YEA TITER Maximum Yesterday Go; Minimum Today 40; Precipitation .03. FORECAST Fair. Cooler Tonight With Light Frost,
University it Orerj
n
Forty-seventh Tear.
Dally Twelfth Year.
MEDFORD OREGON7. MONDAY, MAY 7. 1917.
NO.' 39
.Medford
Mail
ALL E
NWEST
FRENCH GAIN
NEW POINTS
-IN BIG DRIVE
Total of 29,000 Prisoners Captured
In Offensive Violent Counter At
tacks Along Entire Line by Ger
mans Repulsed With Tremendous
Slaughter Teutons Mowed Down
In Masses Entire St. Quentin
Line in Danger of Being Outflanked
PARIS, May 7 The Germans have
counter attacked along the entire
French front and everywhere have
been repulsed, according to today's
war office statement.
The fighting was purl iculiiily se
vere in the region of C'liemin-Dos-Dnmcs
and east of Soissons. The
statement says that since April l(i
thi French have taken 29,0(10 pris
oners. The number taken'm the last
phase of the offensive lias reached
more than C200.
The statement follows:
211,000 Prisoners Taken.
"Yesterday evening and last night
were marked by violent new reactions
on the part of the Germans in the re
gion northeast of Soissons and along
the Chemin-Des-Dnmes where we
identified four fresh divisions. Vio
lent counter attacks, preceded by in
tense bombardments, were, launched
against our "positions at Froidmont
Farm on the Cerny-llurtcbise from
and en the Craonne and Vauclcrc
heights. The fighting, which assum
ed a most violent character, termi
nated to the advantage of our troops,
which maintained their positions ev
erywhere. The Germans were mowed
down in masses by our heavy and
field artillery and machine guns, suf
fering large losses in these engage
ments. The number of our prisoners
is now more than ti'JOO. This brings
up the total number of prisoners tuk
ejj by French troops in the fighting
stifco April 10 to nbout 2!,(HHh
"On the remainder of the front
there were intermittent artillery en
gagements. We broke up several sur
prise attacks by the enemy, partic
ularly in the Argonnc, near Botanic
and Grurie Wood. We made several
successful incisions into the German
lines near Snnvaux hill and east of
Monccl."
Attacks Itcaten Itnck.
The Germans concent ra led their
efforts yesterday morning in attacks
wes.t of the French front in the re
gion of I.nffaux and in the eastern
section of Hruye to Craonne. But the
French held the whip hand and beat
off wave upon wave of (lie enemy's
dwindling reserve, with terrible losses.
More than that, the Frenchmen, nfter
hours of stiff fighting, still had the
energy to flash lorwnrd and main
tained fresh positions in regions nat
urally fortified.
The desperate resistance nf the
fieri
a'Ka
4acks in force are comprehensible
when it is realized that if the French
capture AHcmnnt and Pinon they will
outflank the whole line running north
to St. Quentin. General Vivcllc.
however, has no sinecure as he is eon
fronted by the famous Siegfried line,
a system of fortifications on which
the Germans have lavished weeks of
work and which is of the. most for
midable type.
(Jennnns Annihilated.
On the right' wing German hnttnl-
(Continued on Pag Six.)
SOLD 10 THE ALLIES
WINXII'KG, Mar... May 7. An un
derstanding under which at least !u
percent of all Canadian wheat will
be sold to the allied governments or
to Dominion mills wa announced in
a cablegram from the Winning grain
exchange council to the royal grain
commission in London, made public
today.
ST0PS BULLET IN
ARMOR HE INVENTS
' In
Ir. Guy Otis lircwster of lover, X.
f., is hero shown in the quaint nrm
ored headgear ami jacket lio invent
ed for lioldlel-s. In a recent test, Dr.
llivwstei' witlLvlood without injur'
bullets fired at liim from a distance
of (10 feet and hitting the armor lit a
speed of 2710 feet a second and a
force of 2 loo pounds. The armor
weighs less than 2 OiMmnds.
I BE SEIZED
WASHINGTON, May 7. It was rc
vealed in the house today than an tin
published provision In the agreement
with Denmark by which the Danish
West Indies were acquired by the
Waited States was that German or
other warbound ships In the Island
would art he seized or confiscated.
