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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (June 23, 1917)
University of Oregon Library WEATHER Maximum Yesterday 80; Minimum Today 44. FORECAST Showers Tonight and Sunday. il Tribune Foriy-sowntJi ar. r tally Tw.'ifth yG:i- MEDFORD, OREGON, SATURDAY, JUNK 23, 1917 NO. 80 MAT a W A SEPARATE I PEACE PLAN REPUDIATED Ambassador Bakhmetieff, Head of Russian Mission Declares That Russian People Themselves Oppose Separate Peace With Germany .." Russia Will Not Fail to be Worthy Partner In League of Honor Per petuation of Democracy Aim. WASHINGTON, June 23. Ambas sador Bakhmetieff, head of the Rus sian mission, emphatically declared In his address today before congress,, as sembled In the hall of the house, that the Russian people themselves oppose a separate peace with Ger many. The ambassador's declaration came at the end of the most remarkable and demonstrative reception yet giv en any of the foreign missions in eith er house of congress, shouts and cheers camo from floor and galleries. Members of congress who on previous visits of missions have applauded or remained quietly In their seats, cheer ed loudly. The men, women and chil dren In the galleries caught the sleeping wave of patriotism, shout inland waving handkerchiefs. The applause and cheering were renewed when the ambassador added: "Rumors of a separate peace arc without foundation In fact. Russia's endeavor is for a lasting peace be tween democratic nations. Triumph of the German autocracy would ren der such peace impossible. Russia will not fall to be a worthy partner In the league of honor." Supporting Government. Several minutes cheering greeted Ambassador Bakhmetieff. Speaking in English, he told of the acts of the old government which led up to its overthrow. His words were listened to in intense silence, but when he be gan to relate how the Russian people were standing by the new government and how anxious they were to take their place among the free nations of the world, the wildest applause inter rupted him. "There are now being firmly estab lished and deeply ombedded in the minds of the nation principles that power is reposed and springs from aiJS only from the people," he said. "To effectuate these principles and to enact appropriate fundamental laws is going to be the main function of the constitutional assembly which is to be convoked as promptly as pos sible. "Reposing confidonco In such rule, the Russian people are rendering to the now authorities their support. The people are realizing more and more that for the sake of further freedom law must be maintained and manifestation of anarchy suppressed , Cabinet Supported. "The last resolutions which have been framed by the council of work ingmen, the congress of peasants and other democratic organizations ren der the best proof of the general un derstanding of the necessity of creat ing strong power. The coalltlonary character of the now cabinet which includes eminent socialist leaders and represents all the vital elements of e nation, therefore enjoying its full support Is most effectively securing the unity and power of the central government, the lack of which was so keenly felt during the first two months after the revolution. "As to foreign policy, with all em phasis, may I etato that Russia re jects any Idea of separate peace. am aw aro that rumors were circulated in this country that a separate peace (Continued on page six.) UKRAINE, RUSSIA DISTRICT TO REVOLT LONDON", June 2:). Reuters Pc trogrud correspondent rcKrti thai the Ukraine military conference lias called on the Ukraine nalional assem bly to cense its relations with the Russian provisional government and proceed immediately to effect An in dependent organization of the Uk-raine. GERMANS FAIL 10 BREAKFRENGH, LINES ON AlSNEi Continuing Offensive, Crown Prince Makes Repeated Attacks in Effort to Forestall French Offensive Against Laon But Meets With Slight Success Gains Not Held. PARIS, June 23. Continuing their offensive on the Aisne front, the Ger mans Inst night made reepatcd at tacks in the region of Vnuxahnllon and southeast of Filnine. They also multiplied their efforts against the French positions north of Froidmont, where they failed yesterday. Today's official statement says tho Germans mado considerable sacrifices without nining the slightest advantage. Heavy attacks by the German are