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About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919 | View Entire Issue (March 12, 1917)
n g m p&ji FULL LEASED f 1 A WIRE DISPATCHES H II AAfP- vJJ, l(r CIRCULATION IS OVER 43CD DAILY iTnlf IWtyfy' FORTIETH YEAR NO. 61 SALEM, OREGON, MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1917 PRICE TWO CENTS HUE FIGHTING RESULTS IflBRITISH i VinORTJ SQHUE Capture Strong Position and Group of Picked Men Defending It BAGDAD CAPTURED BY ... GENERAL MANDES ARMY Loss Blow to Turkish Pres tige, and Shatters Ger many's Dream of Asia By William Philip Slmxns. . (United I'rohs staff correspondent) With the British Armies Afield, Mar. 12. Capture of Irles by British forces brings England 's fighting men to the iniiiii German defense line between Lou part wood and Aihiet Le Petit. This latest victory achieved by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haigli's troop9 was cited today as an ideal illustration of the furious fighting on the Somme, which has entered a brand new phase. . with, the hegii'iiing ot the German re lirement. The once -c.uv.v village of Irles aat almost at the top of a slope leading to the plateau on which is I.oupart wood There were quarries east and north ot the village with sunken roads on all sides. It was this feature of the ground surrounding the town that made its de fense bv small units easy. Here the Germans posted many de fenders in groups of eight, in charge of non-commissioned officers. They were iinned with machine-guns. Ka.cn group hud orders to stick until specifically told to retire. , . . i . After the hurricane of bombardment the British attacked from the west laud south, converging their, line 'fhey swept over th'? ground killing or taking prisoner eveTJliermnn in the' pocket thus formed. The fighting .was crisp and sharp while it lasted, Bagdad is Takea. ..London, Mar. 12 Mosul-is tiie next objective of General Maude's victorious British forces in Mesopotamia. While details of the occupation of the ancient city of Bagdad were lacking today and the public was expeetantlty awaiting a full narrative which would show import ant captures of prisoners and war ma terial from the Turks in the taking o'f the city, it was known the British forces do not intend to rest on their arms. . Mesopotamia is now encircled by thee great forces of entente troops, whose lines are tightening and driving the Turks further toward the tip of Asia embraced in Anatolia. These forces are first, General Maude's victorious column, which has taken Kut-EI-Amara and now Bagdad and is still advancing; second, the Bri tish force advancing along the coast line of the Mediterranean toward Jerusalem; third, the Russian forces across Persia toward the Turkish flank and rear. A fourth force of Russians from which little has been heard recently, is around Mush still farther to the rear of the Turks. Military experts hailed the fall of Ungdad as a tremendous blow at Turk ish prestige and one likely to have far reaching effect in the near east. The capture of the citv likewise is the final blow inflicted on Berlin's ambitious plans for a Berliii-toBagdnd railway which would connect Germany with Asia. GreatVictory at Bagdad. London, Mar. 12 British troops have achieved a brilliant victory at Bagdad, (Continued on page three.) ; ABE MARTIN Th' day's comin'. when a feller with a quart. '11 havo more .friends than th' feller with a seven-. passenger car. As- -The respite. was granted to give May eumiq' th' air o' prosperity-without th'jtery's lawyers time to appeal-from, the lnKruy is one" o" ia- Tine arts tOGsen times. Stone Fill Retain . Place As Chairman Washington, Mar. 12. Senator Wil liam J, Stone, criticised s one of the "wilful men" who succeeded in block ing the president's armed neutrality bill during the closing hours of the last session, succeeds himself as. chairman of the foreign relations- '-niniittee. The list of new e, , tee assign ments, announced toda - 6 he steering committee, shows Stou6 " ' heading the senate 'i most importnn. . -rdinate branch- His reappointing. V 'spite widespread criticism that so. 'her man should replace him owing to ' failure to support the president critical time, has been forecast on belief that "senatorial courtesy" a "senatorial precedent" was too strong to bo disregarded. Among other committee assignments agreed upon were Senator Thomas, dem ocrat, succeeds ex-Senator O'Gornian on the foreign relations committee, nud Senators Fall and Knox Till two repub lican vacancies on the same commit to". In the new congress beginning with the ejttra session, democrats will pre side over 54 senate committees and re publicans over 20. This is a gain of ooe for the republicans over last year. STATIONS MUST CLOSE German Agents Busy Foment ing Trouble In South . American Republics Washington,. March 12. Every nrnateur wireless station in the United States will be dismantled by order of the president if war cc.ues, according to authoritative announcement here to day. This will be one of the