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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (June 17, 1918)
Library " WEATHER raiiiHini YcnU-i',l;iy 85; Mitiiiimm ioiby 4-1 FOTICAST T..ni-lit nml Tuiiphtow: Fair. JACKSON COUNIY U C C BAROMETKR l. J J. Quota for IBIS. J2r.8,riC(i.OO Sales to June 12 S7.1S0.U0 Kl'V WAIl HAVINGS ' STAMPS Save and Buy for Victory Buy W.S.S. Thrift Stamps wlrid-i Safest Investment UNE Forty-elffhth Yenr. Dally Thirteen lb Year. 1LEDFORD, OR K(!ONr, MONDAY, JUN'K 17, !)1S NO. ' 73 fORD AUSTRIAWS 'DRIVEW . BACK 1 f 7T " PAVE BATTLE RAGES AUSTRAINS LOSE ITALIANS MOST n J mn nnn r 5 T01 IN SMASH BOUYANT OVER mm Ull IUU III ILL Austrians In Great Offensive Accom plish Litt'e at Inception of Drive Cross Lo Plain Three Places to Be Forced Back A!ro Held In Mountain Regions Vienna Claims Capture of 12,000 Prisoners Ital ians Take 3090 In Counter Attacks. WITH TI1K ITALIAN Alt MY, Jim.. Hi. (By tin- Associated l'ress.) Austrian troops which forced the I'iave river, have been driven back. The filitinj; aloii; the river is most 'intense. VIKNN'A, June 17. Yin London. The number ol' Italians and allied prisoners captured hv the Austro- Hunarian forces in their new offen sive on the northern Italy front have increased to Li.OIIO, the Austro-Ilun-parian official statement issued lo says. The Austrians have captured Capo Silo, on the southern end of the I'iave line and on the west side of the river and also have captured ground to the west of Sandonn Di.l'iaVe, the statement adds. My The Associated Press, June 17 Altho the situation alonj; the. great crescent shapped buttle line of 100 miloa in northern Italy remains somewhat obscure, It seoms that the AuHtriaus have accomplished liltlo at tho Inception of their drive against the Italian and allied armies. From tho lower I'iave river and north along that stream encouraging re ports tell of the enemy being checked and at sonic points being hurled 'back across the sterenm. From the Piave to the Tirenta where tho Teu tons advanced thru mountain ravines In their attempts to .break thru the allied lines tho situation seems to bo well in hand. French and Brit ish troops are helping the Kalians. 'mss I'lnve Thrice It now appears that tho Austrians made three successful attempts to cross the Piave. Ono was south or Montcllo, where the battle Hue leaves the Piave river and mounts to the westward Into tho Alps. One was be tween Candelu and Zeiuon loop, where the Austrlans effected a cross ing last November and held a bridge head for some time. Tho other was at San Dona I) Piave, about 1 1 miles from the mouth of the river. At least some of these forces have been driven back across the river , while tho oth ers have not been ablo to develop any advantage from their early success. Itepoi fT show that tho tactics fol lowed by tho Austrians were similar to thoso which brought success to the Germans In the Sonunc and Aisne of fensives. The enemy advanced under cover of a smoke barrage from bombs and smoke apparatus in comparative ly smal parties. These were directed against portions of the line believed to he lightly held. In Franco the Germans succeeded by this method In gaining the rear of portions of the line which had to be evacuated quick ly by the allies. Along tho Italian front, however, the foe was not able to penetrate far Into the allied posi tions, and counter attacks soon drove him hack to his lines. ItnMilt in Halanco Tho result is yet In tho balance. (Continued on Page Six.) WASllIMiTOX, June 17. Invo cation of orders assigning Major General Leonard Wood to rov.umwnl the western department an:' re-as-sigimient of Ihe pmernt lo ( amp Kan-ton, Km-., was announce, today by the war department, AGAINST ITALY Scantiest Success Attended Attempt of Austrians to Carrv Out