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About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 1916)
A M til Ml dm a ji'fff- fi v FULL LEASED WIRE DISPATCHES $$$!:): CIRCULATION IS OVER 4000 DAILY Vsp THIRTY-EIGHTH YEAR SALEM, OREGON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1916 TTTrri rmvn PrVTQ ON TRAINS AND NEW JrlvlLri TWO L.HN la stands fty? trnt BLOODIES! BAM IN French Claim German Drive Is Checked Trainloads of Wounded Tell of Terrific Struggle 30,000 Wounded Dying In Rain and Snow and Beyond ReacWof Com- ' rades Some Regiments on Both Sides Afiilated-- Germans Say Verdun Must ' London, Feb. 28 Checked at Verdun by Frenc 'en forcements, the German crown prince's drive is spn 'ing to the Champagne, 40 miles west of the Verdun wooi The Berlin official statement today virtually confirmed the French claims that the Verdun offensive is halted temporarily at least. At the same time, Berlin reported the capture of over 1600 yards of trenches and the Navarin farm, the scene of desperate conflict in last Sep tember's offensive. Efficient artillery preparation pre ceded this assault, indicating that the big Teuton howit zers battered the Champagne defenses as they did the French lines at the beginning of the Verdun drive. More than 1,000 prisoners were taken by the Germans. Paris admitted the Champagne loss, attributing it to a "surprise" attack. For the first time since the opening of the Verdun campaign, though, Berlin claimed no important gains in that region. The Meuse "peninsula,'' a strip of land five miles from Verdun, said Berlin, has been cleared of the French, who have exhausted themselves in their efforts against Douaumont and Hardaumont. The Germans claimed to have nroeressed further in the direction of Vacherauville and Bras, four miles north of Verdun, and to have gained the foot of Cote Lorraine in the Woevre. Before Bras can be taken, the Teutons must storm the Pepper Heights. Berlin mentioned no fighting there. As for Douaumont, Pans reported the. repulse of at tacks, while Berlin said the French had worn themselves out there. Attacks northwest of Fresnes have been repulsed, Paris declared. Paris, Feb. 28. The Verdun woods may go down in history as the world's bloodiest battlefield. Trainloads of wounded, shattered men are reporting here, giving evidence of fearful carnage north of Verdun. Other trains are steaming eastward with reinforcements and ammunitions to fill the gaps made by the German of fensive. "There must be .",0,000 wounded men dying in awful agony in the rain and snow, simply because their comrades ninnot reach them," said a surgeon to day. "Tiie percentage of dead will exceed that of the Champagne offensive last September because in this battle there is no lull, and no chance to withdraw the wounded under fire." Thousuuds of dead and wounded men lay in the open on the plain north of Pepper Heights, under n hurricane of tdiells. Other thousands are among the .stumps of Ca.ures forest, the wounded in n living death, the dead left to rot. while the killing continues. On the plain north of Douaumont, the slaughter is frightful. Surgeons reported that some regi ments on both sides had almost disap peared, so awful is the battling. All nuree that never before has there been known a cannonade comparable to that ly the Germans. Though the tragedy of Verdun is written on the faces of the Parisian men and women, they are nevertheless w Aba Martin ft Tli' free list has leen suspended for th' cumin' vreddin' o' Mi Plump I'.nh an' Oscar Oscar Bud. Who remem bers when only th' leadin naloon l.ccper wore a diamond? n p UUu Fall cheered bv the latest advices indicating that the French left holds the Pepper Heights while the center and right are counter attacking from the ruins of Douaumont. Officers assert that the French have accumulated so strong a reserve for such nn offensive as this, that the Gcr' man losses soon will be so great that the offensive must halt from sheer ex haustion. Attack Is Only Prelude. London, Feb. 28. With all his re sources, the kaiser is striking for an im mediate, overwhelming victory, intend ed to end the war. The past week's battling for the fortress of Verdun is but the prelude to a grand assault along the western front the most tremendous offensive i the world has ever seen. j Simultaneously with the land opera tions, the German submarine campaign against armed ships is due to start at I midnight Tuesday. Prince Henry of : Prussia, has taken over a high navy I command preliminary to this. London is tense. She awaits news that the German fleet is coming out into the North sea or that Zeppelins . are approaching. "Tt is the real thing at last," said I the Times critic todnv. I While Europe and the world are on 'edge, perhaps the greatest artillery and ' infantry battle ever known rages over i the ruins of Douaumont, not far from j Verdun. The position has chnnged hands I repeatedly during the past few days. Two miles west of Douaumont, the French are projecting the flame of ar tillerv across the Talu ridge and the an- ' proach to the "Pepper Heights," bar ring the advance to crdun. Austro German guns are shooting tons of ex plosives into the armored slopes of the Pepper position in an attempt to blast the ridge awav, thus opening the road through Bras to Verdun. Say Verdun Must Tall. Berlin, Feb. 28. 