Ur.l o-s!ty of Crejcn . X
Library X
WEATHKR Maximum Yeslmlav, S2; Miuimum Totlav, 41. FORECAST Toiiiglii and Tomorrow: Fair and "Warmer.
Medford Mail Tribune
JACKSON COUN1Y III ( (
BAROMETER W. J J.
Quota (or 1918, $258,666.00
Sales to Juno 12 87,180.00
BUY WAR SAVINGS
STAMPS
Save and Buy for Victory
Buy W.S.S.Thritt Stamps
woX Safest Investment
Forty-eighth Tear,
Dally Thirteenth Year.
MEDFORD, OREGON, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1918
NO. 74
ITALIANS HOLD LIE AGAINST AUSTRIAN
BA1TLE IN
' MOUNTAINS
DOWN
Holding Their Lines Intact Along
Virtually All 90 Miles of Front.
Italians Administer Severe Check
to Enemy Million Austrians
Hurled In Vain Casualties Fright
fulOnly Gain Is Siinht Advance
Along Piave RWer.
UOOX1K, June 18. Ilattlo on the
rr-.ountninous sectors of the Italian
front has died down, but is fiercer
from the mountains to the sen along
the i'inve river, aoeor)nr to the
stt.tcmciit issued by the war office to
duv. LONDON, June 18. The Auslriuns
according In the Kvening Standard,
now occupy the west bank of the
1'iave from the Cuneglinno railway to
tlie Benson bend, a distance of a
mile and a half. Thoy have thrown
fourteen bridges across (lie river.
Those, however, are under the Italian
fire.
IlntUo Uno Held
By the Associated Press. June IS.
Holding their lines intact along
virtually all the ninety miles of bat
tle front from the Adriatic to tho
Asiago plateau, tho Italia us and allied
armfos appear to have given the en
emy a serious check. Approximately
one million Austrians have been hurl
ed against tho Italian front but havo
gained llttlo except along the I'lavo
river, where their progress Is scom
lngly too slow to be threatening to
the allied positions.
Losses which are described as
frightful have been Inflicted upon the
Austrians in tho areas where the
principal fighting had taken place
In the mountainous country whore
the Tlrltlsh havo been holding their
positions solidly, thousands of tho
enemy havo perished, while thoy havo
paid heavily for every foot they havo
advanced along the Plave river front.
Austrian (Jains Costly
In tho Montello area on tho upper
Tiavo tho Austrians seem to have
gained a foothold on the west bank of
the river. North of Zenson loop and
at Capo Silo, lower down, they havo
also moved wostward. but their great
est gain does not escccd 2 or 5 miles.
It seems that, so far In tho baltle tho
Austrians havo gained tho most
ground at Capo Silo, a village sltuat
cd west of tho Plave river and sur
rounded by lower marshy land, which
In Itself does not lend Itself readily
to a rapid advance by the Austrians.
Tho vital mountain sector along
tho upper reaches of the Hrehta has
not been broken. On tho contrary,
the Ilritlsh claim to have defeated the
foe. As long as this front holds firm
ly, according to military experts, tho
stability of, the Italian line Is assured,
unless a serious breach should bo
made along tho Plave river east of
Trovlso and Montebol'luna.
Counter Offensive Hinted
There are hints of a counter otfen-
(Continued on rage Two.)
WASHINGTON". .Tune 18. The
treasury indicated in n statement to
night that the interest rule n the
fourth Liberty loan would not be rais
ed above 4' a per cent, tho rate ol
the third loan.
'The inference drawn in pertain
inornimr paper that the l ends nf the
next loan will hear interest at 4 1
per cent, is wholly without informa
tion." Mail) the Matemcnt.
Tlio i.n .f rrtifipii(p. ill H!l-
tifipntion ul (lie fourth hum hearing
interest at 4'-j per cent, foreshad
ows no i hnnye of interest in the rate
bvurue by bonds of the fourth luau.'