Often sive On New German Model of Storm Troops Battle Critical for Austria. LONDON', June 17. Austro-Huii-gurian pressure continues strong along (he entire Italian front, says a icmi-official dispatch from Home. The enemy is concentrating his most powerful attacks astride the river Hi'pnta and across tho Piave.' A high Hritlsii army officer, inter viewed last night by Ileuter's corres pondent with the British army in Italy, expressed himself satisfied in every way with the result of the AuRtro-llungarian attack against the British forces. He said: "Tho enomy has practically lost five men to our one and we havo cap tured four guns. Our airmen on tho I'iave smashed tho seven bridges and fired 2.",u0a round at low altitudes." All accounts agree that tho scan tiest success attended the attempt of tho Austrlans to carry out tho offen sive on tho new German model of storm troops and infiltration. Desperate C'lianco London newspapers consider tho offensive one of the most desperate chances yet taken by the enemy. Its failure, It Is believed, will be fatal to Austria und a heavy jlow to ierman prestigo. Hence the liattlo is consid ered by political observers as bolng even nuiro critical for Austria than for Italy as It Is contended defeat will probably goail tho various national ities of tho dual monarchy lo desper ation. Stories continue to reach llollnnd from Austria, telling of the serious political crisis, owing to the refusal of tho Polish party to support tho government. They also mention riot ing at many places In the dual ninn-ai-hy as tho result of an increase or anti-Gorman feeling and tho shortage jf food. YANKEES REPEL L WASHINGTON'. June 17. I.'o pulsed t'f local enemy attacks in Ihe Wocvre ami in Ihe Chateau Thierry ngion was reported today in (leneral I'ershiu's r-fiiiiuiiiuiftie lor last nielli. ''Section A. This morning in the Voere Hie enemy attempted n local attack against Ihe left of our posi tions. Muring Ihe ntlack there wax l.ri-k artillery tiring. The assailants I'ol only Tailed lo penetrate our lines, hut were thrown back villi severe losses, and left on our hands several prisoners, of whom one was an of ficer. "In the region of Chalonii Thierry two local attacks made hv Ihe enemy during the highl on the line linuros-elies-liois-Me-Pc!leiiii were easily broken' up. Artillery on holh sides ronlinue very active i and in I'ioaprv. "Section II. -There iciort in litis section. this rcgioi nothing l AMSTKWMAM, June 17. A politi cal strike has been arranged lor to day at Nuremberg as a protest against Ihe reduced bread rations and the postponement and hampering of Prussian suffrage reform, according lo reports received lure. The I lor dlier Tageblatt says that the social ilemoernlie party and the united 1'iidcs union of Nureniderg hae is sued a warning against u strike. ' E DEFENSE Several Days Before Decision Reach edBattle Assumes Gigantic Pro portionsItalians Express Confi dencePremier Orlando Says Ene my Is Being Strongly Held. WASHINGTON', June 17. An of ficial dispatch front Komu dated 11 :.V oVIoek last niirht say the bat tle on the Italian front will assume irigatilic proportions, the Austrians attempting to break flown the Italian defense by a jjreat pincer movement. It adds that the battle will last sever al days before a decision is reached. Nowhere else alonjr the front of attack has the strin;",Ie been so se vere as ton the I'iave line. One of the most brilliant of the Italian actions was the defense of the Monte Moschin salient protect 'mux the important Mrenfu position. Here the Austrians suffered heavy losses, many of their machine guns were captured. Prisoners Of sco i traced The prisoners are ragged and ill fed. Many of them are nndersixed youths. One of them remarked to the correspondent that he had no interest in the