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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 1917)
University ef Ore-ion H Library . , , , TTEATITET? Maxlimun ycsTcvclay, 90; minimum f ofay, 52. FORECAST Toniglit and tomorrow, fair. iMBUNE tt r f Forty-aeventh Tear. Dally Twelfth Yanr. MEDFORD. OREGON; WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1"), 1917 NO. 124 BRITISH BATTLE FO H it -H(WSl "TO KT . . . "TT 1ST i i i ra-irv - m v am ar iwi E ATCOALCJTY f First Line Trenches From Lens to . .Loos Captured Hill 70, Com manding Lens, Taken Satisfac tory Progress Made at All Points French Attack Near Coast in Vi finity of Dixmude and Meet With Success. 'British front in France AND 1SELGICM, Aug. 1".. Consid erable numbers of German prisoners arc beginning lo arrive in the eol lectiun depots. The now British .front bus been established nn .a tri angular lino like u pair of shears whose points are to 1 lie torlh and south of Ix'iis. This afternoon British and Ger mans wore in close f;ripei in the wes tern part of the city of Lens itself, ilpliivinsr t he brilliant morning ad vance whereby the Canadians eap tnred Hill 70 and then swept on northwest of Lens. 1 The British and French returned tt the attack in northern France and Belgium last night and preliminary .reports indicate that they have won Fcousldcrable success. The principal blow was struck by the British on a front of about 4 000 yards from the northwestern outskirts of Lous to the Bofs Hugo n.orthoast of Loos. Gen eral Huig announces that his troops carried the German first lines at all 'points and are 'making satisfactory progress. Hill 70, a German strong hold, northwest of I.ens, which doini- nates tho city, has been stormed by the Canadians. . Closing in nn Lens. Since the beginning of the attack on the Northern cud of tho Frunco- Uelgiau line the Canadians have been i,maklng steady progress around I.ens, driving slowly into "the outskirts of this important and bitterly disputed (mining center. The now all ark on ptVjf front immediately north of I.ens, evidently is designed to close around itho city from the north, if success ful, this operation may compel the Germans to evacuate the (own wit h ioiit a direct attack on It, with tho .heavy sacrifices such a move probably fwould involve. fcjf The French attack was made near Wic coast, In the vicinity of Dixmude. The official communication from turis reports good progress west of (Continued on page- six ) RMY SEEKS 10 PLACE RIGHT MAN IN RIGHT PLACE it I WASHINGTON', An?. .. Army ticers who will organize the iin- jonul army divisions face the task mnking the best possible use of nt' ii selected for duly by the local bj'.irds. Anion? litem will be highly Kuincd individuals, specialists in Mrticulur lines and efficient me chanics. It is I lie intention of the pnir department to net the maximum advantage for Ihe nation out of each Uun's sH'cial (nullifications anil his previous occupation will be carefully Mnsiilcrcd in nssigning him to duty, ja During the monlhs of training al Hue cantonments n process of shift ing and transfer wit, ensue, (is men itc sorted out. One man will be ns iV't'i'd to transport trains because of Ms special knowledge of horses or tlilor trucks; another to hospital Wi-rk because of previous training in M: 1 1 line of work; another to aviation tt' iiusp he has worked with gas cu llies; still another to the artillery M'tiiisc he shows special ability in wit live or his "civil occupation has mcd his sight and haiiiis. m SUCCESSFUL HILL 70 IN BY CANADIANS WITH BAYONETS In Battle of Lens, Which Began at Daybreak, Canadians Storm Cita del Commanding Lens Defenses and Considered ' Impregnable Last Dominating. Position. CANADIAN ARMY HUADQCAR TICK'S IN' FRANCE, Aug. 15. In the battle of r.ens, which began at day break this morning, the Canadians have once more made a splendid and successful attack upon the Germans Early reports indicate that tho Ger mans first and support lines along a front of 4000 yards, extending front the environs of I.ens lo the chalk pits 1511(1 yards south of Jlullucli, huvo been carried by storm. The assault ing waves included men from, all parts of Ihe Dominion. Won by Canadians. . rSRITISH FRONT IN" FRANCE AND BELGIUM, Aug. 15. Hill 70, the famous German stronghold, northwest of the French mining city of Lens, which dominates the city and the Loos salient, was captured this morning by the Canadian forces. The British also pushed their lilies into the northwestern environs of Lens in a semi-circle around the eastern side of Hill 70. The British nl tack was made on a lOOII-yard front al an extreme depth of 10011 yards. . Beginning at a point just above Hugo wood, the new British iiositions now run southeast and beyond Hill 70 toward Lens. The ' line then bends southwest and encircles the suburbs of St. Laurent and St. F.m ilie. - Guns Pound for Days. The liritish guns had been pound ing for days at Hill 70, which the