur ther encouraging reports from Rus sia cimie today in n dispatch lo the -I. ile department telling of the el'fcc President Wilson's war nddres awl ilechLriiiL' that Russia under the new ilernoeralic provisional govern j no more likely to abandon the " 0"iii a.-nicung ner c.oj I than is the United States. "When (he country calls, a million young men will spring LONDON .April 23. The Turks in Mosopotamia havo evacuated the Iztaliilat position on the right bank f the Tigris, ten miles below Sam ara, the war oltice announces. They ire now being attacked at ft point six miles nearer Samara. The announcement follows: "During Saturday night the enemy evacuated the remainder of the Iz- tabilat position, portions of which we had stormed and consolidated on the previous day. At daybreak Sunday our troops pressed on in pursuit, capturing some prisoners mid one 5.0 howitzer. "The enemy was found occupying another position on the right bank of the Tigris river about six miles fur ther toward Samara, and at 7 o'clock on the evening of Sunday, when Clencrul Maude's telegram wns dis patched, this position was being at tacked. As n result of an air fight on Sun day a new Ilalberstadl airplane was brought down. The pilot, who was the enemy's flying corps commander, was killed." 0. 8 C. TIMBER LAND PORTLAND, dr., April 23. Most of the railroad hind ul lcclcd bv today's ruling of the supreme court lies in western Oregon on both sides of the Southern Pncilie, railroad line. 'Inly a small part of the grant is in Washington. I'nited Stales District Attorney Clarence Kennies, when told of the ruling today, said the unsold timber and mineral hinds on the unsold rail road grants prohuhly will be open for actual settlers within six months as a result of the decision. SEVEN BILLION DOLLAR LOAN BILL SENT TO PRESIDENT WASHINGTON, April 23. The $7.000,0110,0(10 war loan bill was fin ally pertectcd in bolh houses of con gress today by agreement on all amendments and sent to the white bouse for President Wilson's signature. - - 'a TlPSLifllEit.-- T OF IZE-CHUEA CIIEXO TV, Cliinu, April 23. Fierce fighling has broken out in the streets here between the Sze-Cliucn and Yunun troops. The oiilhrcuk is the climax lo (be friction between the two parties which has .steadily in creased since the Yiinimcse forces entered Cheng-Tu Inst April. The di rect cause of the outbreak wns the attempt of the military governor of bze-Chuen, who is Yununese, to dis band tho provincial troops and strengthen his grip on tho province. The fighting sturted on Wednesday night and continued all next ilnv nnd night. Many houses were burned and trenches nnd barricades were constructed by both parties. The British, French anil Japanese con suls, at uiuch personal risk, have succeeded in arranging an armistice, but the situation is still critical. All foreigners nre safe so far. Cheng Tu is the capital of the province of Ize-Clincn, which lies di reclly north of the Province of Yu nun, in the southwest of Chinn. Clicng-Tu is one of the largest nnd most important cities of China. II population is estimated at 8110,01111. and it is II16 sen! of right American and British missions, with a person nel of 52 men and (IH women. CHASES U. S. VESSEL NKW YOKK. April li.'l.-An Ameri can rdeamship wan chased for five niih'H liv tin; German wn raider Se- ndlor, ol't the cna-t of Hni7.il on Ap ril j'J, iieeordim; to (ho captain l the vessel, which readier! 1 his purl today. Tho Socndlcr, previously re ported hv tin victims of her raid on their nrrivnl nt Ki Janeiro, was for merly tho American hark I 'ass of Jliilnialia, into which the; (iernnin- had fitted irasohne motors. The enptnin of the steam-hip paid the raiders had Norwegian flairs painted on her side and mounted two pun apparently of eiht-inch enliher. Thin in the fir-t report of th op orations of the Seeailler ninoe crew from ships she fcank reached JEW Janeiro, March Ul. to nrms." Biyan. T GIIAND I IIC A DQUARTKUS WITH Til IS IlltlTIHII ON TIIK WKSTKKN FIION'T, April 23. Tho disappear ance In nn aerial engagement of Ser geant Jus. II. McConnell, tho Amer ican aviator, calls attention once more to tho brilliant work of the La Fayette squudrllla, which is composed entirely of Americans with tho excep tion of two French officers in charge, Captain Georges do Theiinult and Lieutenant Do Lago Do Motix. Since Its formation lust year tho squudrllla, whose official designation Is the "X-12 4." has undergono some change of personnel. Tho new men however, are living well up to the traditions of those who havo passed through Its ranks, some of whom have miido the "great sacrifice" for Franco in return for tho help Hho gavo to America during tho revolution while ot Iters havo had to retiro owing to wounds or injuries. Ily their daring and skill tho young Americans havo won not only tho ad miration of their French comrades, but also the wholesome respect of the German airmen opposed to them. I'p to date nt. least 110 enemy airplnncH are known to havo fallen victims to the American Huuadrilla and It is possiblo that more havo been brought down over tho German lines, but without certain proof of their des truction nn credit is given to the uvla tor for these. WASHINGTON'. April 23. - For eign nnd domestic Irude bureau stit tisties announced lodav show tin country's foreign trade increased it March i l."il,(ilui,0(Ml over Pclii'miry totals. Kxporls for Ihe nine months end ing with March were valued n( .tl.li31,!lll(i,(ill(l, against .', !l!l."i,.',(in, 1100 for the eoncsponiliiig period ii 101(1 nnd $1,031,000,000 in 101.' Imports for nine mouths ending with March were valued at .tl,HlH,320, 1)00; at I, "i( 1,0113,00(1 in p.llli, and ut $1,213,011,000 in 1013. WASHINGTON, April 23. The ndminislralion bill to create n ' big nnny by a selective draft was under