'l he foil of Verdun, pirsnihly within a fortnight, was pre dicted by military critics here today. They pointed out that no fortress i since the war started has withstood a German attack once a breach was made in the outer defenses. "Douaumont was in ruins Thursday, the dny before the Brandenburg forces stormed it." said the Vnssiche Zeitung correspondent today. "Four of our heavy shots hit the bull's eye of Douau mont and explosions in the interior fol lowed. "A second fort nearby blew up just as did Fort I.onciii at Liege, the result of a single large calibre shell crashing into an ammunition magazine. 'iOur artillery opened a murderoues fire on the morning of the 21st. Thanks to the splendid activity of our fliers, the aeroplanes of the enemy were un able to observe our extensive prepara tions. Our fire raged with increasing fury until late afternoon, enrolling trenches and tearing entanglements to (Continued on Page Five.) McARTHUR INDORSES CHAMBERLAIN BILL Washington, Feb. 28. Repre sentative McArthur, of Oregon, today endorsed the Ferris-Chamberlain biU dealing with the California-Oregon land eases. "The proposition to sell tim ber lands worth $10,000 to .$20, 000 a quarter section for $2.50 an aere is ridiculous, " he told the house public lands commit tee. "The proceeds should go to the school and road funds." Representative Wilson with drew his bill, which Chairman Ferris had denounced as "load ed." HE SAW TOO MUCH Portland, Ore., Feb. 2.8 Vladivostok was far as I'etroff Burachenko, 20, got when he set out to join the. grand duke's army in the Caucasus. Today lie is back in Portland and wants to take out citizenship papers immediately. Sight of all the war preparations at the Siberian port chilled his blood, he said. E M. D. Bousman Kills Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Akers Near Wilderville Grants Tass, Ore., Feb. 28. M. D. Bousman was formally charged today with murdering Mr. mid Mrs. L. B. Ak ers near Wilderville, 10 miles from Grants Pass. Arrested by .Sheriff Smith late yes terday, Bousman admitted that ho lii. by the roadside and shot Akers and hi., wife when they passed by on their win- to Sunday school. Their two I, also were shot and killed. Bollsmnn. nirpd ti.'l vnnrq liml ri,,u,-i.,.t. ed with Akers his neighbor nvcr n honn. dary fence. Because he uttered threats uguuisi .AKers, cousman received a let ter from the district attorney warning him to ston auarrellinr with hi ,.;,,!,. bor. Akers frequently preached at the Wilderville church. .At 10 o'clock Sun dnv moniinc he wn Hiivincr in w;i,i,. ville with Mrs. Akers when Bousman tired from the brush, killing one of Alter 's horses. A second shot killed Mrs. Akers. By this time Akers probably had recog nized their assailant. A bullet wounded him, but he leaped from the wagon ami, without a weapon, attempted to fight. "The next thing I knew," said Bous man at the county jail in terror n( a mob, "my riflo was empty and they were all dead, even the horses." The bodies were found late yesterday when officers went to arrest Bousmnii. They found him in his cabin. He fered no resistance. He had attempted to end his own life by drinking laud anum, but it only made him sick. To Discuss Rural Credit at Men's Liberal Club Rural credit is one of the growing questions before the American people. A number of measures are now being drawn up to be presented to the next legislature. In order that the people may have a full knowledge of the im portance of this movement the Men '. Liberal club has invited the Hon. V; ' H. Dufur of Portland, father of the Uufur bill, to discuss rural credits at r public meeting. Mr. Percy A. Cupper, also the f ramer nf n riirnt nrmlit., Ki I to bo presented to tin IIP Y t IntlVJi nfiira will also speak at the same meeting. s me question is or Reciiil import ance to our farmers and fruit-growers, the grange and tho agricultural d partment of the Salem Commercial eln" are urged to get behind the movement and make tho meeting a success. This will bo a public mooting and Is ies are invited to be present. Remember tho dnte and place of meeting. Wednes day. March 1, at the Unitarian church. 