Germans considered impregnable. The infantry attack began n't 4:'J o'clock Ibis morning. The capture of Hill 70 ranks in importance with the biggest military operations of this year. It was the last dominating position in this section which re mained in lite hands of lite Germans, and from it a wide territory can he controlled. Hill 70 is to Lens and Ihe Loos sal ient what Messines is to Ypres, and in some ways it is even a more envi able position than the Messines .ridge, because even alter the fall of Messines the Germans slill retained llilkem ridge, from which they could sweep the country surrounding Ypres. Germans Prepared. Hill 70 was bombarded with gnus of all calibers, which worked havoc among the Gcrinitu defenses on the rest of Ibis eminence. The Germans undoubtedly prepared for Ihe allack ns fully as possible, as there is no question that they were aware it was impending. It was just twenty-five minutes past 4 o'clock when Ihe British guns dropped n protecting barrage before the Canadian trenches and the troops leaped over the parapet for the charge. Details of the fighting are not yet available, but the troops swept forward with the invincible precision which bus characterized the latest work of the great British fighting machine. 10 IS ARRESTED SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 15 William Alexander, who told the po lice he was ft constructing engineer, was arrested early today in n hotel here on a telegraphic warrant from the sheriff of Sunla Clara county, charging him with having passed bad checks in San dose. Ilc,suid he mis well known in Portland, Or. His explanation was that lie did not know his personal account had b'n over drawn, and that the amount involved wus less than $JU. GREAT What Is Edison Rumor That Inventor Has Perfected Method of Solving U-Boat Problem Westinghouse Plant Is Secretly Building Contrivance Under Edi son's Direction. ORANGE, N. J., Aug. 15. Here Is the wonderful war mystery! More thrilling than trench capture! More important than wheat! More romantic than air duels! More en grossing than these and all the rest, becauso it is still a mystery. What is tho mysterious secret in vention Edison, America's wizard, has perfected to destroy the U-boats. This Is the big question mark of the entire world war. " Here are the facts: Stimimiry of FnctA. 1. Almost a year ago It was widely announced that America's electric ge nius had a marvelous scheme by which electric rays would set of ex plosives at great distance. 2. Sovoral months ago a prominent member of the naval consulting board of experts announced American in ventive genius was about to turn against Germany a mysterious de structive agent that would rid the sea of U-boats. 3. July 14 Edison himself, In one of his rare statements, issued to bis subordinates, said cryptically: "We now have all the rebellious elements under control. Today will be remem bered as the time when we Temoved the last jinx from the record." 4. July 20, the navy department permitted the announcement that a device to detect; TMioats ten 'utiles1- away wus nearly perfected. Government Silent, 5. A high government officer said only a few days ago that Edison hud just completed a task that would make him thoi greatest man lu the world. 6. Tho Westinghouse company, leading makers of electric appliances, is enlisting 1000 men willing to be absolutely locked in from the outside world, holding , no communication with it, for ten months, making "war munitions." 7. Kdlson, whlto-halred, had been working for months, 1G, IS, 20 hours a day, in a veritable frenzied debauch of sleepless night and days, on the siibmarlno problem before he made his electrifying announcement. 8. iNto government official will ay a word. INow what is the conclusion? Conclusion Guessed. 1. Was the announcement of the new rays of remarkable power some body's dream? 2. Was the naval consulting board expert olther a liar or a muniac? Tho board Is not mndo up of that kind of men. Furthermore, his statement was not denied. 3. Did Kdlson boast wildly when he said ho had solved the lust war puzzle? Well you can number 100 magical Inventions from Kdlson's brain. Can you number one boast? 4. Was the navy department talk ing thru its hat when It said U-boats were unmasked ten miles away? 5. Is the hlh government official who said Edison had finished a Job that would "make him the world's greatest man" crazy? 