continuing along the Aisne front, wilh the fighting at times assuming almost tho proportions of a general engugemcnt. Effort a Fiilluro. No substantial successes have at tended the crown prince's efforts. The latest bulletins from the front, indeed, indicate the fighting to he turning more favorably for the French, whose artillery is proving that it has lost none of its effective ness in breaking up attacks. The crown prince s priinnry pur pose, apparently is to forestall the re newal of the French offensive move ment which was expected in this im portant sector, southwest and south of the fortress of Laon, the German key position, which would be serious ly menaced by any further' French advance. So far as appears, General Petuin has lost none of his command ing positions, while the Germans have Sacrificed heavily fur such small gains as they have been able to ef fect. C.Vrnuui Plan. The plan of the Germans seems to be to launch heavy forces on com paratively narrow fronts in the area under attack. They penetrated a sa lient in the French line yesterday on the Cehniin-Des-1 lames in the neigh borhood of Epine-l)c-Cliecregny on such an attack. Last night they tried to debouch from the ground thus gained but found all their efforts to the west and near Chcvreux and oilier points to the east were likewise futile. AIRSHIP PROGRAM WASHINGTON, June 23. Unqual ified approval of the great airplane program for which congress will be asked to provide an Initial appropria tion of $600,000,000, Is s'ven by President Wilson in a letter to Secre tary Baker, mado public today by tho war department. The president wrote "I have your lettor yetserday about tho production of aircraft and the training of men to operate thorn and want to say I am entirely willing to back up such a program as you sug gest. I hopo that you will present It In tho strongest possible way to tho proper committees of tho congresB." A bill to authorize the program will bo Introduced In congress next week It will propose the construction of 35,- 000 aeroplanes and tho training of many thousand flyers. THOUSAND SLAIN E AMSTKRDAM, June 23. More t li it n lono persons were killed or in jured or are missing in consequence of an explosion in munitions faeto rics at Hloowig, nccoriling to an an nnunecment made in the lower house of the Austrian parliament bv the minister of defense ,ns forwarded in a dispatch from Vienna. The casualties were given by the minister as follows : Head Kill; missing 170; wounded 25. Of the wounded, 520 received only slight injuries. The minister said the explosion was probably due to lack of caution on the pnrt of men employed in trench mortar workshop. RUSSIAN ARMY SWEARS FEALTY 10 GOVERNMENT Brasiloff's Popularity Restores Mor ale and Loyalty of Soldiers Sit uation Shows Marked Improvement as All Classes Rally to Support of Provisional Ministry. LONDON, June 23. The Times correspondent at Russian headquar ters cites General Brussiloff in sup port of his own observation for the assertion that a. marked improvement has occurred in the morale of the Rus sian army in the last Blx weeks. He says that desertion has practically ceased and that the soldiers are be coming fully conscious of their duty to the country. The personal magnetism of General Brussiloff and the prestige of his past victories are said to have worked mir acles In restoring the spirit of the army. Tho correspondent says that whenever the summons comes for an advance, it will be loyally responded to. Situation Improves. In spite of tho disorders at Sevas topol and ararchlsts threats here, there are Indications of a marked Im provement in the situation with a glowing support of the government and a growing animosity against the forces which make for disintegration in tho army. ' The resolution passed on Thursday by the Pan-Russian congress of coun cils of deputies 1b regarded as a signal dofeat for the extremists and pacifists, the motion supporting the provisional government being passed by a major ity of more than four to one. A fur ther significant resolution admits that the transfer of all power, to the dem ocracy would weaken the revolution. This is the democracy's own admis sion that it needs the knowledge and experience of the educated classes. Itopudlalcs Separate Peace. By declaring for the speedy attain ment of "a general peace" and at the same time for "an Increase in the fighting capacity of the