war. The feeling of the Kalians is buoy ant. At Italian army headquarters sat isfaction is felt over the situation on every part of the front. The general commanding the artil lery corps in the Monte Grappa re gion expressed tins leeling- lo the cor respondent. "Now send us only four divisions of Americans, ' the general added. "We will first shake hands and then travel together into Austria." The severity of the fighting on Monte Grappa may be understood from the fact Hint the Italian artillery fired 70,00(1 shells in 12 hours. All Korcos fNtssihlo As the first, phase of the battle un folds, it is evident that Austria is en;ai;ing all the forces possible, al though the exact number of Ihe di visions in action is as yet unknown. Italy's soldiers are fighting- on their own soil, aided by Kn'Iish and French troops. All are in the best spirits ami making supremo snerifievs to prevent the enemy from obtaining the advantage which is supposed to be lt nr to ;t n army launching an offen sive. The uneasiness preceding the of fensive was dissipated, followed by satisfaction over the Austrian action in Tonale district, uhich was intend ed to block any efforts of the Ital ians to tlircilcn their rear and possi I 'v cut the sinyle railway line lend it'ir from Austria into the Italian Air. t Situation Itivissiiriiig liOMK, June lii. The situation on the Italian front in ils entirely -i ems very reassuring, says n semi el licial Hole issued tonight. It is added Hint (he great but tic which broke out Saturday has lint, begun. Although Mbviiig a strength of (ill di isions Ihe enetnv attacking forces have not succeeded in passing Ihe Italian advanced area at anv point. Austrian pressure continues very strong along Hie enlire front. The encuty is concentrating most power ful and fierce attacks astride the Hrota and across Hie I'iave and it is (Continued on Pago Sl.) LONDON', June 17 A movement Is afoot In (lermany for the organi sation of strikes on account of the decrease ot tho bread ration, says a dispatch to the Central News agency from Amsterdam. The situation, It Is said, Is so serious that the smallest Irado unions are taking pari In the movement, j. T- ? ti ' f i tit" r" If f lV 4 , i I1"' A. trt,, ' In the present attempts of the Huns to pierce the allied lino with tholr powerful thrusts, the allied gunnel's have been Jilaylng a stellar role. Tho gas attacks are constantly being om ployed by tho Oorinans, tho gunnora with tho aid of their masks have stuck to thoir posts, working at times tor four hours ut a stretch under heavy gas bombardments, being relieved only when wounded and carried hohlnd tho lines. Noto tho camou flaged protection overhead to hide them from any aerial attacks. E I'AlilS, June 17.;-.-The trench (loops improved their positions north Mid iiolhuesl of llautcbraye, between Ihe Oise and the Aisne, in a local operation early today. One hun dred prisoners and some machine pins were captured, says the ol'licial statement issued today. German attacks were repulsed in the t'avierics wood and in the Voses. The .statement leads ; "iN-tween tin' 'ise and the A'sne the Krench succeeded in earning out early today a l"'nl operation which resulted jn improvement of the l-'reneh positions north ami ' northwest o! t Hautchraye. The Krench look 100 j prisoners and captured several ma- I chine nuns. In the Oavieries Wood j ami in the Vn--j our troops repulsed J enemv surprise alatcks. There nothing to report from the ret of the front.' LONDON, .Inn raid was earnc! of Arra-. by the few pri-uneis, ii uallv. ' 1 7. A siiceesst u! oul last ui'jht ca-, rrhih, uho took a j is afmouiH ei oi l i- S I.OND'lN. J itie 1 airplane cm-- , the A elit England sooa alt """' l-"'l;'-( 11 si-a by liar Hri! was ehaetl hack to si ish anti-aiiralt jinn-' RUIN IN CALIFORNIA