COUNTER BLOW
COST AUSTRIANS
FIRST WINNINGS
Successful Thrust Made By Italians
Regains Initial Territory Taken By
Enemy Heavy Fighting In Pro
gress "Hunger Offensive" Is
Name Given By Austrian Prisoners.
ITALIA'N ARMY HUADQUAIt
TBltS, Juno 18. (By the Associated
ress. ) Bitter fighting Is In progress
along tne 'l'lavo river. The Austrians
are sustaining large losses from the
concentrated fire of Italian batteries.
Repeated counter-attacks are being
made by 'Italian rhfantry, Inflicting
heavy casualties on the enemy.
HOME, Monday, 'June 17. An of
ficial statement by the war office is
sued last night says:
"On the mountainous front and
around Montello tho enemy did not
renew his Infantry attacks. Ducing
tho day a successful thrust was car
ried out by our troops. We occupied
several positions, capturing machine
guns and some hundreds of prisoners.
Important actions developed south
of Montello and along tho IMave In
tho zono between Zen son and Fos-
salta, but tho enemy everywhere was
stopped by our counter-attacks. Sev
oral hundred prisoners wore left In
our hands.
"Enemy attempts to cross the river
between Mascrada and Candelu
(northeast of Treviso) woro bloodily
repulsed. On tho lowor Piavo other
counter offensive actions In the
course of development reunited ad
vantageously for us."
1 1 linger ' ffcnslvo
Tho "hunger offensive'' as the
Austrian prisoners descrlbo It, Is be
ing carried on with the greatest 'sev
erity on the Plave front where It Is
apparent the Austrians have massed
largo bodies of men. In the moun
tain regions to tho north the fighting
for the present is limited to local at
tacks and counter attacks.
lHsporato Kffort
Tho enemy is making a desperate;
flfTort to retain tho positions ho ob-1
tained during tho initial stage of the
offensive on tho western bank of the
IMave, at the points whero ho still
has a footing across tho river. Thoso
operations are costing him heavily.
Fierce fighting Is taking place In the
Nervosa zone, whero tho river em
erges from tho Alps to tho plain, and
In tho region of Fagare, midway be
tween the Alps and the sea.
There Is no question that tho spirit
of tho Italian troops is oxcnllont.
Xcvertoless the general situation Is
regarded as serious. In view of the
fact that tho Austrians, so it is stated
have brought Into action allthcir
available forces In the hopo of break
ing thru the Italian Hue and scoring
such a decisive victory as to put Italy
out of the war.
IS DDI
7 BIW FOUNDS
I .OX I ION. June 18.- Great ltrit
, in' daily average expenditure dur
in if the euiTcnl fiscal quarter was (,-
SI8,IMMI pounds, said Andrew Honar
Law, chanccllcr of the oxecquor, in
introducing a vole of credit fur fillll.
liuijllill pounds in the house of ooin
i:ions today.
Mr. Honor I. aw said Hint the pres
ent vote, which would bring the to
ial war credits to 7.:i 12,01111,11(111,
would cover expenditures until the
erd of August.
The debt due Great llritain from
hi r :illie is 1,:i70,iMiii,mn, Mr. Ilonm
l..iw said, while the dominions owe
L'Oii.ono.llon pounds. .
WASHINGTON', June IS. odilien
tioii nf the railroad enihurtfoes where
necessary to facilitate the movement
of wool, particularly to eastern man-ul'to-turcrs,
w:s announced todny by
(he ruiiioud administration.
49 NAMES UPONARWufMILLION YANKEES FIGHT
CASUALTY LIST I WIPI Pn AHAIMQT WAY BACK OVER
WASHINGTOS. Juno IS. Tho
army casualty list today contained 4!)
namos divided as follows: Killed in
action 10; died of wounds 2; died of
airplnne accident 1; died of dlseaso
died of accident and other causes
wounded severely li:'.; wounded
slightly 1.