debate in bolh houses of congress to duy. It wus tuken up in tho house for the first lime and in the somite debute was resumed. The house bill, as reported bv n innjority of the committee, provided for volunteer enlistment with con scription only ns a last resort, and the fight for Ibis measure wus led by Chairman Dent of the military com mittcc, whose supporters lelt sure Ihut they would make a good show ing. A strong clement in the bouse however, bucket! Iho selective con scription plan advocated by the nrmy general staff nnd recommended bv Ibe mitilary committee minorilv, led by Representative Kabn of Califor nia, ft republican. Debate is Opened. In the senate the bill was under In ilie scnnlc the bill under eon sidcruliou was the general shift": mensure. In the house tho lull was taken up under an ngrcemenl. providing for eighleen hours of general deluile lo be followed by five-minule Inlks. In opening Ihe scnnlc ilchule Sen uior Weeks said Ihe iieopte demnnil conscription or would demnnd it if they were correctly informed. When the house began debate limit was fixed, but it was agreed thai it should run on lodu.v uiiiil 0 'lock. Chninnnn Dcnl of Ihe mililnrv cpmmillee, who favors n call for vol unleers, while the conscription rcg islrulion machinery is being made ready, opened Ihe debate. Army of Million. MY. Dent explained that the bill ns amcmrcd by the coinmitlee gives mi thority to rnise an nnny of practical ly 1,(1110,(1110 men nnd "safeguards American birthright to volunteer for service ill defense of the count rv. The president, he said, is still nu Iborizcd lo proceed with arrange incuts for Ihe selective draft and has absolute aiilborily lo determine on which syslcui Ihe nrmy would be raised. Representative Lunn, dcinocrnl and former socialist mayor of Sclic neclaily, urged conscription, declnr ing (lint in voting In give the presi dent nil (he power and resources o the country lor currying out Ihe wur he und others look Mint action liter ully and without equivocation Applause for Koclallsls, Representative Lunn aroused laughter and applause by suggesting that mi amendment be written into .the hill inn king it necessary to give soldiers 'ulrciidy in the service n se olid opportunity to enlist, in ord that their services might he wholly democratic. Loud applause greele his remarks. Represental ivc F.aglc of Texas in lerrupteil Lunn lo say that his of lice was being lion, h-d with pro! ngainsl conscription signed by snnie persons who a year ago i pleading the cause of Germany. lT.TKOGIIAD, April 23.-An offi cial Htiiieuient issued toduy said: "On the Riimnninn front by suc cessful counter ntliu ks we drove the enemy out of Ihe udvniicci! poss he bad occupied nnd re-cstnblished our first lines. "Persia: Persians and Kurds de molished telegraphs and telephones in Ihe rear ot our troops." After Week's Interlude, British Re new Great Drive In Northern France, Attacking a Wide' Front on River Scarpe, Taking Last Part of Hindenhurg Line More Than 1000 Prisoners Taken Today and Line Straightened Out. LONDON, April 23. The British. have opened an attack on a wide front In tho region of the Scarpe river. The official report Issued today says that isfactory progress Is being made. The British captured the village of Trescaiilt nnd gained the greater part of llavrincourt wood. Besides tend ing still further to encompass the city ot Lens, the movement is di- octed toward both Doual, the impor tant German distributing point to the northeast, and the Hindenburg lino key point of Cambrai, to the southeast. PAH1S. April 23. Heavy artil lery firing continues along tho front of tho French, the war office an nounces. East of Cruonue tho Ger mans after n fierce bombardment grouped tlctachmonts for an attack. rcnch guns replied effectively and provented tho attack. Thousand Captured. BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN FRANCF, April 23. In their new of fensive the British have captured the town of Gcvrclle, the last part of the defonscs of the Hindenburg line north of tho Scarpe. Thoy also have taken tho vtllugo of Gueniiippe, south of tho Scarpe. More than 1000 prisoners have been taken today. The lull In tho past week on the British front was broken today by attacks which spread along a wide front. Tho fighting was particularly severe on both banks of the Scarpe, where (he British pushed forward In their initial successes and won the battlo of Arras. lntlinl Successes. It is only possible at this writing to givo very indefinite news, but the first reports coining back indicate the capture of Gavrelle, north of the Scarpe, and Geumnppe, to the south of that stream. A big push also was made opposite Crolssllles nnd rroni Hint sector of the front alone comes tho report that moro than 1000 prisoners were tak en. Gavrelle is a part of the lost defi nite defense the Germans have before falling back on what is known as the Drocoiirt-tlueant switch to the Hin denburg lino. The British also made progress in tho region southwest of Lens, the German garrison of which town daily la facing a more critical situation, Two Days' Boiiitiartlincnt, Tho fighling today wns under fine weather and a chill northwest wind."" Tho latter, however, dried the ground (Continued on page six.) TOKIO, April 23. The result of tho election shews n regrettable ii pit 1 1) y i;s to the extent ot develop ment nml an nlisencn of a political awakening, according to the Ji.II, the AkhI and tho Xichi Nlcht, leading papers of Toklo. Tho opposition press di-clares Hint tho government victory Is fleeting and insists that tho alliance of tho Scl Yukal party (constllutlonnllHt party) with Count Terniiehl is tempornry nnd certain to prei Ipitato a ministerial crisis, it bases this belief on the ground that the Scl Yukal is opposed to non-party ministries.