6. ' Is the Westinghouse company turning Itself into a prison because It believes that will attract lubor la the"se times of labor shortage? Wonderful My.lTy. 7. Why doesn't pomo high official put these speculations to rest by an official denial of them all? Isn't It plain thai, Instead of moro than tho facts being revealed, thoro exist moro tacts than have even been hinted at? Jules Verne predicted the U-boat. John P. Holland built it. II. G. Wells In his "War of the Worlds" told bow the Invading In habitants of Mars used against the earth folk a powerful light ray that burned everything In tho path It swept. Is Kdlson, thru a WestlnKhoiiso made machine, to turn this light ray on the German sharkB? The wonderful war mystery Is the most gripping war thought today. Iv will be the greatest world news Item tomorrow. WAR MYSTERY Working on Day and Night? r W W IP 1:3 jtf'A i nirr-K u l, n m Vkiitv. ff oiiiir Mm- I. W. W. ORDERS Wit' "GENERAL STRIKE Walk Out August 20 Unless Demands Are Complied With in Four States Demand Release of All Class War Prisoners, Ten-Hour Day in Harvest Fields and No Interference SI'OKANIVAiig. 15. Unless five specific demands arc granled by Au gust lid, the Industrial Workers of the World will call a general strike in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, according t,o u statement today by James Rowan, district sec retary of the organization. The cull for a general strike is ad dressed lo all construction and har vest workers. Rowan said Ihe gov ernors of Washington, Idaho, Mon tana, and Oregon have been notified of the cull for a strike, unless their demands arc grunlcd. The demands are ns follows: All class war pri.-oncrs must be re leased. A ten-hour day in the liarvcsl fields. Bctler sanitary conditions'. N'o discrimination against union men for being such. I ii ion halls in u -1 be allowed to conduct let-itiiaatc business of organ izing workers without interference from commercial clubs, "yigilunles or corporation-controlled public of ficials." The cull for a -.Iriko recites Unit for "the last lew weeks n systematic pcr-ci'iilion has 1 u carried on agaiusf ourameuibcrs. Hulls have been closed, tier lueinbers have been arrested by hundreds and thrown into jails ami held there without trial and without any clntrL'i'-i being preferred ngainsl them. The treatment accord ed our fellow workers in these places is nothing short of barbarous," The lynching of Frank Lillle, an I. W. W. lueiilber, in Untie, is cited lis an example of Ihe "ladies that lire iidvocaleil against us by Ihe master class." l'ARIS, Aug. 15. Six persons were killed and nine others were wounded when strikers clashed yes terday with sol.li-Ts at Barcelona, according lo a statement issued by the Spanish cupl-iiti-gcncral nnd received hem by the l'clit I'arisicii. Thomas A. Ivdlson at work In Ills lalxicatoiy at, Orange, X. J. ltelow is Sccrctavy Daniels of tho l nltcil Slates navy giving Ivdlson a congratulatory handshake for what? LONDON, Aug. IT,. American troops murched thru London today. They were reviewed by Ambassador I'ago and Jatcr by King George at Buckingham palace. Great crowds lin ed tho streets, which were decorated profusely with American and British flags. Knthusiasm was shown every where. The Americans were cheered by civilians, by soldiers on their way to the front and by wounded men. A cublnct meeting, In progress when Hie Americans upproachcr Whitehall, was adjourned lo permit the premier mid his colleagues to pay their coiupllmeiiiH lo Ihu Americans. The cublnct went In a body lo the war office. As the Americans passed tho Horse Guards purudo lo Whitehall, they were greeted from the windows of the war office by Premier Lloyd-George, Foreign Secretary Balfour, Chancel lor l.oiinr-I.aw, Wor Secretary Derby, Winston Spencer Churchill, minister of munitions, Sir Ocorge N. Barnes, member of the war council; Admiral Jclllcoo li ml other high officials, as well as by French and Belgian offi cials, The evening newspaper; say that for a parallel to Ihe scenes witnessed today In the neighborhood of Trafal gar S(ii;ire, It proh-ihly would be nec essary to recall llirtlme of the South African war mm the return home of the troops. FORMER CZAR AND HI FAMILY SIBERIAN EXILES Ex-Emperor Nicholas, Wife and Chil dren Secretly Removed From Pal ace at Tsarkoe-Selo and Shipped for Unknown Destination, Report ed to Be Tobolsk, Siberia. I'ETRO(IRAI), Aug. 15. The semi-official Russian News Agency announced tonight that Former Em peror Nicholns nnd his family were removed today from the palace nt Tsarkoo-Selo mid that it was report ed they were being transported to Tobolsk, Siberia Tobolsk is an out-of-the-way town of western Siberia, far from the railroad and visited only by steniu ers which ply Ihe Irlysh river. In former times it was an administrat ive ccnler for exiles banished to Si beria by the Russian rulers. It is a city of something moro than .20,000 inhabitants. Tho climate is extreme ly severe in wilder. I'ETROGHAI), Aug. 15. Nicholas Romanoff, tho deposed Russian em peror, and the members of his fam ily wore spirited away under cir cumstances of extreme mystery early yeslcrday morning from Tsarkoe Selo to an unknown dcstiimlion, which the provisional government firmly refuses lo reveal. " None Nmv lciarlure. No one except Ihe local mililary and officials specially sent from l'et- rograd witnessed the departure, and according lo a slaleiuent miide to the Associated Press by N. V. Nckru soff, vice-president of Hie council of