The disclosure was made by Chair
man-Alexander of the commerce com
mittc presenting the administration
bill to confer congressional sanction
upon the president for seizure and
operation of enemy war bound ships
in American ports. Wnen Itcpublicnn
Leader Mann asked for more Infor
mation, Chairman Webb of the iudl
clary committee warned the house,
that it was not a subject to he dis
cussed publicly.
Mr. Alexander then explained the
purposes of the bill which he said
were to give the president full power
to take title t otbc ships except In the
Virgin Islands ami to provide for their
operation or b ase by the government.
TWO NORWEGIAN SHIPS
SUNK BY SUBMARINES
LONDON May 7. - According to' a
Central News di-puMi from Copen
hagen, the Nonw.'inn fmcii-n olioo
ha- announced I he -inking by German
submarine- nf the steamers Capto
and Nntiina. The crews were res
cued. AMBASSADOR Et.KUS
REPORTED IMPROVED
WASHINGTON. Mav 7 Ambas--udnr
I'.lkii-, -i,k in fon-tnntinoplc
with typlui-, is much better, but may
not be able to l,Mve for home for
three week.-.
I $- i
RAILROADS OPEN TWO BOARDS TO
FIGHT TO SECURE
E
Hearings Begun Before I. C. C. on
Application for Blanket Increase
in Rates to Yield $300,000,000
More Revenue for Coming Year
Railroads State Case.
WASHINGTON, May 7. Eastern
railroads at the opening today of the
hearings before the interstate com
merce commission on the application
on all roads for a general 15 per cent
Increase in freight rates, stated that
the advance sought would fall $73,
000,000 short of the $21 7,000,000 in
crease of 1917 operating expenses
over 191C.
Cost of coal, wages and matorinls
have gone up so rapidly in the last
year or two, declared the eastern
roads, who will be followed by south
eastern and western lines and by
shippers, that income from present
rates cannot keep pace. Higher rates
are necessary to maintain their credit
and to make efficient service posstlilo,
they said.
Gain of $:loo,ooo,ooo.
Tho proposed 15 per cent advance
would yield all railroads a sum esti
mated at between $300,000,000 and
$100,000,000 based on last year's
record earnings. Of this amount,
roads east of Chicago and north of the
Ohio and Potomac rivers, operating
sixty thousand miles of line and car
rying about half of the country's traf
fic, stated today their share would be
$142,000,000.
Hearings will continue through the
week and then bo resumed May 23.
Many shippers appear to agree to a
rate increase but they disagree on tho
amount. The proposed Increase would
go into effect July 1.
Samuel Ilea, president of the Penn
sylvania, read a statement to the
commission in part as follows:
Monaco to Country.
"The conditions surrounding tho
railroads at tho present time involve
a direct and immediate menace to the
country at largo and also to the ship
pers, passengers and owners of the
properties because of inadequate fa
cilities and Insufficient credit. If we
are adequately to handle the exist
ing traffic and bo prepared to meet
the necessities of tho Internal situa
tion It Is absolutely necessary that
tho railroads be granted higher
rates. '
Alfred II. Smith, president of the
New York Central lines, in a state
ment read to tiie commlslson, de
clared that the railroads were not
seeking to shift the burdens on
others but that they asked "merely
to share In the prosperity of the coun
try" and to maintain their position
in relation to those whom they serve.
Ho pointed out the difficulty the
railroads have had in raising capi
tal to increase their property which
would have had an Influence on the
present high prices.
Howard Elliott, speaker for the
New Haven, said a fifteen per cent
advance would not pay the Inrreased
coal hill of that road. Ho also In
dicated that heavy outlays would be
neeesary to handle properly the na
tlon's wartime business.
FIRST AMERICAN
5 PERCENT RAIS
1'nlted Hfutefl nvnl Meiitenant Tliomai iind a naval Kim rrew of nine men nre Mill refilled mlsfn an the
result of the toileloinj( liy a (ierman V-Uiut of the Ann-rlriin htiimer Vitrti"iii ouned hy the Vanillin (HI i'.t.
While thin i the find (inniji of men lot and the lieiitemint the flrt offl'r lft' I 'indiirel, iMiatHwahm mate
fiNiai-d th Aztec U still minting. . , ......
E
OF 0. S. IN WAR
Allied War Commissions Sitting Con
tinuously, One in England, One
Here, to Coordinate Powerful Re
sources of United States With
Those of Allies Keep Sea Clear.
