Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, August 24, 1917, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., August 24, 1917, Page 1, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextUr.l csity of Oregon X Lilirary X 1 YTESTEl? Maximum ycslcrclay, 103; minimum TocIay,-B f ). K)RECAST Toirijrlit anil 'tomorrow, fair. -n- rm IRIBUNE Torty-aeventh Tear. Dally Twelfth Year. MEDFORD. OREGON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1917 NO. 132 1270 SHIPS OF STEXAS LIKELY COSTING BILLION TF-imrvTrvTrh-irv lu M A it UKJU 1V1A1 NEGISOUIID imtcvaoiiii NEGROTROOPSIN INCH WIN AMERICA LOANS IS. HEY QTRnWPMni n RUSSIA CREDIT remains in jail V $100,000,000 FOR NEW TRIAL MONTANA 7,969,000 IONS SMELTERS 111 ILAHO imlli it N Colored Soldiers of Twenty-fourth Infantry Mutiny, Slay Captain and Shoot Up Houston as Result of Li. Trouble With Police Every White Man Seen Is Shot At Over Hun dred Soldiers' Still Missing Situ ation Now Under Control. ' HOUSTON, Tex., An;;. 21 The death list rosiiltini; from rioting of negro soldiers of the Twonty-fourlh infantry last pirht reached seventeen this afternoon when 11. A. Thompson of Hempstead, Tex., succumbed to bullet wounds he received when the negroes fired into his automobile. HOUSTON, Tex., Aug. 2-1. More than 100 negro soldiers of the twn companies of the Twenty-fourth in fantry whieh engaged in u riot Iasl night and caused the death of six teen and file wounding ol more than a score of iiersoits 'are being sought today by strong patrols of regular! and Illinois national guardsmen un day the command of General John A. laden, governor of the city, now un der martial law. ' Three companies of coast nrtillery regulars from Fort Crockett rem forced the 1000 or more Illinois guardsmen today, and order, whicii was restored early this morning is being maintained. lioll call thi morning by Major Snow, in command of the battalion of negroes, develo ed J2;i men were absent. Eighteen of these have surrendered and oth crs are being rounded up by the mil itary patrols as the search of the ne gro district progresses. Under military law, it is stated soldiers may he shot for having tuu tinied and fired on their officers. Martial lnv Declared. Martial law was declared by Gov ernor James E. Ferguson, effective in Houston nnd vicinity ut 1 o'clock this morning. All Texas guardsmen have been federalized, howuvcr, and none now are at his direct command Early today nearly all the negro troops were, in their camp under I "fcicuvy guard. Seventy still were un accounted for. Those in barracks iiowever, were said by one of their high officers to he in an ugly mood The trouble is said to have been begun late yesterday alter some of the negro soldiers hud compluined of treatment accorded them by mem bers of the Houston police force About 9 o clock last night some eighty negroes, later being joined by others, formed at their camp and be gan a march toward downtown Houston. Lights in residences along the way were shot out and a niiiubc of persons wounded as they sat in side their houses. , Crowds of Houston men, with nil armed Texas guardsmen here started for the camp, but slopped when an finny officer mounted an aiitomoblt nnd addressed them. Major K. S. Snow, cotumundin the negro troops guarding Camp l.o gall, early today declared that he attempted to control the men wh he sow what was about to happen, "but they were beyond control itu some loU ot I Hem started to snool promiscuously in the camp and soon scattered in every direction. Mst of the, Killed. The dead: Irn I). Hainey, mounted police of ficcr; Rufe Daniels, mounted polo officer; middle-aged man name (Continued on page six ) LONDON, Aug. 2 4. Bombing at tacks were carried out yesterday I morning by the royal naval service on the following military objectives In Belgium: Mlddelkerke Dump, Ita versyde Dump un! Houttavo aero drome. The admiralty which makes the announcement snys that many tons of bombs were dropped. All the machines and pilots returned sufc- In". War Department Investigating Hous ton Riots Situation Under Con trolTexas Senator Asks Removal of Colored Forces From State, Ex cept Those Native Born. WASHINGTON, Aug. 24. Senator Shepiiurd ot Texas, after a confer ence with Secretary Baker today an nounced that the negro troops con cerned In the rioting at Houston ould he removed from Toxas Imme diately. .liter Secretary Baker after read- l.ig first official reports announced lint ho could take no action ot any itind until the affair had been inves tigated fully. Secretary Baker also said that the Houston affair (lid not affect tho pot icy of training negro troops In the south. It is within the jurisdiction of the ominander of tho southern depart ment to move the troops to any other p hit In his territory without orders from Washington. KKiiation I'mler Control. Reports from Major General Park er, commanding the southern depart ment, said the situation was under control, and that no further rioting was feared. Secretary Baker did not say wheth er the withdrawal ot the 2 4th Infan try detachment from Texas forecast a new policy which would keep negro troops out of southorn states. Sena tor Shoppard said he would ask that no negro troops except those of Texas origin ho sent into Toxas for train ing. . 