Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, May 19, 1917, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., May 19, 1917, Page 1, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextUaKersity f Oregon YEAT1IEI1 Maximum yesterday, GG; minimum today, 48. FORECAST Tonight and tomorrow, unsettled, probably showers. (OS ford Mail Tribune w 1 1 Forty-seventh Tear. Dally Twelfth Yenr. MEDFORD OREGON, SATURDAY, MAY 19. 1917. NO.- no I a Eri Mi " I f -fit ia 5 ET BY SENAT Largest Appropriation Bill in Ameri can History, Carrying $3,342,300,- ,, 000, Including $750,000,000 for American Merchant Ships, Passed by Senate by Viva Voce Vote Chief Opposition Comes From Re publicans Who Dislike Its Terms. WASHINGTON, May 1!). The lar gest appropriation bill in American history the war budget measure car rying $3,342,300,000 including $750, 000,000 for American merchant ships was today passed by the senate by viva voce vote. The amendment authorizing $750, 000,000, of which $-100,000,(100 is to be immediately available for con struction and purchase of a fleet of American merchant ships and also authorizing the president to com mandeer ship building: facilities and factories, was agreed to by the sen ate without roll call. Littlo Discussion. -7hief opposition came from repub licans who disliked the broad au thority granted the president to com mandeer ships, yards and factories. The bill as it stood today contained a "rider" restricting operation of the conscription bill, signed last night by the president, to four months liter the war with Germany. Appropriations carrying the many millions of dollars was agreed to by the senate with littlo or no discus sion and with only a few senators in the chamber. .Among appropriations adopted were payment of $100 a month to reservo officers during training and countless other items were npproved as drawn. On ltcveniio Hill. Voting on amendments to the war tax bill occupied the house again to day. The first vole was on Repre sentative I.cnroot's motion to strike out the five percent taxes on light and heat bills. It tailed 1 Hi to 58. The tux is intended to raise about $30,000,000. Decision of the com mittee not to nttempt to raise $12, $45,000,000 which Secretary McAdoo believes will be necessary to meet half the expenses of the first year of the war, made the light and heal tax unnecessary, Lenroot contended. "You would tax people who wi'l al most have starvation facing them in 12 months," he shouted amid ap plause. "Congress may yet have to reach the humblest home in this land, but it should not do that now when thcro nro other sources to be taxed which would he less burdensome on the poor man. We might, for in stance, tax automobiles now in it-c. Would it not be better to lax them than to enter the workiiiginan's home for n tax now?" SEIZED IN LIMITS CIIHISTANIA, May JO. Tim ..irwcgian slcamship Thorani has been seized by n German submarine inside the four mile limit which Nor way has claimed ns the boundary of Norwegian territorial waters. The government is said to have de manded the release of the steamer. The Thoriim was chartered by the government to parry forage to north ern Norway, where there is n f 1 f limine. A Norwegian destroyer at tempted to prevent the seizure but did not use its guns as the submarine was outside the throe mile limit. TACp.MA, May 19. The railroad commissions of Oregon, Idaho, and Washington each has authorized the railroad companies to file a brief sup plemental tariff Increasing their rates 15 per cent effective July 1, 1917, subject to further hearing and Inves tigation, this being substantially the same order entered by the Interstate commerce commission. WAR MB AUTHORIZED PERSHING TO COMMAND FIRS DIVISION OF AMERICAN TROOPS SEN! 10 THE BRI6 GEN J J PERSHING NO LiVES LOST n 19. No lives were lost when'the fishing ship I Standard went ashore at Cape Con stantino, on Bering Sea, Alaska, last Monday, according to a wireless re ceived hero today from Haword A. Cookson, radio operator of the Stand ard, who reached the cannery at St. Paul, Alaska, last night. Forty-five men were brought from Walrus Island today and tho steamer North Star had gone after Chinese cannery men who landed at Protec tion Point, said the message. This accounts for all of the men aboard. SEATTLE, May 19. A