WASHINGTON. May 7 Two al
lied war commissions sitting contin
uously tme in Kngland and the other
here appeared today as one of the
first actual steps to coordinate the
powerful resources the United brings
into the war with those of tho allies
nernss the sea.
The commission in London, with
representatives of nil the allied na
tions including the United Slates
would receive and decide upon the
apportionment of seaboard traffic.
The commission would then charge it
self with getting such supplies to the
seaboard, either by direct purchase
or through present agencies.
While the inroads of the submarine
menace continue it is absolutely es
sential to conserve every ship for the
most needed freight and tho only way
that this can be done is to have the
allies submit their needs to a central
body in London which shall have the
power to give priority to the most
pressing.
At the same time the commission
in this country, knowing exactly how
much was wanted would buy it judi
cially and keep tile railroad lines
open to the seaboard.
With the great bulk of the detail
ed work now distributed amongst va
rious snb-conimittecs British For
eign Minister Hall'our now is await
ing reports. Today he was officially
received nt the supreme court.
Lnler Hie new Belgian minister to
the United States naid a visit to Mr.
Balfour. Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation of Labor,
called with British labor leaders who
have .just arrived in this country up
on his invitation.
REBEL ACTIVITY
WASHINGTON, May 7. Fresh
reports of rebel activities in Cuba
arc regarded by this government as
renewed evidence of influences seek
ing to force intervention, but they
have, not altered the state depart
ment's, confidence in the ability of
President Menocal to restore order.
Reports from American Minister
Gonzales that the rebels arc being
brought under control nre supported
by consular reports from Guantann
iiiii and Santiago, although it is ad
milted that ill these provinces ban
dit raids and much destruction of
property continue.
The railroads have not been re
oH'iicil in all places, but substantial
progress has been made and atate
department officials appear confi
dent that .May 20. the dale for the
inauguration of the pre-idenl, will
pass without serious revival of the
revolt.
DIRECT COURS
FIGHTING MEN LOST ON STEAMER VACUUM
4'.- " '- WV' ---.';. ,..r-:-'
. . . . &4.' - - . , i
POWERFUL U. S. MOTOf! BATTFRY IS READY
Powerful armored cm 4110 the buttory of tlio Now York national gnurtl
ami mI iow tho kimt of land battleships Tiiclo Sam Is ready to usx.. Kllit
men hnvo i-oom to many as many machtiio guns, thrco on each .side, and
two ahov.
I
WASHINGTON, May 7. The gov
ernment has decided to lend Great
Britain $100,000,000 to meet her
needs in this country during May. A
second installment or $25,000,000
was transferred to tho llrltlsh em
bassy today, making, with tho $25,
000,000 loaned her Saturday a total
ot one-half of the May loan.
The decision to advance Great flrl
taln $100,000,000 during May agrees
with estimates that this government
would bo called upon to finance the
allies up to at least $ 100,000,000 a
month.
Sums nlready pledged for the next
mouth or so are at tho rate of $300,
000,000 a month and cover only tho
needs of Great Britain, Franco, and
Italy. Additional loans to Itusslu,
Belgium and possibly to Serbia will
swell tho total, It Is believed, to at
least $100,000,000 and bring tho to
tal advanced to the allies prior to
.Inly 1 when the first proceeds of tho
liberty loan will bo available, up to
approximately $1,000,000,000.
Subscriptions to tho liberty loan
continue in large volume.
LONDON, May 7. Powerful rcp
resontnlinns are about to be made to
Premier Lloyd George anil the wur
cabinet I iv representative- ni labor as
to their view of the imperative ur
gency of a settlement of the Irish
ipiestiou, the Pall Mall Gazelle understands.
v N ... V11''
GIVEN BY ST. LOUIS
ST. LOUIS, May 7. The demon
si rat ivo welcome accorded Former
Premier Viviani, Marshal Jol'frc and
other members of tho French war
mission at tho SI. Louis coliseum
last night was outdone today when
the visitors look part in a parade
across tho city.
Many rem hercd Unit this was the
second anniversary of the sinking of
the Lusitania and regarded the ova
lion iiecorded the French visitors n
filling memorial to the victims of
that first great submarine outrage.
The parade was preceded by a
breakfast attended by 700 persons,
(luring which medals of honor were
presented to M. Viviani and Marshal
Jofl're on behalf of the French so
ciety of St. Iniis. M. Viviani was
much afl'ccled anil kissed the spokes
man of the society on the cheek.