Tho list Includes Private Ray Brent
305 Clancy St., Helena. Mont.; killed
In action: William Conlon, 211 bast
Seventh St., Anaconda, Mont; John
K. Uocy, Pony, .Mont.; Jos. Kelly, 121
Anaconda Road, Butte, Mont.
Killed In action: Lieutenants Les
lie II. tiroscr, Brooklyn; William G.
Ilorrington, Klines, Gu.; William
Campbell Johnson, Kau Clalro, Wis.;
John U. Jluthls, Americus, da.; Ser
geants Edward T. Muginlsku, Chica
go; James Mareum, l.a Folletto,
Tenn.; Privates Ray llrent, 3(15 Clan
cy street, Helena, Mont.; Michael
Jay, New Haven, Conn.; Thomas V.
Larson, Berkeley, Oil.; -Michael lia-
karavesch, Brooklyn.
Died of wounds: Musician Julius
S. Johnson, Lurny, Kans.; Prlvato
Samuel Mlzo, Klton, Wis.
Died In alrplano accident: Lleuten
ant Hurry Walter Princo, West Phila
delphia, Pa.
Died of disease: Private Hubert F.
Ward, McKecsport, Pa.
Died of accident and other causes:
Prlvato Luther II. Chorn, Coun'11
Illuffs, la.
SOLDERS BY MAIL
WASHINGTON'. June 18. Th
war department announced today that
brrjHis of congestion of the rail
roads in Frunze, no exception can b
made to the recent requirement that
persons desiring to -hip parcels post
packages to the soldiers overseas,
must present at the postot'tiee an or
der from the major or higher officer
commanding the unit to which the
soldier is attached. Thin rule ul.-o
applies to perOf! abroad atached to
the Y. M. ('. A., Ited Cm-- and Hiui
lar organizations,
THE ROUND-UP
j iiuullu nuninui
ITALIAN FRONT
92 Divisions of Austrlarts Launched
Into Greatest Battle Italy Has Yet
Fought Comprises Three-fourths
of Austrian Army and Its Choicest
Troops.
PA It IS, Juno 1 8. Ntncty-two div
isions of Austrians consisting of
eighty divisions of Infantry and
twelvo of cavalry were launched Into
tho grcatost battle that Italy has yot
fun n lit. according to an official an
nouncement from Homo received horo
thru the Uavas ugeney. Seventy-one
of these divisions havo already been
identified.
Tho forces engaged, comprise threo-
fourths of tho whole Austrian army
and the choicest troops undor the
command of Field Marshal Boroovlc.
(The number of men In an Austrian
division Is not exactly known hut th
number of, divisions engaged would
Indicate that approximately one mil
lion Austrian soldiers have been
thrown Into tho hattlo.)
1'apers found on officers show that
after forcing the passage of the Plave
the first day's objective was tho Tro- j
vlKO-Moutehlliinu railroad. In two
days of fighting the enemy columns
had succeeded only In realizing tho
minimum assigned for tho first day,
Recording to the olficial note Issued
at Koine.
Hut one allied aviator has been lost
during tho Austrian offensive, while
41 enemy machines have been
brought down.
"Jn artillery and airplanes Austria
ifl using all her available resources,"
says the olficial noto. "Not less than
7G 00 cannon of all calibers havo been
brought into action. Three Austro
Huugarian armies under tho com
mand of Field Marshal Boroovlc are
engaged In fighting desperately with
enoiyuous military means. Ordered to
advance at uny cot, without thought
of blood sacrifices, the Austro-Hun-gariaif
regiments readily obey. Thou
sands of corpses strew the battlefield
overlooking the rnoiintatnoiiB Italian
sector and accumulate along the
Plave but tho objectives which tho
enemy was to rneh are yet far
away."