W'AMIINHTt sentiitiM; JiiImi told Hie senate today thai em !. June IT. licpre- j Ktiliu iC California j iigriciill ore committee J 'eaielit of the l.lulli- I liilion legislation at this lime wmil.l be bansriiptev lo Ihe t'a!il'"rniu v.ine growers nml re-ult in loss tolallint: inillious oC dollars. Anticipittion of reaffirmation of Hie federal eon -t it ut imiii I amendment, Mr. Kalin sw manv now are liquid ating their priipcrty. He s.iid t lie v belieed thev should he given two or three years' inlililioii a! time, GUNNERS WORKING UNDER GAS BRITISH INFLICT OREGON RAILROADS IN F LONDON, Juno i 7. Austrian troopH which hiid as their olijectlvo on tho Hrilish front tho ranse of hillu including Clma Di Tonte, Tau nnd Caveletto, telegrapha Hotiters cor respondent at Italian headquarters were much (li.seomnted on reaching tho HriiiHh wiro cntanglemcnta. In front of the ('c.suua. positions tho Aus trians suffered heavily from the ish machine gun firo and they worn also caught by their own artillery which fired short. Tho Aiistro-IlunKnrlan casualties, the correspondent nays, nro heiim reckoned la thousands while tlio.o of Ihe Itritish aro light. Tho number or prisoners taken by tho British has been incrcasetl to -t'Mt. PRISONER TURNS W ITH 'I'lIK AMKKK'AN AI.'MY IN1 FU.WCK, Sundiiv. .1 Hi.- (I'.vlhe I A.-Miciate.l l'ri.s. - The Herman j capl mvd an American oldirr in their fl.rin.in i. ,V.;,V d,,v, b,a ,e did oa-l ot t i)it rcitt:iiti :i m-inticr I,.n.r j At Hli -e of the viiiage three .tiennans i iiimc iiiHin a wipiind, ,1 Anier. j i n. lie ttus pla I amir r guard of a (li rmali private and ..tarled lor the j enemy line ;. 1,'eiielllllg a point near I the enemy w ire entiiiiiiL'Ic'iiiciils the lAincrican s aldnily drew a revolver j ami Corel d till MHili:e,I -1 1 - I 1 1 1 1 II I to inareli liaelt ihtii.8 No Mini's land lililo the Almrieiili line. Alter turli ii g lii.s prisoner over In l.lli.w duri the wounded man Cell mieun. hi ions lYnin Iusk ut' blood. CANTON', O. Kug. ne X. Iiehs, dreeing soeTiilists here said the lies' war aim, were the same as tl. nC till! cut ra iiowers, plunder. I WASHINGTON. -T, war indus. Hies board announced ro'-tnciions lor Coot wear mid clothing for next spring wear. ATLANTA, fla. Three soldiers were killed ami 17 injured when an army truck Cell llmuigli a hnd;;e' into Klowas river. ATTACK TOLD TO CONNECT roilTI-AN'l), June 17. An order from the federal railroad adminislra lion received uy tne public service ciimmiKsion today orders the South ern Piieilie and Oregon Kleetrie rail roads to eslablii-h physical counee (ions at Portland, and rcqiii res the ftliilili-lnucnt oC several other eon- reetions belwcen compeliug lines iu tl is stale. The Southern Pacific, and Oregon F.loetrie roads are ordered lo eslah-Ic-h eoniiectiiiiis at Alhanv and En gine and the Oregou-Vi'ashinglon ii'aHroad and Navialiou eompiiny enil the Northern Pacific company are ordered lo Colin connections at I'ciidlelon.. The ipioliou of jiinclion belwcen Hie Southern I'acilic anil Oregon F.lcelrie ut Saleiu will he de cided luler. 'I he order which will be far reach ing in its cll'ecl. i is said, will eiiahh -llipicri bieated on either oC Ihe roads lo extend (heir markets to liny pi nil readied hv Hie other road, cC feeling savings 'in dravage and labor. I hipper.i have been n.-King such con nect ions Cor years. SAI.IOI, June 17. official police lllls been leeciwil lhal Ihe capillll i sues eoiiimitlie has pa-scl favora bly on he sale of .sliOO.OIMI of Oregon 'lute lit-huav hioiil. It came in a b Iter limn the eemmitti c to Ihe .stale liigliwny ib partnient. 