dispatch to the Seattle oflce of Llbby, McNeil & I.ibby, says that the ship Standard is a total loss, with its cargo of can nery suplies. Ship and cargo were valued at about $150,000. Tho Stand ard, a wooden vessel of 1538 tons, was built at Phlppsburg, .Maine, In 1878, and had been in the salmon cannery service for several years. A steamer from Seattle will take an other cargo of supplies for the Bristol flay canneries and Libby, McNeil & I.Ibby, and tho shipwrecked mon will be gathered up and taken to the can neries. I LONDON, May 1!). The Ilritish steamship Highland t'orric was torpe doed without warning on May 10. Six members of the eri'w and two passengers were killed by the explos ion. The following official statement was issued today: "The Highland Corrie was torpo iloed without warning on the sixteenth in-t. P.c-idcs the crew of 8(1 she car ried 10 passengers including several women, fhe torpedo struck the os--el amidships, carried away most of the port lifeboats und severely dam aged the upper works Mid bridge, 'fhe vessel immediately listed heavily to port, making the launching of star board lifeboats very difficult and one of thcni capsized. Ilritish patrol ves sels rescind the passengers and crew. "Casualties: Saloon passengers, Surgeon Itusscll, I(. N., and Norman l.anyon, who embarked at Huenos Aires; one pantryman named Thomas and five of Ihe crew were killed by the explosion. Arthur Ciilignn was saved. All the passengers' pear was lust and ills,, the mails and cargo. "Among the crew were many na tives, who behaved with remarkable cimiIik's, The submarine was not seen after committing this foul deed." The Highland Corrie, 785.1 tons gross, ,)n,l f,l. t long, was owned 'n l'iidon. She was built in 1010 nt I'ort (ilasgow. She was last report ed on her arrival at Ibtenos Aires Apiil 4 from London, if j'4 1 T FRENCH FRONT One Division of Regulars Ordered to Sail for France at Early Date Pershing Selected Because of Ad mirable Record President Declines Roosevelt's Volunteer Offer. . WASHINGTON, May 19. Ameri can troops when they go to the Eu ropean bnttlefront may take places to buttress the little Belgian line so tenaciously holding fast to a strip on tho extreme west all of Helgium that escaped the German invaders. Tho war department today had no announcement to add to its terse bul letin of last night which merely said Major General Pershing would lead a division pf regulars abroad "at ns early a date ns practicable." May o to ISelglum. But President Wilson's statement explaining his reasons for not ac cepting at this time Colonel Roose velt's offer of a division, contained n phrase which has attracted much attention and suggested the possi bility that American troops may go to Belgium to help right the wrongs which turned the world against Ger many. The president explained that the regular army officers whom the col- onul wantcd to take ,v'"1 ,livisi()n wcrc needed for "tho much more pressing; and necessary duty ot train ing regular troops to bo put in the field in France and Belgium as fast as they can be got ready." So far as is known, that was the first mention of putting American troops in Belgium and tho sentimen tal value of sending troops bearing the American flag to the' violated soil of the little country m whoso behnlt all humanity has been aroused, has been recognized quickly. Pershing to Lead. WASHINGTON-, Moy 19. Presi dent Wilson last night ordered that a division of regular troops command ed by Major-General John J. Persh ing be sent to France at the earliest practicable dato. This Is the answer of America to France's plea that the stars and stripes be carried to tho fighting front without delay to hearten the soldiers battling there with concrete evidence that a powerful ally has come to their Biipport against German aggression. Announcement of the order follow ed signing of the selective draft war army bill by the president, and the Issuing of a statement that, under ad vice of military experts on both sldeB of the water, the president said he could not employ volunteers nor avail himself of the "flno vigor and enthusiasm of former President Roosevelt's expedition." Immenso Forco loiter The army law provided for an ulti mate forco of about 2,000,000 men to back up tho first troops to go to the front. When tho bill had been signed, tho