7:4.1 o'clock. Prices Drop On Receipt of Germany's Memorandum (Copyright Jfllfi by the Xcw York .Evening Post.) New York, e7 28. On reports of German successes in tho Verdun drive, stock market prices at the opening to day fell from one-half to 1 point. A regular recovory followed, however, seemingly in response to dispatches contradicting the earlier claims. While the trading was swinging back and forth, news of Germany's memor andum with its seeming refusal to post pone its new submarine campaign was published. Naturally this caused prices to I rcak again in the afternoon's de cline was sharp and general. Bodies Wash Ashore. London, Feb. 28. The bodies of the captain and eight sailors of the Wilson liner, Dido, sunk early Saturday, were washed up today on the Lincolnshire coast. The Dido was a -1,800 ton steamer. LIMA IS mihe iti in 171 ARE DROWNED Steamer Empress Going to Her Aid Also Strikes Mine and Goes Down FIVE OTHERS HIT MINES WITHIN LAST TWO DAYS Bodies of 12 Women and Six Children In Morgue One Baby Floats Safely London, Feb. 28. That the Penin sular and Oriental liner Maloja carried 120 persons, including 110 passengers and that only 200 had been saved when she was mined off Dover yesterday was the revised report of the company to day. Its statement, however, expressed the hope that further rescues would he made. Previous figures indicated 40!' aboard, with 55 passengers and 9(i crew lost. The new figures indicate that 171, instead of 151 per'ished. The Russian liner Petshenga wis sunk today, the seventh victim of mines in two days. Fifteen of her crew were landed. Other destroyed ships were: the Bri tish liner Kmpresi, of Fort William, mined in going to the Maloja 's rescue; the British vessel.-, liirgit, and Suevier; the French - vessc; Trignac, and the Dutch steamer Me -kclenburg. . The bodies of 12 women and six child ren victims of the Maloji explosion lay today in the Dover morgue. Several survivors were dying of exposure. Meanwhile an investigation was un der way to determine how the vessel was mined. The ship sank within view of Dover. A heavy explosion turned the vessel keel up and she sank within a short time. For the most put good order was maintained. Forty seven dead have been identifi ed at the Dover morgue. It is possible the Maloja struck one of the mines the Germans are known to have sown off the Thames channel bv Genn.in ships operating under neutral flags. The Holland-American liner Kvndaui is reliably reported to have struck one ot tnesn recently. The Ma lo.ia was a 12,4.11 ton liner, and was the sister ship oi' the destroyed liner Persia. A bnbv girl, wr.ipped in blankets and unharmed, was picked up an hour litter the -Maloja sank. Siskiyou Mountains Still Impassable for Automobile Tourists The state highway department has received information from employes on the Siskiyou mountain work that it is still impossible for automobiles to get through over the mountains. Two cars last week from Portland got as far as Siskiyou and found it necessary to turn back. It will probably be 10 or 15 days, if the weather continues favorable, be fore it will be possible to get over the mountains. The weather has been exceptionally favorable there, and a crew has been set to dragging the road as far as thr Htatiou at Siskiyou, and it m expected that it will be put in excellent condition for the season's traffic. There have been no serious slides and the grade has settled materially during the winter season. Medical Students Still On Strike Over Frog Portland, Ore., Feb. 28. Freshmen at the University of Oregon mediealcollegc today still refused to attend the classes of Dr. John D. MacLaren. Further more, tho entire student body has en dorsed the freshman "strike." The class declared a boycott nr1 MacLaren Friday. MacLaren had re fused to apologize for comparing the gray matter of Archibald N. McDonald, a student, to that of the frog which the cIbms was studying. McDonald in a grantintc of Whitman college and a married man. Trouble had heen brewing between MacLaren and the students for months. Bloodhounds Lose Scent of Fleeing Murderer San Jose, Cal.. Feb. 28. The chief hope of the police of capturing th' murderer of George X. Jones, College Park banker, lies todnv in the fault that the slnver who stabbed himself in 'the arm when he attacked Jones, nil' be compelled by infection or loss of blood to seek medical ntd. The bloodhonnds, after trailing th" slayer across the marshes into Alnmcdn county by the scent left on the top of tules in water two feet deep, lost the trail completely. EUGENE TO MARSHFIELD BY APRIL 15 SAYS SCOTT Portland, Ore., Feb. 28. Rail road service between Kugenc and Marshfield will be an ac tual fact before April 15, said John M. Scott, general passen ger agent. of the Southern Pa cific, returning today from un inspection trip. A bridge across the Umpqua river is not yet constructed, but until it is built, passengers and baggage will be ferried across. CITIZENSHIP IS RESTORED Governor Withycombe