LARGER FORCES
WASHINGTON, June 18. -A story
of a fiorco fight botween thirty Amer
icans and a German patrol of forty,
in which most of the Amorlcans
fought their way back to their own
linos, Is told in a dispatch today from
Genoral Porshlug, continuing yostor
day's rommuiiio.no.
On tho Lunovllle front enomy raid
ers havo captured a few Amorlean
prisoners whllo In the Vosges, In Al
sace, Amorlean gunnorB broko up a
German raid.
Particulars concerning destruction
of a German piano In the air fight of
June I J, as reported In American of
ficial commuul'iuo Juno 14 nro as
follows:
"Destruction nf one of tho Gorman
pianos occurred during tho course of
a fight botweon the Amorlean patrol
and a group of 12 to 15 German
Albatross scouts. It has not na yot
been definitely stated to whom tho
destruction of tho piano, officially
confirmed by tho French army corps
Is duo. Tho second hostile piano was
doslroycd at S : 1 7 o'clock In tho mor
ning near St. Mlhlcl. Hero an enomy
biplane of tho Hnviovor typo wao at
tacked by LleutenantH MolsHner,
Wlnslow and Taylor. During tho
course of tho fight tho German piano
turned over, burst Into flumes and
was Been to crash."
CHEER IN 1UR1ENI
KOMI-:, June IH.The Hnimber of
deputies adjourned today until Sep
li'inber utiles extraordinary events
require that it convene nt mi earlier
ujiIc iitnid scenes of tremendous ex
eilemctit. Premier Orlando puid t
glowing tribute to the Italian army
which, he declared, wits aiding in eer
lain ielory for civilization nml tl
ri'ht in the world loiifliet, us well as
the deliverance f oppressed peo
p!f s.
"he chamber wits in n great uproar
of applause, as the premier eulogized
Kintf Victor Kmrnaniiel and those who
had been instrumental in helping the
cnmhfitimlM and he civil Hpulations
in diftiCsjs there,
RAIDS
E
Letters of Hundreds of Government
Contractors Seied Exposing Hold
up of anfuacturers By Agents for
Illegal Contingent Fees Criminal
Procecutlon Ordered.
NEW YORK, Juno 18. All army
officer whose name is withheld, was
arrested here today by sju'eiai
agents of the treasury department.
It is said the arrest ras made in con
nection with the nation wide investi
gation of alleged war contract graft
ing. WASHINGTON1, Juno 18. Several
thousand letters and documents con
taining proofs of an elaborate system
of obtaining government contracts
on the illogal contingent fee basis
woro rocclved today by the lopart
mont of Justlco from Its agents who
conduotod raids on hundreds of con
tractors' buslnoss offlcos lute yos
torday. Tho commission paid on these con.
tracts, It was disclosed, rangod from
fivo to twenty per cont and tho ag
gregato fees probably ran fa to mil
lions of dollars. Evidence was dis
closed of hundreds of contracts
made under these arrangements here
tofore unsuspected by the department
of justice
Threatened Munufnctiirors
Manufacturers woro throatoncd In
many cases wltli bolng deprived of
contracts if thoy negotiated with
theso agents on a commission com
pensation plan. Somo agonU roprn-
sontcd that thoy had special Influcuco
ovor members of congress.
In addition to thoso documents,
other Information camo to tho de
partment from manufacturers who
had been solicited by contract com
mission agents located in Washing
ton. Tho manufacturers offered
tholr asslstanco in stamping out the
Illogal syBtom,
An lmmcdlato result of tho dis
closures was a letter sent by Attorney
Gonoral Grogory to heads of all gov
ornmnnt departments making war
contracts proposing that all future
contracts Bhould contain a claiiso
pledging tho manufacturer not to em
ploy any third party In negotiating
with tho government.
Offices nro Jtaldcd
Tho government will proparo a roc-
ord of all contracts now being execut
ed, on which It has proof of tho puy
ment of contingent fees, and may do
duct from tho payment of theso con
tractors tho sum covorcd by tho com
mission fee. Officials culculato
roughly that this will save millions of
dollars to tho government. There is
no ground for taking criminal action
against tho manufacturers.