'Official reports on tho troop riot lug at Houston began arriving at tho war department early today and wore hurried to Secretary Bakor as fast as they came In. They were coming from tho commanding general ot the southern department whoso investi gation possibly may bo supplemented by a special Inquiry by the inspector general of the army as the affair Is regarded as most Berlous, particularly in view of tho fact that the negro troops concerned wero regulars and not national guardsmen or drafted troops new to regular army disci pline. I.iku Bnwnsvlllo Case. The similarity of the occurrence to tho celebrated Brownsville rioting as the result of which President Koose velt summarily dismissed two battal ions of negro troops Is marked and officials indicato that the affair -will ho Investigated just as thoroly and dealt with as vigorously as Its nature demands. They realize that It accen tuates tho delicate question of mo bilizing negro troops In the south, against which protosts have been coming from the states and which has confronted tho wnr department with a very embarrassing situation WASHINGTON, Aug. 24. Thn first break in the food embargo to European neutrals came today on conditions imposed by the I'nitcd Stales. I'mler agreement to furnish sonic of the cargoes for ndief of Belgians, the government will permit n score of Dutch grain ships to carry their cargoes to Holland. In reliirn for the privilege of being permitted to import 270,000 bushels of rye of the 1017 crop from the I'nitcd Slates, Sweden today sold the Belgian relief commission ut cost (ioo.ooo bushels of grain now American elevators. Arrangements lor its tninsMirtation were made at once. FOREST FIRES DESTROY PHONE LINES IN DOUGLAS CAXYOXVll.l.E, Or., Aug. 21. Forest tin's la-t night . dest roved pole carrying overland wires of tin Pacific Telephone company for . a di-lnnce of a quarter of n mile near here. Repairs were in progress today. Gooverrunent's Shipbuilding Program Calls for Enormous Fleet, in Addi tion to Ships of Two Million Ton nage Commandeered and Under Construction at Yards.' WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 The government's shipbuilding; program calls for a total of 1270' ships ol 7,IHi!),0()0 tonnage, it was revealed today in estimates the shipping hoard has sent to Secretary MeAdoo on which to base a request for u new billion dollar appropriation. Two Million Tons More. This is in addition to nearly two million tons of shipping now building in American yurds which has been commandeered by the emergency fleet corporation. A large part of the government fleet and of the com mandeered fleet will have been com pleted by the end of Hie fiscal year, June 311, 11)18. Building, comman deering and purchases of vessels will total ahu ll two billion dollars. Es timates of the. entire cost of con st ruction are given as follows: . Contracts already let, 135 ships of 1,0111,200 tons, $285,000,000; eon tracts ready to let, 452 ships of 2,008,000 tons, $455,500,000: under negotiations, 237 ships of 1,281,000 tons, $ 94,000,000; 150 miscellaneous vessels of 1,800,000 tons, $300,000, 000; construction of 'government owned fabricating yards, $35,000, 000. Billion is Asked. Commandeering will cost $15,000,- 000 and the pnrchuso of ships $150, 000,000. The board already has to ecived for construction $550,000,000 and Tor eoiumuiideoriiig $250,000,000 The board now desires from -con gress authorization to spend for construction $710,500,000; for com mandeering, $2(15,000,000 . and for purchuso $150,000,000. The appro priatiun asked to carry . the board thru the fiscal year is divided as follows: Huilding, $400,000,000; commiin deering, $205,000,000, and purchases $150,000,000. LI I WASHINGTON, Aug. 24. A sharp division of opinion has developed among government officials as to the final disposition of foreign merchant vessels now . building in American shipyards. All foreign, as well as American ships of more than 2500 tons under construction, were commandeered few weeks ago by the emergency fleet corporation to speed up their con structibn. The shipping act, recently