army," con gress tacitly repudiated the program of a separate peace. Equally impor tant was the unanimous vote of tho peasants congress, representing 130,- 000,000 poople, approving the expul sion of tho German pacifist agent, Robert Grimm, and inviting volun teers to enter the army and strength en it by their example. Speeches of similar tenor in the Cossack congress were still more em phatic, so much so that the extremist anarchist organizations today speak of the resurrection of the Nagaika the Cossack whip formerly used for suppressing disturbances. A repre sentative of the Amur Cossacks de clared that 8,000,000 CossackB were ready to fight in support of the revo lutlon. PETHOGltAD, June 22 One of tho most favorable features of the situation on the front is the formation of "storming battalions," which are newly ercntod army units composed of soldiers who favor a policy of ne- tivc fighting. Soldiers who wish to light are transferred to battalions composed entirely of men holding this view. These men receive red and hlu k arm bunds to distinguish them from othersl tuc idea is snnl to be spreading like wild! ire. I AMIS, June 2.1. Among the latest reinforcements to the American mil tnry mission is Major t Tarry Solon Graves, chief forester of the United Slates, who was commissioned a ma jor in the reserves when he volun teered to investigate forestry condi tions in France. Major Graves will investigate the feasibility of bring ing over regiment of American woodsmen to aid in (he conservation of French forests, if such assistance should be necessary. TO REPLACE OF SVau " r -" Mil ANTorf LANG. Anton Lang, famed as "Christ us' In Uie Oberaminergau passion play, has been called to the colors in Ger many. Known to the world as wear er of n crown of thorns, ho now will don tho steel helmet n,nd face bullets. OF BY ICAN SHIP WASHINGTON, Juno 23. Confir mation 'of the sinking of a German submarine by the navy gunner crew of an armed American merchantman mentioned in yesterday's dispatches, wa sreceivcd by the navy department today, in a report from Chief Boats wain's Mute O. J. Gullickson, com manding tho gunners. Tho report was mado public by Secretary Daniels Immediately upon Its receipt.- After describing the un successful attempt to torpedo tho steamer, tho report said: 'A periscope was sighted off the starboard beam and fire was imniedi ately commenced from tho forward guns at about two thousand yards range. Tho ship was headed toward tho periscope. All shots were falling very close to the periscope. Sudden ly a shot from the forward gun hit Just In front of the periscope, making the submarine submerge and a light blue smoke came up from the storn of tho submarine. The periscope ap peared again at a range of about si hundred yards, when a Bhot from tho aftor gun hit it squarely on the water line, making small bits of Btecl fly and causing commotion of bubbles in the water. Apparently tho subma rlne was either sunk or badly dam aged, as nothing furthor was seen of it." 5 TIMES AILOTIN WASHINGTON', June 23 Knglc wood, N. J., a residential commtinit near New York City, has collcite more than live tunes its npiHirtion incut for the hundred million dnlln Red Cross mercy fund and stand: first in n list of honor cities issue today hy the Hcd I ross eanip.iig headquarters. Flint, Miieli,, was second in the list, Sun Jose, Calif., third, all having raised niroe Hum twice their quota. New York City wilh $.13,(117,000 of (he entire country's $77,00(1,000, col lected to dale, is tliirtvl'ifth, having raised 81 percent of its $10,00(1,000 npwrtionnicnl. FAIR WEATHER FOR COMING WEEK WASHINGTON, June 23 Weather conditions for the week beginning Sunday, issued by the weather bureau today follow: l'arifia stale Generally fair, tem perature normal. am dry victorious IN HOUSE FIGHT Barkley's Amendment to Food Con trol Bill Which Prohibits Use of Food, Food Material or Feeds for Production of Beverages During War Adopted by the House. WASHINGTON, Juno 23. Rep resentative Hnrkley's amendment to the food control hill which would prohibit the use of food, food material or lecds for the production of nl- soholic or non-alcoho!ift beverages during tho war was adopted by the house 132 to 114. WASHINGTON, Juno 23. Prohi bitionists wore defeated today in the first legislative brush on the dry sec tion of the food control hill when Representative Hamlin of Missouri, acting