.Neither can commission agents lie
prosecuted for accepting fees, nltho
In many cases It is demonstrated that
thoy worked with others In u conspir
acy to violate tho law forbidding con
tlngont fees and sub-lotting of con
tracts, and consequently nro liable to
prosecution under conspiracy laws.
Officials today declined to say dnf.
Inltoly whether they wero planning
arrests in addition to tho four mado
horo yesterday, but it Is considered
certain that action will ho ' taken
against a number of commission
agents now known to havo operated
In Washington, and to a lesser extent
III New York and other cities.
E IMPORT
AND EXPORT RATES
WASHINGTON, Juno 1 S. -Now
rates on export and import freight nn
a basis of something over 25 per cent
lncreaso over existing rates was or
dered toilay by tho rullroad adminis
tration to bocomo offectlvo next July
25. This modifies tho recent rate
order which cancelled existing export
and Import tariffs and applied do
mestic rales to Uiat tariff. .
EPOS
GRAFT SYSTEM
CONTRACTS
AMERICAN
SUIAIE
GETS U-BOAT
United States Diver Torpedoes Ger
man Pirate Off Virginia Coast
With All Aboard American Steam
ship Scores a Clean Hit, Either
Sinking or Crippling Another Ger
man Submarine Off the Virginia
Capes.
AX ATLANTIC PORT, June 18.
members of the crew of an American
teauisliip arriving here today, re
ported an engagement witli a German
submarine off tho Virginia Capes
vesterday, in which tho ship's naval
gunners made a clean hit and cither
sunk tho undersells craft or disabled
her. Tho American vessel was not
damaged.
Hiibinarliio Sinks U-ltnnt
AN ATLANTIC POUT, Juno 18.
A German submarine and its cntiro
crew was destroyed by an American ,
submarine off tho Virginia coast sev
eral days ago, according to a report .
brought hero today by passengers
aboard un American steamship.
Officers of tho vessel claimed to
have been told tho story of tho sub
murino combat by members o tho
victorious American undersea bout's
crew.
Tho American liner had put into
tho mouth of Chesapeake Hay for .
shelter in response to submarine
wumings and there anchored near nn
American submarine tender alongside
which wns moored Ihe undersea crnfl
which w-iis taking on provisions and
fuel, officers of the vessel stated. An
ii terchango of wireless messages fol
lowed ill which tho sulmitirmo crew is
reported to havo told of its vir- '
lory.
jorM'(io useu
Tho U-boat wns sighted wliilo tho
American craft was patrolling with
ci-l.v her neriseope visible, nccordin?
to tho stop- the American skipner is
alleged to have told.' When within
range u torpedo was relensed and
0 seconds later microphones re
corded a lerriffie explosion, ho wns
quoted ns saying. Ifising to the sur
face, Ihe American submarine cir
cled aboiil on the lookout for survi
vors, hut oil coining to tho surface
was Ihe only trace found of tho vnn-
piished raider, uin-ralors of the story
laid Hie hud hecu lold.
KILLED OR CAPTURED
.
PARIS, .Itmo IS. Over fifty
thousand Germans were killed
4 and raptured during tho offen-
slvo between Montdldior and
Noyon, Captain Andrew 1 ir
f dleu, who accompanied Premier
Cleinenceau to tho front on Sun
day, told Manid llulin, editor
of tho Kcho Do Paris, upon his
n't urn to Paris.
"This Is a flguro which should
mako oven Ludendorft refloct,"
ho said.
AOVISE REPORT ON
WASHINGTON, .Tune 1R. An ad
verse report on the proposed ilu
provemcut of Columbia river from
SI. Helens, Ore. to tidewater, wns
nado to congress today by Major
General Black, on the basis of a re
port of n board of engineers,