passed, gives the government author ity to retain the tonnage after Its completion. Great Britain Is protesting vigor ously against retention of about 1, 000,000 tons of ships building for British Interests and negotiations arc proceeding between the state depart ment and the British foreign office regarding their disposal. Neutral countries, too, are Insistent that their vessels he turned over to them when completed. Some officials of the state depart meat, It Is snld, favor at leant raising the embargo on British tonnage on Its completion. The I'nitcd States, they hold, can spare the ships, as they would he put Into the trades most needed for the conduct ot the war. LONDON", Aug. 21. Telegrams ro ceived here from Home say Hint prominent jicrsons at the Vatican in tcrproling the papal ience note as serf that Pope Itoncdift believes nn indemnily is necessary for the res toration of Belgium and northern France, and also that the mW lakes the view that restoration of Serbia is osscntiul, hut did not mention it in his note as he lieheved the wholi Balkan question could he dealt with more effectively by ncgoliution as sejiunitc problem. hi venuun In Brilliant Attack, Hill 304, Cam ard Wood and Fortified Works Are Captured From Germans French Now Masters of All Important Points Italians Take 30,000 Pris oners and Continue Advance- Canadians Battle for Lens. 4 LONDON. An.r 24. Thn British, French, Italians and Russians have captured 107, 780 war prisoners since April I), when the 1017 campaign opened, according to a statement issued bv the British win' ilciinrf meat. tliis evening. - PARIS, Aug. 24. The French made an attack this morning on tho left bank of the MVmisu, between Av- ocourt wood and Dead Man hill. The war office announces the capture of Mill 304, Cumard wood and the forti fied works between llnucourt wood and liethineourt. The French guined more than their objectives, advanc ing to un average depth of two kilo meters (one and one-quarter miles). An nttael; by. the French east of the road between Esnes and Bcthin- court enabled them to enlarge their positions north of Dead Man's hill to the extent of a kilometer. The French are now masters of all the important, points on, .the Verdun front which they held before the he- intiing of the great German attack last year. Italians Capture, 110,000. HOME, Aug. 24. The war office reports that tho battle on Hie Isonzo front continues nnd that about sixty guns have been captured. General Cadorna announces thai tile Italians yesterday stormed new Austrian positions, broke up violent counter-attacks mndo by the enemy and took n large number of Austro- Ilungarian prisoners. - Wore than 20,000 prisoners, the war office statement says, have been removed from the Aiistro-Itulian front by the Italians. Fighting at Iens. LONDON, Aug. 24. Heavy fight- ing was kept up Ihruout the night south of Lens, the war office an nounces. The British now hold Gcr man trenches immediately northwest of the bitterly disputed Green Gras sier. Portuguese troops repulsed German raiders at two points in the region of La ' Bassee. Esiecially heavy losses have been inflicted on the Germans. Heavy artillery fight ing continues nroiind Ypres, where the British huve improved their posi tions and successfully withstood counter-attacks. CfcTmans Admit Txisses. BERLIN, via London, Aug. 24 The evacuation by the Germans of Hill 304, the famous stronghold on the Verdun front, is announced by the wnr office. It is said a weak garrison wns left there. Troops under Prince Leopold of Bavaria, advancing on I lie Russian city of Riga, have reached the River Aa at some places on the Gulf ol Hign coast, the German general staff announced todny. The German general staff reports thai the British lost twenty-one tanks during futile fighting on Wed nesday. Somo of Hie occupants were made prisoner. (Continued on page six.) LONDON Aug. 24. A Berlin dis patch received via CopenhUKcn says It Is understood that Dr. MlchaollB the German Imperial chancellor, and various parties in the relchstag arc negotiating with a view to summon Ing their leading representatives to a conference for the consideration of Important questions, Full Confidence in Russian Govern ment Expressed by State Depart ment Late Dlspr.ches Create a Feeling of Optimism, Declares Lansing Government Stronger. WASHINGTON, Aug. 24. An other credit of $100,000,000 to Rus sia was made today by the American government. 