president affixed his name to a proc lamation calling upon all men In the country between the ages of 21 and 30, Inclusive, to register thomsolvcB for military Borvlco on June 5 next. Tho proclamation sets In motion Im mediately machinery that will enroll nnd sift 10,000,000 men and pave the way for selection of the first 500,000 young, efficient soldiers, without crippling the Industries or commcrco of tho nation or bringing hardship on those at home, Kven before the bill was signed the war department announced that the full strength of tho national guard would be drafted Into the United States army beginning July 15 and concluding August C. Orders to bring the regiments to full war strength (Continued or Page Five.) SPAIN INDIGNANT LONDON, May 19. A Madrid dis patch to the Exchange Telegraph company sya that the note fccnl by the Spanish government. to Berlin in regard to the sinking of the Spanish steamer Putrieio demands immediate satisfaction and guarantees for thr future. TIME IN RACE WITH FAMINE I! IN FATHERLAND Food Situation in Germany Growing Steadily Worse Margin of Safety Perilously Scant Present Stock Nearly Exhausted Berlin Implor ed to Cease Complaining. COPENIIAGTN, May 19. The po tato situation in Germany apparently is growing steadily worse, although tho weather io longer furnishes an excuse for scanty shipments. Fol lowing the example of its sister city, Altonn, Hamburg next week will re duec tho weekly ration to 24 ounces, substituting nil allowance of 040 grams of bread for the rest of the promised five pounds. To meet the dissatisfaction which this state of af fairs produces, the government has authorized grocers to sell all their remaining stocks of canned vege tables next week. The Berlin potato ration is being maintained, nitliough with great dif ficulty because of the moral effect of reducing at tho cnpital the allow ance promised so definitely after the April strike. In u remarkably worded official appeal the people of Berlin are implored to remember that the eyes of the world nro upon them. They are admonished to cease com plaining nnd recognize thankfully how much better conditions are in Berlin than in the war ravaged en emy lands of the British Isles which, jl is said, are headed toward actual starvation. Simultaneously there nre publish ed official arrangements for a race between father time and famine which shows how perilously scant is 'the margin of safety, under the most fn vorablo conditions between the mo ment when the present stock is ex hausted and the time new flour will be available. These plans provide for selection of the regions where the hnrvest will ripen first under this year's climatic conditions, to which reapers, threshing machines find mil itary workers will be sent. WASHINGTON, May 10. Distri bution of the country by states into the areas that will provide the six teen divisions of the selective army was announced today by the war de partment. The western states are grouped as follows: Thirteenth division: Minnesota, Iowa, North anil South Dakota, Ne braska, Central department. Fourteenth division: Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Central depart ment. Fifteenth division: Texas, Oklaho ma, New Mexico, Arizona, Southern department. Sixteenth division: Montana, Wy oming, Idaho, Washington, 1'tah, Ore gon, Nevada, California, Western de pa rttnent. The organization shown above cor responds closely to that of the six teen mi I ion n 1 guard divisions except that all of the cantonment camps for the guard will be in the Southern, Southeastern and Western depart ments. The nineteenth guard division from Colorado, Now Mexico, Arizona, dull, Nevada nnd California, and the twen tieth from Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington will he mo bilized in the Western department and Ihe other live divisions from middle and southern states in the Southern department. WASHINGTON, May 19. Nii nrn gun, following the lead of Guatemala, and Honduras, has scvcivd diplomnt ic relations withe Germany. 10 HELP SOLVE WAR PROBLEMS OF RUSSIA yd. ! h ilaJ.