Two toasts were drunk in water
one to the president of the United
Slates find one to Iho president of
Franco.
Alayor Kiel of St. Louis, who was
to have delivered u welcoming ad
dress at (he breakfast, was unable
to be present 'on nceount nf illness,
but he appeared later, rode in Ihe
first uuloiuohilc with M. Viviani and
Marshal .lofl're during the parade.
E SUIT
LI
WASHINGTON, May 7.- New York
blinks today lost their litigation in
the supreme court against the North
German Lloyd liner Kriui Prinessin
Cccilic at Ihislon trnni which they
claimed .f.', 10,111111 damages for fail
are of the vessel to deliver gold bill
lion worlh -t I l.illin.illKl shipped t i
England and Prance just at the out
break of the war.
The Cccilic, Ihe supreme court de
cided, is not liable ill il, images lo Ihe
shippers for turning hack In America
in miil-occnu ami nbamlioiing It
vovairc. The decision ilclcrmines lnr;
similar claims against a score of
olhcr German ve-sels in American
ports. Justice ll'ilmes t livcred ih
decision. Justices prilncv ami Clark
di-si.ntoil.
UNCLE JOE CANNON IS
81 YEARS OLD TODAY
WASHINGTON. May 7. - Itopre
"cntativc .loc II. Cannon of Illinois,
former speaker of the house, is HI
today, lie received many congratu
lations from members of congress,
govcrnnieut officials uud others.
BULLECOURT
CAPTURED
BY BRITISH
Hlndenburg Line Positions Taken by
British Who Start New Attack at
Daybreak Prisoners Taken In In
fantry Charge Guns Continue to
Pound German Positions Teuton
Losses Mount to Appalling Totals
Best Troops Suffer. !
LONDON, May 7. After hard
fighting the British have pushed for
ward west of Hulleeourt and have
taken n number of prisoners, accord
ing to an official statement issued
by the war office today.
The announcement follows: '
"Thero was sharp fighting early
today on the Ilindenhurg line. East
nf Hulleeourt our position has been
improved. Wo progressed westward
in tho direction of tho village and
look a number of prisoners. A hos
tile bombing attack during tho night
on our front line south of Oppy, de
livered after heavy nrtillory prepara
tion, was successfully driven off.'
llnllecourt Won.
HHITIKII HEADQUARTERS 'IN
FRANCE, Maiy 7. Tho British havo
pushed their way well within the town
of Hulleeourt. Hand to hand fight
ing has developed thero. 1 r , v
Renewed fighting broke out about
iiullccourt today. The British, who
had been holding positions south and
cast of the village whero they lind
been violently al tacked during the
last four days, moved forward just
before dawn in a general attack upon
the village itself.
There has been patrol fighting in
Iiullccourt before this, but todny's at
tack was of an enveloping nature. It
met with stubborn resistance, but
steady progress was being made as
Ibis dispatch was written and khaki
elad troops have passed well within
the town which lies absolutely astride
tho Ilimlenbiirg line, tho front trench
and two systems of support trenches
all being within the village limits.
Prisoners Sent Hack.
Prisoners began coming back soon
after the battle started.
English battalions niado nn attack
today from thu south and west of
liiillecourt. The ntlai'k was preceded
by the usual violent bombardment.
The moon had shone with wonderful
brilliance all through tho night and
was just setting as the infantry
climbed out of their shallow tronchos
and trudged forward, laden down
with hand grenades. In its earlier
stages the battle was a bombing
contest hciwecu the attacking forces
ami the defenders, although it was
later reported that hand to hand
fighling had developed.
(Continued on phge six.)
D
t
LONDON, May 7. A hnstilo air
plane dropped four bombs northeast
of London this morning, it is offi
cially announced.
The statement announcing the oir
pliinc raid reads;
"In Ihe early hours this morning
a hostile airplane appeared over tho
outskirts of northeast London and
dropped four bombs. One man was
killed and a man and a woman in
jured. Slight damage was dune to
bllildinus.''
No one In tho area where the Ger
man airplane droped bombs aw any
thing of the li os 1 1 lo machine. Tho
people were awakened by the exploi
lons hut by the 1 1 mo they reached
the street the machine had disappear
ed. The bomb which rained the cas
ualties fell on the root ot aomo resi
dential buildings, and the other mis
siles lauded lu a nearby wamp. . '