has granted re storation to citizenship of Ed Hender son and Duke MeCurdy, who in April, 101,1, were tried in Washington county for a statutory offense and sentenced to serve from three to 20 years in the penitentiary but who were paroled from the bench at the time sentence was pro nounced, by Judge J. IT. Campbell. i lti.ensiup was restored at the re quest of Judge Campbell, District At torney E. B. Hongue and numerous rest dents of Washington countv. I John M. Eshleman Expires Suddenly at Indio This Morning Sacramento, Cal., Feb 28. John M. Eshleman, lieutenant governor of t'ali forni.i died this morning at 5:;10 at Indio, Cal. The first news was receiv ed at the governors office at the capitol. Kshlcninn died in tha Southern paci fic club house in the town of Indio. His death was due to tuberculosis. Eshleman left San Francisco Friday night for his home in Imperial, Cal. He was taken ill en route and stopped off at Indio. Eshelnian was born in Villa Ridge, 111., June 14, 18711 the son of William J. and Rachel Elizabeth (Kelly) Eshel nian. " . He was graduated from the Univers ity of California with the degree of A. B. in 1002, and received the M. A. de gree tho following ye.ir. He married Miss Elizabeth Lcdgett of Oakland in lOOti. Eshelnian early took an interest in political questions, and after being ad mitted to the state bar in 1005, ran for tho legislature and w.is elected in 1007. For tiirce years, from 1007 to 1010, he served as district attorney of Imperial county, Eshelnian 's most recent place of residence was in Los Angeles. He al so had a home in El Cenrto and was eu route there when stricken with his last ilness. The lieutenant governor ha-.l been in ill health for a number of years. In 19115 he removed temporarily to Arizonia and returned to California in an apparently improved condition. He presided at the special session of the legislature this year ind said he was feeling better than in sonic years. Died All Alone. Indio, Cal., Feb. 28. Lieutenant Gov ernor John M. Eshleman died nlonc in his room at the Southern Pacific hotc. here shortly after 5:.i0 o'clock this morning. Death was duo to a hemorrhage which followed a severe coughing -spell. Just before he died, Eshelman called for help. His feeble cry was heard by Manager Craig, of the hotel, lint tin end came before Crnig renched the lieu tenant governor's bed chamber. Eshleman wan en route to El Centre He was taken ill on the train, and de cided to stop over night at the hotel, intending to resume ills journey in the morning. The body was taken in charge by members of the Masonic lodge. Statt Senator Thompson Is coming to Indio to make funeral arrangements. Johnson's Fine Tribute. Sacramento, Cal., Feb. 28. Governor Johnson was visibly affected hy the news- of Eshleman 's death. Eshleman was always referred to by tho gover nor as "Jack." In a statement th governor said: ".rack's death is tile worst blow and saddest blow the state has ever had. I am. broken hearted. I love 'Jack Eslile mnn as I have cared for few men. I was hoping and planning that he might be my successor as governor." He was braver than all thn rest of us. God gavo us health and strength to work and fight with. Jack had neither, but h worked and fougtit better than any of us, and always at his elbow, was the grim spectre. "This state is so close to what Jack Eshleman has done thnt its colloiwal im portance may not now bo wholly ap preciated; but the generations of hr. children and his children's children, with pride, gratefully and reverently will point to the lasting achievements of the master mind in (.alifornia's lib erntion from the commercial tyranny of transportation companies, and John M. Eshleman as the ycurs pass, will grow bigger and greater, just as wo who love him have ever seen and known him. "There is iust one man like Jink Eshleman in each generation and his lass Is irreparable." (Continued on Tags Two WILSON'S FII STAND MAY CLEAR SITUATION President's Declaration "I Have No Choice In Honor But Ta Take the Position I Have Strikes HomeGerman Of ficials However Think Secret Orders Issued by England, for Merchantmen to Attack Submarines, Found On Shi? Wcodfield May Change Position By Carl W. Ackerman, United Press Staff Correspondent. Berlin, Feb. 28. Germany will not torpedo passenger liners without warning even after Tuesday, when her warfare against armed merchantmen becomes effective, the United Press was reliably informed today. Germany will endanger human lives only in case a steamer at tempts to escape, to fire on a submarine or to ram it. : The difference between the past and the future sub marine warfare will be that: Armed ships will not be considered legitimate peaceful trading vessels. - Commanders will not torpedo every ship encountered, trusting later that they may prove them vessels armed for