-Gen. Hugh U Scott, above, and Rear Admiral James 11. (ilennon have been appointed: military nnd naval attaches to the commission go ing to Russia to holp that country solve her war problems. Gen. Scott is chief of staff of the U. S. army and Admiral Glennon commandant of tho Washington navy yard. THIRD SALVO OF 'COPENHAGEN, May 1 9. Destruc tion of the Zeppelin L-22, reported In a Ilritish announcement Monday, oc curred off ICsbJerg, within sight of the Danish coast, according to eyo-wit-nesses. These accounts indlciito that not ono but two Zeppelins were de stroyed on that day, inasmuch as tho explosion of an airship off Tcrschel llng was reported from Holland, at a point too distant to cover the saifio case. Tho loss of the second airship is attributed to lightning. Tho L-22 was seen off Ksbjorg on one of tho dally observation tours up and down the const of Jutland. It was engaged by a Hrltlsh forco which presumably was looking for German destroyers that ot late havo been fish ing up British mine fields in this re gion. Tho Zeppelin was not far from shoro and was plainly visiblo. Its op ponents could not bo seen, but their prcBenco was mado known by the sound of guns. Kyo witnesses Baw the airship dart upward after tho first round of shots. Then they heard a second snlvo. The Zeppelin endeav ored to maneuver Itself out of range but with the third broadsldn It went down, mortally hit. At first It sunk slowly and then plunged down at great speed Into tho sea below the horizon. , SAI.KM, Ore., May 19. - Army reg. istration day, June ". was declared a legal holiday in Oregon by Gov ernor James Wilhycomhc here today Oregon officials will be saved tho task of selling up Ihe election inn -chincry especially for the registra tion, as a referendum election will be held throughout the slat" June 1, the duy before the registration dav. OCCASIONAL RAINS WASHINGTON', May 19. Weather predictions for tho week beginning Sunday Issued by the weather bureau today are: Pacific states Occasional showers In Washington and Oregon. General ly fair In California. Temperature near or slightly above normal. RUSSIA RESTORES LULL IN ALLIED IRON DISCIPLINE DRIVE AGAINST AMONG TROOPS GERMAN FRONT Minister of War Kerensky In As suming New Post Announces In tention of Rehabilitating Army and Making It Effective Fighting Force Danger is Shown Soldiers.. PETROGRAD, May 19. Minister of War Korensky, addressing the con gress of peasants, announced his de termination to Introduce discipline into the army, lie mado an Impas sioned appeal for support in restoring the nioralo of Russia's military forces, and his speech wns greeted with on thusinstic applause. A great demon stration took place after ho finished his address. The delegates embraced the minister and carried him on their shoulders to his automobile. M. Ker ensky said in part: Asks Heroic lOffort. "Wo must beforo everything, con- Bolidato tho civic liborty the revolu tion gave us and wo shall not do this if each does not do his duty to his country with complete self-sucritlce Let us show tho world wo know not only how to dostroy but also how to create. Soldiers, sailors and officers, I call on you to make a last heroic ef fort. I am your servant. Help mo to show the world that the Russian army is not a demolished temple, but Is strong and formidable, capable of making itself respocted and of defend the free republic of democratic Rus sia." "It ninf appear strange fhat I, n civilian who wns never n soldier have undertaken the heavy tusk of restoring discipline in the nnny, but I accept it because I understand that this discipline is Jiased on your dut and reciprocal respect. I have never known whnti this discipline is but nevertheless propose to introduco an iron discipline into the army nnd I am sure I shall succeed. Discipline Essential. "This is necessnry not oniy nt the front but also in the interior of the country in order to bring the liberty which has comptcrcd, into the con stitiient assembly. "This great, national council, in vested with sovereign authority, will show Hint it does not wish to repeal the sad events of the revolution in 11)05 when tho peasants coiupiered tho land, but were not nine to kec it in their hands. "I am shortly going to the front Allow me therefore to say in the trenches Hint the Itiissian peasants wish to have Ihu laud which belongs to them und that no force shall lake it from them. Hut also allow me to say that the peasants demand in or der to achieve this object that even one shall do his duly in a spirit ol self sacrifice." Oilier