as chaiiinan of the committee of the whole, sustained a point of order against an amendment by Rep resentative Webb, designed 4o give tho president power to tako over liquor for re-distillation. (.onsmeraiiou ot 1110 proamnion section of jhc food control bill bo ban immediately after rejection, by n voto of 125 to 33 of the Meeker amendment to strike out tho price fixing section of the bill. The contest was ovo rthc question whether the section of the hill author izing the president to limit, regulate or reduce the supply of food mater ials or feeds used in making alcoholic liquors sliull he changed. Prohibition ists were determined to secure if pos sible the solution of a stronger "dry provision, and their forces were lined up for the fray. -Most of them favor absolute prohi bition of tho use of grain for hevor age purposes during the war, but are divided over tho various pending pro posals to accomplish tins. Consideration of the food hill con tinned in the sennta today while the leaders held further informal confer ences in un effort to reach an agree ment on disputed points in the meas ure HI PAST RECORDS WASHINGTON, June 23 Ameri can imports totalling $281,000,000 reached tho highest total of any month in the history of American commerce. Exports of $55 ,000,000 showed a gain of $21,000,000 over April. Hoth imports and exports for the twclvo months ending with May set new yearly records, imports being valued at $2,(100,000,000 and exports .at $0,183,000,000. Sovcnty-ono percent of the mer chandise entering in May came free of duty. For the twelve month pe riod the crcentage was GI1.3. Gold exports in May valued at $58,000,1100 were $0,000,000 greater than imports. Net gold imports for tho twelve months were valued at $770,000,000. TO BE SENT FRANCE WASHINGTON, Juno 23. The Red Cross wilt send an American com mission to Russia to work along nnd behind tho battle front, In the sumo way a similar commission Is to opcr ato in Vranro and Belgium. In that way ambulances anil other rollof for tho Russian army will be supplied. BANK CALL TO BE i WASHINGTON, Juno 2.1. The comptroller of the currency announc ed today that a call for reports on con dltlon of national banks will be Is sued within 4 8 hours. Thcso aro tho last reports to be made, computing reserves under the federal reserve act beforo Its recent amendment. FOR PROHIBITION m I INT PLACE IN OF Clear Margin Over New England More Than 80 Millions at Head quartersMonday Pershing Day When Appeal Will be Sent From France Campaign Into Next Week WASHINGTON, Juno 23 Third place in yesterday's contributions to tho great drive of the Red Cross for a hundred million humanity saving dollars was won by the western states with a cleat- margin of $210,000 over New England nnd only $1 1-1,000 less than tho middle Atlantic section. Hut in total contributions to ditto the west is still fourth, with only $82,- 000 necdvd to ovcrtako her New Eng land rivals. More than $57,500,000 had been re ceived in cont rihutioiis at headquar ters up to noon today and new pledges were being received by the thousnnd. While Monday is supposed to close tho formal campaign, scores of cities aro refusing to quit on that date but will continue Ihc campaign next week. Monday will he Pershing day. In announcing tho day the directors said: "This lied Cross money goes straight to help our gallant hoys, The appeal must go straight to the heart of every lover of his country. Twen ty millions yet needed to complete tho hundred million funds. We dare not fail in this, the greatest huinaiii tin inn opportunity in history." LIKELY TO BE DONE AT WASHINGTI WASHINGTON, Juno 21. Regu lations for drafting tho now national army now awaiting President Wilson's approval, contain provision for overy stop In tho great undertaking except tho actual method of tho draft Itself. No official announcement has bocn mado and official confirmation Ib be ing withheld but It has been stated that the federal government Itself will do tho drafting, probably hero In Washington so tbcro will bo no op portunity for local favorltlsms, po litical or otherwise As tho regulations stand now, overy registered ninn bears a number. The numbers will bo forwarded to Wash ington and tho drawing will bo onllro ly by number. Tho Identity of the numbered men will ho unknown to those In charge of tho draft machin ery and can bo established only by comparing a number