offense. Commanders will not violate previous instructions to warn passenger liners before sinking them. Germany is not courting trouble with America, but if a future accident endangers Americans, Germany will consider she is not responsible, inasmuch as she has warned Americans and the American government of ficially. Officials and the American colony read with surprise President Wilson's letter to Senator Stone. Leaders were astounded that the' armed ship controversy had been linked by the president with a question of America's na tional honor. As the hour of the new' campaign approaches, the question of a possible diplomatic break is receiving more consideration, as both officials and the public believe America's attitude in the pending negotiations is un friendly. The above is the first indication that Germany does not intend to torpedo liners, even if armed and it indi cates she intends to fulfill her pledges in the Arabic case. There is almost a contradiction, however, in the state ment that she will not consider armed ships "legitimate, peaceful trading" vessels. This may mean she insists that armed vessels must be regarded as warships and it might prevent embarrassment should an overzealous submarine commander sink an armed liner. Wnaliimrtnn. Feb. 28. Oermnnv's rc- itemtion of intent to torpedo armed Merchanlmen beginning Wednesdny was handed (Secretary or mate i.nns ing today by German Ambassador Von Hornstortr. Lansing's only announcement was Vfin Ri-riistorff left his government's memorandum. That is all I can say." The German envoy was equally , un communicative. Later, however, it was learned the mnnifiiNinilnni fill tnincd the rc.mirt of submarine commanders on a score of cawe-s, in which it was alleged Hritish merchantmen used tneir armament of fensively. It also gave further refer ences to alleged secret Hritish admir alty orders to destroy submarines. the original copy of the alleged copy, found on the sci.ed liner Appam, was recently given to Lansing by Von Bernstorff. The Austrian charge d' affairoB visit ed the secretary after Von Bernstorff and declared Austria's viows wero iden tical with Germany's. Tho house and senate Kept nanus on in tho situation. England's Secret Orders. Washington. Feb. 28. England 's al leged orders to merchantmen to attack submarines, as claimed by Germany, ..emf.fl tnHiiv trt offer thn Inst hone for n satisfactory adjustment of tho Ger man-American neauiocu. n mesa or ders are proved to exist, tho American position toward Germany may be some what altered. . Ambassador Von Bernstorff 's in structions from Berlin, however, offer ed no npparent hnsis for a snttlomenti The Gorman envoy hail nn appointment with Secretary of State Lansing short ly before noon. Austrian Charge d 'Af faires Zwiedinek conferred with Lnns-i ing soon after Bernstorff left, suying Austria's views are tho -same as Ger many's. He left no memorandum, how ever. Though the state department heads expect no postponement of this decree, they were gratified that Germany, in her instructions, has recognized thnt the I.usitania settlement is involved in the decrea Rernstorf f ' word from Berlin was reported to include assurances that Ge' many recognizes the pledge given in the Lnsitnnia nnd Arabic cases not tc 'attack peaceful ships without warning, but it is said to hold thnt armed sessels ore not peaceful ships entitled to suci consideration. Congress Quiets Down. Coneress is not expected to interfere in tho administration's German-Amer ican course. Excitei...-nt there baa sub sided; Senator Gore said he would not press his resolution culling for a warn ing to Americans to keep off armed ships and tho house pacificists havo practically abandoned similur agitation. It is reported that Bernstorff iu struc.tious point out that danger to. Americans from the German decree is remote and administration men believe thnt is a fact, particularly as no armed British, French or Russian ships touch. America and take American passengers. The general arming of Italian ships i the principal danger. But Germany i not at war with Italy, boi naturally would not attack her ships. Any disput about American on Italian armed ship would probably be with Austria which is at war with Italy. It is reliably reported that Germany is not yet proposing to discuss what, constitutes defensive armament. Ambassador Bernstorff conferred with l.aiminff. The emba.fsv said it did not evpect postponement of the armed, mere.nanimen decree. , . Amh...iilnr Ui.pimtorff left n memo randum with Secretary Lansing, in r', six minute conference.. Lansing, an nounced he has this notice under, cou-. sideration. i (Continued on Paaa Three.) ( ' ; THE WEATHER $ - Oregon: To night lair south, ' n 1 11 or snow . north portion; : Tuesday fair west, mint, or snow east por lion; westerly winds. TNEBOAlfiiR)