'Ihe state hi':bwa' eoaiinission liad asked Cor approval from the $I!,(I(I0,. IIIMI road bond i-sie, hni Ihe capital issues committee rcl'iseil lo approve the lull amount. Iloivever, 4.11:10, noil will enaiile Hie liigliway ilepnrtment lo complete all contracts new under way its part of the .s;,i(lil,(nill mad program. When eompielid these contracts will show an expenditure of approximately $'J, .'itlll.ltlid. All of them will he complet ed this simiini r. They are located in Cliiekamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Hood oiver, Jackson, 1 illamook, Washing 1 Ion innl 1 iiiuliill counties, BAKER APPROVES PRISON TERM FOR OBJECTORS Dozen Conscientious Slackers Given From 18 Months to 20 Years for Refusing to Wear Uniforms and Perform Duties of Citizenship Baker Favors Deportation. WASHINGTON, Juno 17. Sen tences ranging from 18 months to 20 years' imprisonment imposed by courts martial upon so-culled con scientious objectors who refused mil itary service at Camp Upton, N. Y., and Camp Gordon, (la., wero approv ed today by Secretary Baker. Host of the men objected to figlit ine; against Germany or Austria be causo they havo relatives there. In approving the findings of the courts, the first of tho kind to reach the de partment, Mr. linker went on record as favoring the return of the men "to the countries of their preference'' af-. ter the war. The 12 objectors woro sentenced 11s follows: Ilyman Polkes, William J. Soider, Joseph Whilo, Anion Z.olduk, Julius Kevinlhal, Louis Silverman, Meyer Suffkind, Louis II. Hlumentlial, Sam uel Spire, Paul Tinker, William Charles Shuw nnd Miclinel Ciupa. "In my judgment," said Secretary Baker's npprovnl, "tho sentences should bo executed nnd, if nfter this war is over some process can bo do-" vised by which the entirely undesir able citizens cull bo relumed to the countries of their preference, it would he highly ilesirablo from the point of view of the United States. ' Propriety of Procedure "I hace not Ihe least doubt as to tho propriety of Iho procedure in Ihese cases, nor am 1 uncertain as to tlio correelness of tho results reach ed. "The defendiinls in nil theso enscs wero either nulurnlizod citizens of tho .United Sillies or native citizens of tho United Slates, born of parents of countries willi which tho United Slates is now at war.' Tljey were properly members of the army of thu United Stales pursuant to tho selec tive draft law. They were summoned before proper officers of the nrmy and asked whether they would in fact fulfill their military obligations by 1'iKlilinjr against Germany nnd Aus Iriu iu Kuropc. Tdey all answered that Idey would not. Thcro was tho same suffliiig on tho part of the men us lo what I hey meant by answers, and long winded defenses undertaken lo Ihe effect that some of them wero willing to light Germans nnd Aus trians generally but would not fight their own relatives, although they of fered no explanation of tho process by which Ihcy were going to discover whelher particular Germans and Aus trians whom tdey wero required to shoot ut from long range happened to be related to Idem. Censure lor Objectors "III one of the. records Iho soldier claims lo have an uncle, evidently ton old lo be in Ihe military service of Austria, whom he once saw, nnd ho bad heard of HI or 12 oilier relatives in Austria, of some of whom ho hud seen photographs which must hnvo been oC 11 very persnasivo character since Hicv arouse in him emotions of blood kinship strong enough lo over come the obligations of his own alio X.cnee as an American citizen. "These men wen. full citizens ot Hie United Stales, most of them by the voluntary act of niiliirnlizalion. (Contlnuod on Page Hlr.) SEIZED By UNCLE SAM WASHINGTON, Juno 17. All tho properly In this county of Mrs. Adol. phus llusch or St. Louis, valued at millions of dollars, was ordered sols Ml today by Alien Property Custodian Palmer, Mrs. llusch has recently been In Gorninny and Is now In Cuba on routo lo tho United States,