with a printed list of tho man's homo district. The question of exemptions will go before tho local boards. If a man is exempted tho man benring tho num ber which was drawn noxt III order will tako his placo and so on until the first Increment of Ii2.r,000 has boon assembled. The others will ho called as the noed develops. It la hoped to have all tho men In training by Sep tember 1, GOVERNMENT TO I WASHINGTON, Juno 2.1. Secre tary Daniels told tho senate land com nilttee today that within a short time tho government must commandeer oil and coal supplies unless it can otli erwlso liisuru Its supply and fix prices Mr. Daniels urged legislation to de velop new oil fields, but protested against tho opening of tho naval ro servos in California and Wyoming. "Whatever you do, if this navy re- servo land must bo opened, bavo It opened ny 1110 government or some other neency, but. not by men who hold tltlo to It hy fraud," ho declared Pointing out tho needs for oil In the war, lie said tho wholo question had become whethor the needs of "Cali fornia ro superior to thoso of the nation." I I P CROSS SLAYER OF Alfredo Cocchi, Fugitive New York Motorcycle Dealer, Under Arrest In Italy, Abandons Pretense of Inno cence of Murder and Admits Guilt Jealousy Was Motive Became Furious When She Rebuffs Persist ent Attentions Signs Confession. (By Associntcd Press.) ' BOLOGNA, Juno 23. Alfredo Coc i, tho fugitive New York motorcycle denier, abandoned today his protons of innocence of the murder of Ruth Cruger nnd confessed his guilt. ' Jeal ousy was his motive. 11c was unable, he declared, to win her love; nnd be came furious when she rebuffed his persistent attentions. The admissions of tho yoiing Ital ian, whose escape tho New York po lice failed to prevent, were ruiulu in tears al'lcr searching interrogation by Judge Zueeoni uroko down Coc chi's reserve. Prior to this examina tion Cocchi had coolly and insistent ly maintained he had known Miss Cruger only two days beforo her dis appearance in February, when she went to bis shop to have her skates sharpened, nnd had declared bis eon duct toward her was entirely eorrect. Under Judge Zuccont's searching; questions today, however, Cocehi Jin ally burst into tears. Ho bocailie bo agitated as his confession fell halt ingly from his lips that the persons surrounding him believed lie was uooiu 10 nave an epnepuo lit. : -Tolls Complete Stoiy. He was granted time to recovor nnd then resumed the. story of how tho 18-yenr old Wudlcigh high school graduate met death at his' hands in tho building where her body was re cently unearthed from tho cellar. After milking up his mind to tell the truth Cocchi talked freely nnd without reserve, gave full details of his crime, including tho burial of Miss Ginger's body. After the confession had been completed the judgo direct ed I lie clerk to read to Cocchi tho written report of his deposition. Tho prisoner said it was correct nnd later signed it. On reluming to his cell Cocchi said to the prison utlcndanis: At last I feel relieved. I havo freed niycslf from n night maro which tortured my conscience. Now I havo told everything and I inn ready to suffer any penalty. Tin 11 to ICMradlto. NI'AV YORK, June 23. Willi tho announcement from Italy that Alfro do Cocchi had confessed to the mur der of Ruth Cruger, police efforts here turned today to tho problem of having the motorcycle dealer brought back to New York to face trial. District Attorney Swnnn nnnouneed that lie had conferred personally lero Inst night with Frank L. Polk, coun sellor of tho slate department, nnd was assured the United Stales would exert every energy to havo Cocchi returned to this country. Thi authorities are working on tho theory Hint Cocchi bad accomplices, both in the commission of the crinin and in connection with his escnpo from this country after eluding in vestigators. Killed by lllow 11ml Stub. Ruth Cruger's mutilated body was (Continued on pago six.) E SEIZE 'S WASHINGTON June 23. Tho po lice quickly blocked another ntlunpt today by suffragists to display a ban ner in front of the White House gates. Mrs. Lawrence Lewis of Philadel phia and Miss Gladys Grcincr of Bal timore, who carried Ihc banner, wore arcsli'il before they had it entirely unfurled, by 11 police matron, nnd taken to headquarters in a Wailing police 11 utomobile. The banner curried a quotation of one of President Wilson's books. RUTH CRUGER S