to tho Army. Minister of War Kerensky has Is sued the following order of the day to tho army: "Tho country Is In danger. Each ono must do whnt ho can to nvert tho peril. No reipiest to bo allowed to resign, mado by officers In high com main! with a deslro to escape a ro spoiiHlblllty nt a tlmo so grave, will bo accepted by nie. Deserters are enjoined to return to nrmy and fleet by May 2N. All Infractions of this order will ho scveroly punished." After a conference with the govern ment, tho diinia commltteo and the council of deputies, the commanding generals havo returned to tho front. ItcJcelN Hcpuralo I'ejiee. M. Mllukoff, former foreign minis ter, lias refused to accept the nilnls tr yof education becnuse Ills presence III Ihe cabinet would Involve a re sponsibility for the projected foreign policy of the administration. He eon- flders this policy ilaniieroiis and likely (Continued on Page Four.) 10 KEEP IIS SHIPS WASIIIViToN, May 19.- The Southern Piicilic railway was au thorized today by the interstate com merce commission to continue in pos session and operation of its fleet of merchant stciiiners plying between New York, New Oilcans and (iulves-tun. Intensive Fighting Subsides for Time Being German Counter Attacks Repelled Italians Continue Pro gress in Julian Drive Attacks in Macedonia Repulsed. LONDON. Mav 19 The num. her of men killed in tho war thus fur was estimated nt 7,- 000.000 bv Arthur Henderson. member of the war council, in an address todav nt Richmond. ilo estimated the total casual- ties of the war to be in excess of tho population of the United kingdom. (The population of the united kingdom, according to the census of 1911, was 45,- 370,5:10.) ' f The recent lntonslvo fighting on tho British front In France has sub sided and tho activities along the French Hues in the Alsno region are confined mainly to counter attacks by tho Germans, Tho Italian offensive, with, Trlest for its objective, li thercforo being watched with perhaps more active In terest than any of the other vast mili tary operations in progress. i,i General Cadorna's armies have a heavy task before thorn with the cream of Austria's fighting forces de fending the naturally strong defen sive positions In the Isonzo region. The Italians, however, admittedly are making progress having already tak en more than G0O0 prlBonerB and nu merous guns, while the Austrian ro ports claiin tho capture ot some 3000 prisoners. ' Troops In Waves. PARIS, May 19. The Germans once more turned to tho attnek on the Alsno front Inst night, hurling troops war office announces that tho Ger northwost of Ilrayo-En-Laonnols. The war affoco announces that the Ger mnns wero unable to reach tho French lines except on tho extreme western part of the front attacked, where somo German detachments won a footing In advanced trenches. Prisoners remained in the hands ot tho French. Tho Germans used burn ing liquid In an unsuccessful attack: northwest of Rliclms, biilcrcMsfuI Itnid. LONDON, May 19. "Wo mado a successful raid last night northeast of Goiizenucoiirt nnd brought back prisoners and a machine gun," says today's official statement on the 1'rniieo-nclglaii front operations. "Ilostllo raids were repulsed east of Loos, northeast of Armciitlers and cast of Yprcs." LONDON, May 19. Tho enemy has again heavily counter attacked our new positions on tho Struma front (Macedonia) but wero driven back with loss," says an official announce ment, made hero today. "Tho royal naval nir servlco sue. cessfully bombed tho nlrdromo and camp at Drama." On Kalian Front. HO.M1), May 19. Tho Italians yes terday reached tho crosts of Hill 653 In the Vodlce, says today's official statement. These positions oro the key to Austrian defenses north of Monto Santo. t P.I-.ltl.lS, May 19 On the French. Iti'lvian frontier u heavy nrtillery fin- increased in several sectors be tween Ihe const und St. Qitentin, tho war office announces. Ten Flench mi l Ilritish iiiplancs were shot down. NIKOLA 1ESLA WINS NKW YOli'K', May 19. Nikola TesL.1, inventor, contributed moro to the progress of electrical science dur ing the year 1910 than nny other man, the American Institute of Elec trical Knginoors decided lit ii an nua! meeting hero tonight in award ing him the l'.dison medal, presented each year to the man foremost in Ihe electrical world. i