'This brings the lolul of credits ex tended to the Russian government to $275,000,000. Ambassador Bakliuieteff, in con ferences with Secretary MeAdoo, pointed out the necessity of render ing aid speedily so that needed sup plies might he sent to Russia before the closing of her ports by ice. Stmie of Hie money probably will ho used to purchase railway supplies and equipment in this country. Complete confidence in t ho new Russian government wns expressed today -by the stnte department this alternuon. Secretary Lansing denied that news from Russia has caused this government to hike n pessimistic view of the situation, declaring that instead of Micro prevailing a feeling of pessimism, quite the contrary had been created by tho confidential dis patches that have been received. "I regard the government of Rus sia ns stronger todny thnn it has been for a month," he said. "I mean in general," lie added, "both from political and military points of view." E WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 Gov ernment control of the coal industry was nnide almost completo when President Wilson named Dr. H. A. Garfield, president .of Williams col lege, fuel administrator, fixed an thracite prices for producers and jobbers unci set u limit on profits to be adopted by bituminous wholesal ers. The next and finnl step will be to make regulations for coal distribu tion and to fix anthracite and bitum inous retail prices. This will bo done when a distribution program is per fected und when the federal trade commission has completed a plan un der which retail profits may be fixed. The anthracite prices fixed for September 1 virtually are the same as those now charged at Hie mines under a voluntary arrangement made by producers will) the trade commis sion. The prices that may be charged by jobbers, Iiowever, will reduce preselit cosls shurplv. Bituminous jobbers' profits, too, will be cut by the new price scule set for wholesale Iransactions. PLAN 10 SPEED UP CHICAGO, Aug. 24. Governors and representatives of slate councils of dclense of nine stales met here today and decided on a vigorous campaign to stimulate coal produc tion and distribution. Those ut the meeting explained Jhut the prices fixed by President Wilson were "very liberal to the operators." To see Hint Hie fanning districts of the northwest, now threatened with a coal famine, get n sufficient supply of fuel, it was decided to 11 President Wilson to have the recent priority shipment order amended so as lo insure a hundred per cent I f i ciency in Hie delivery from the car ners, bolh lake ami rail, hi order to co-operalc with Hie government in its handling of Hie fuel problem, committee was appointed consisting of a representative from each state to handle, ill conjunction with Wash ington, all production, price and transportation problems which I1I11V arise. Judge Dunne Denies Recently Ac quitted Woman Free'dom on Bail Six Indictments Still to Be Tried Acquitted of Killing; One Out of Ten Murdered by Bomb. . SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 24. Mrs, Rena Mooney, recently acquitted here of one of nine indictments charging murder growing out. of a bomb ex plosion lust summer, was denied lib erty on bail today by Superior Judge Frank H. 1)1111111'; Two other superior court judges had agreed to accept bail on the six indictments pending before, them. Judge Dunne's decision means thai Mrs. Mooney must remain on in jail where she lias been con l ined since the explosion of July 22, 1010, which killed ten persons. She will ho tried again later on one of the remniuiiig indict incuts. Court's .Statement. In his decision Judgo Dunne said: "This woman is licensed of the murder ol ten people. Slio has been acquitted for one of (hese murders. lh,ero are eight indictments remain ing against her. 1 do not believe tho contention of counsel for tho defense has any merit." Arguments for her liberty on bail were based principally 011 the grounds of her acquittal and allegations Hint the district attorney hud 110 new evi dence against her. Tho enso of Frank C. Oxman eburged with ultcinpted subornation ot perjury in connection with Hie trial of Thomas J. Mooney, a bomb defendant, was continued until nexl Monday to be set for trial. COPENHAGEN, Aug. 24. Eng. land, the arch enemy of Gerinuny, must bo beaten down at whatsoever osl, Emperor William (old his troops while on 11 visit to the Flanders front on Wednesday, An official stale men!, issued in Berlin siivs'lhe cm peror addressed deputations from all detachments which have hail a share in meeting tho British attacks. He said he fell impelled to express his thitiiks and his full recognition of the heroic gnllunlry shown by (roups from all purls of Germany in Hie hard fighting of the lust week. The emperor referred lo the marked con trast between the Gcrmim and Anglo French points ol view, and contin ued : "It is God's hands when in ilis wis dom lie will give us victory. He ha luuglit our