ministers, Iho account published in too only newspaper Unit reported llic iiffair was imaginary. It appears that the plan was to re move Nicholas before dawn, but the train arrived lit Tsarkoe-Selo sev eral hours late. Instead of Iho gorg eous imperial train in which Nicholas was taken lo the Tsarkoe-Selo from Mohilev in Murch, an ordinary train composed of three sleeping curs, n liming cur and several third-class coaches was sent. A second train was assigned lo lake the baggage and servants, filly of whom 1 ompuiiied the ex-einperor anil his fumily into exile, Nicholus was very depressed in appearance, but ex-Empress Alex andra, who was seen wnlking for the first time in monlhs, seemed lively and pleased at Ihe prospect of ii change in surroundings. I'ETROGHAI), Aug. 15. Former Emperor NichohtH mid his fumily nro being transferred lo another point. They were removed in mi ordinary Irain iuMcnd of Ihe gorgeous imper ial train on which Nicholas was brought lo Ihe pali The former emperor appeared to bo much de pressed. Former Empress Alcxiindra clued to be pleased ut Ihu prospect of a change. M. Nekrnsoff, vice premier, said today Hint the removal of Nicholas .was decided on after n series of secret ses-ions held by the council of Ministers on Monday. The motives of Hie niiiiislcr, he said, arc political ami military. It was decid ed to gel Nicholas oul of the wnv be fore cireiiiusliiiiccs arose making it dil'lieull. When Ihe . former czar renehes his dcsliiialion Ihe fuel will be ahnoiinrcd. The pro, i -i, aim I government today formally refused lo reveal the dcs. tiiiulion of Ihe former imperial fam ily. WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.--Tearing of Manners from Ihe nilfrago pick els of the woman's party al Ihe while house gales and attacks upon Ihe parly headiuartcrs at l.a Fayette park, across the way, cotiliuncd to day. G I nalnreil, hut dclermincd, crowds tore down Ihe banners as fast us lliey appeared. UNCLE SAM TO PURCHASE WIIEATCROP Hoover Forms Fifty Million Dollar Corporation to Purchase Enough of 1917 Wheat Crop to Stabilize Prices Agencies to Be Opened at All Principal Wheat Terminals No Commission to Be Charged Ex cept to Cover Cost of Operation. WASHINGTON, Aug. 15. Gov- eminent purchase ot enough of tho 1017 wheat crop to stabilize prices in Iho United States was forecast in tho lormalion today or n $50,000,000 corporation by Hie food ndniinislrii lion. The intention is lo I'.iko over the entire harvest if necessary to niahilain fair prices. "The ecrjiir.i t'on will iniike all allied parchns-s of wheat and flour and thus will stabil ize prices to the allies. The food ndminislralion tvill open agencies at nil tho principal whent terminals, currying on Hi trnnsac lions willi the usual dealers. No commission chargo will be made x ccpt to cover eosls of opjrulion. The price to he paid for wheat will lio1 fixed by u eoinmitiee under the grain division, headed by President Giu lield of Williams college. This price is lo bo muinlaiiicd in private n.i well us toveriiiucnl Iriiiisuclions, The corporation will be put under Ihe gruin division of the food ad ministration and its executive offi cers will be the siiinu as Iho officsrs of this division, whose names wero announced loday as follows; Herbert Hoover, chairman; Julius Uurnes. Duluth. president: Gates W. McOarruh, New York, treasurer; F. G. Crowell, Kansas City, vice-president; Edward Chambers, Chicago, transportation dlroctor; furtls II. Llndley, San Francisco, counsel; J. W. Shortblll, York, Nebraska, secre tary, i Prico Fixing Hoard. ' " ' The personnel of the wheat prlee fixing commission was announced an follows: t Honry A. Garfield, president of Williams college, chairman; Charles J. Barrett, Union City. Ga.. Drosldent of tho Farmers' Union; William D. Doak, Roanoke, Va., vlco-preslent of tho Brothorhood of Railroad Train men; Eugene 13. Funk, Bloomlngton, 111., president of the National Corn association ; Kdaward F. Ladd, Forgo. N. I)., president of tho North Dakota Agricultural College; It. Goodwin Ithott, Charleston, S. C president of the (Chamber of Commerce of tho Uni ted Slates; J. W. horlhl, York, Neb., secretary of the National Coun cil of Farmers' Co-operutlvo associa tion: James W. Sullivan. Brooklvn. N. Y., of tho American Federation of (Continued on page four.) E BERLIN, Aug. 15. Anstro-Clor-nn forces in the lowlands of tho Scrclh river, on the Ruinaniiin front, vcslcrdiiv stormed the briilcebcnd nt. llalliirclu, on Ihe west bank of the river, according to Ihe official stnlc incnt issued todav bv Iho German general stall'. The Russians and Ru manians lost on the Scroti) nnd in t lie moiiulains, the slaleniciit udds, mote than .'ItlllO prisoners. Troops under Field Marshal von Mackcnscn arc pursuing the retreat ing Riisso-Ruiuaniuu forces in tho mountain land on both sides of tho river Piilna. On the fringo in Iho mountains the Teulons vestordiiv captured Slraoani, northwest I'mil.iu. of