iiiiuy a hard lesson anil now we lire going lo pass the exam ination. Willi the old Gcrmim ciinl'i dence in flocl we shall show what w can do. The grealer and mightier Hie problem the more glndlv we sha grapple with it and solve it. Wo sliull fight und conquer until the enemy has had enough of these struggles "All Germuns have realized who is Hie instigator of this war and who is the chief enemy England. Every one knows England is our most spite fill adversary. She spreads the hat red of Germany over the whole world filling her allies with hatred ami eagerness lo fight. Thus everyone at home knows what vou know still heller, that England is particularly the enemy lo be struck down, how ever difficult il may be. Your rein lics at home who, too, have made great sacrifices, thank you thru 1110 "A difficult struggle lies iiheml of us. England, proud of her stubborn resistance, believes in her invlneibil ily, but you will show Hint you r achieve slill greater things, for the prize of (he war is Hie Gcnnnii peo pie's freedom to live freedom at sea and freedom at home. With God': help we shall see Hie si niggle Him and be victorious. ' NEW YORK, Aug. 21. -All mem hers of Ihe crew of Hie submarine steamer Devonian were saved, ni cording to todays ndxiees lo the stale department. In tin' crew were sixty-five Americans, I Dill Strikers Force Shutting Down of Copper Mines and Smelters at Butte and Great Falls Other Mines Forced to Close and Copper Output Ceases Action Due to Radicals Among Unions. BUTTE, Mont., Aug. 24. It was announced at tho offices of the Ana conda Copper Mining company today that Its mines here and Its smelter In Anaconda will bo closed today be cause of luhor troubles at Anaconda. Because ot tho strike of smelter- men at the Washoe works at Anacon da, the Anaconda Copper company to day announced a general shutdown ot Its properties In this state. All the mines of the company will be closed down, together with the smel ters at Anaconda and Great Falls. Other mines thut depend upon these smelters will bo compelled lo close down. Altogether a total of more than IS, 000 mun will he directly af fected. The day sill ft will be em ployed as usual at the Butte mines, but no miners will be employed to night except pumpmen. Fires are be ing drawn and furnaces tapped at Anaconda. The Great Falls smelters will continue to operate until the ores In transit hnvo been disposed of. The smeltor at Great Falls also closed. . Dim to ltndiculs. ,'.' Today's developments follow the action of the radicals In the mill and smultcrmeu's union who . unnouuged their hit en t Ion 011 Wednesday night to hrenk away from the union and go . on strike. Those men wero led by Tom Campbell and others of. the motal mlno workors union of Butte. Tho smeltormen's union had pre viously voted against a strike. A small majority ot thoso voting had favored the strike, but as a two-thirds vote is required, the proposal did not carry. Wednesday night leaders of the metal mine workers union in Butte secured control of the meeting of tho men, the conservatives were ejected und those present voted to strike. Just before noon today a commit tee representing tho electricians un ion of Anaconda made a demand up on Manager Fredcrlcw Laist for an Increase to SO. 50 a day with other conditions set out In tholr original demands, saying they would go out at once unless tho demands were met. The committee was told that the com pany had already entered Into a con tract with tho metal trades, which In cluded tho electricians and that it could not ro-open a discussion of wages, the scalo having nl ready been agreed to by the motal trades and the company. At noon tho electricians at tho smeller quit work. Ciovcriinicnt Xctils Metal. From tho beginning of tho trouble thn mining companies have been In touch with tho national council of defense. That organization urged the companies to make every effort to continue operations as tho govern ment needed copper and zinc for war supplies. Tho uxuul forco of me chanics were employed altho there was not work for them and all the shafts of tho company were kept at work so that the miners who would work would hnvo the opportunity. Full forces of mechanics were em ployed nftcr the companies had been compelled to abandon the night shift. TALK ON PEACE WASHINGTON', Aug. 24. Presi dent Wilson may decldo to address lonmnss on peace at the same time ho makes reply to Pope Benedict's peaco proposals. In that way he would not only Inform tho country on tho question hut also enitble momberg ot congress lo carry tho government's views home to the people when con gress adjourns. So indications ot the president's pin ai had come from tho white house today.