moves to protect naval and military plans. Officials admitted, reoorts of hidden German' wireless stntioons are causing them much more anxiety than the ser ious matter of bomb plots. Federal search for these stations has been re doubled, not only in the United States, but in Mexico and Central America. ' The harm that could bo done ..thi .government arid the aid that could be afforded an enemy through outlaw wireless, officials said tjday, is im measurableand obvtfous. The United Press' informant pointed out how German military agents in France and England kcrt the Teuton military leaders . closely . informed of conditions and military mic in the. tivo former countries for months after the ivar started throag'i wireless ap paratus hidden in eh'ircli steeples, hotel attics and oven in v:al b. r... The government al-o ii trdi.ilding its ef forts to break up the nnv Wclosed German attempt tu crcit? suspicion, uneasiness and ootua. rfr:!ution in South and Central American countries. The government is said to have evi dence that German agents not only are fomenting ill-feeling against the United States, but they are also arraying country against country and even at tempting to stir up revolutions inside countries in South and Central Amer ica. South American diplomats here are endeavoring to reach some common ground of neutrality. Meetings which began February five are being held to determine upon joint action when questions of neutrality violations arise. CARnAizSi BY UNANIMOUS VOTE Followers Chosen As Deputies and Senators Officer Is Jailed Laredo, Texas, Mar. 12. Passengers arriving here today from Torreon re port that Villa has not captured Durau go, as reported in border dispatches Sat urday. The -railroad between Torreon and Duraugo is intact, according to these pussengers and the bandits had not been reported in that vicinity when they left Torreon. General Luis Caballero, Carranza of ficer, has been jailed at Guadalajara by the first chief for having executed the bandit Carrero Torres at Victoria, against Carranza 's orders, according to reports in Nuevo Laredo today. Cabal lero exhibited Torres at various places prior to the execution. Torres' mother Las taken up arms against the de facto government to revenge her son's death. All reports here earl today say the election passed off quietly in northern Mexico yestefday. AU these reports show Carranza received almost unanim ous vote for president and that his fol lowers have been chosen by the voters as deputies and. senators ia the north. NO PLACE TO HANG HIM Washington,. Mar. 12. Edward May bery, Spokane murderer, who was 4o have been hanged at the federal build in? ther but for a treasury dpiiflrtmpnt larder, was rodav ramrod a i-estiite of an days by the pesident. -; reretfiu court Ueata sentenre wnwu eon flieta with state laws. NATIONS NOTIFIED I AMERICA VILLARM MERCHA1IT SHIPS The 'Armed Guard" WM1 Be Be Composed of Gunners from Amencan Navy MUNITION STEAMERS - WILL ALSO CARRY GUNS American Inventors Engaged In Providing Defenses for Vessels By Carl D. Croat (United Press staff correspondent) . Washington, March 12. An "arm ed guard" for the protection of ves sels and lives of persons aboard will be placed on all American merchant ships sailing through Germany's bar red era, the state department today notified nil foreign diplomats in this city. The following statement was pre sented to the foreign diplomats "for their information:" ; "Jn view of the announcement of the Imperial German government on January 31, 1917, that all ships, those of neutrals included, met within cer tain zones of the high seas would be sunk without, 'any precautions being taken for tho safety of the persons, on board and without the exercise of visit and search, the government of the Unit ed States has determined to place upon all American merchant vessels sailing through the barred areas an armed guard for the protection of the vessels and tho lives of the persons on board." The -state department gave out the copy 'of this statement shortly after Secretary Lansing had conferred at the white house with President Wilson. " -The official notice will serve Jo warn submarines of the allied powers as to America's intentions. Gunners From the Nayy British undersea boats, however, arc understood, to be operated only under convoy, since there is little likelihood that the armed ships will make mis takes as to recognizing the nationality of submarines. - - The " armed guard " will" be Amer ican navy gunners. The official state ment shows, too, that it is the inten tion of the government to arm not on ly passenger steamers but also to pro vido guns and navy gunners for mu nition ships. The statement to the foreign, diplo mats cleared up definitely the question of whether navy gunners would bo us ed. The state department holds that the presence of these men aboard will not givo the vessels the status of warships. Tho vessel becomes a warship only when used definitely for that purpose, tho department rules- Tho stato department held that re gardless of whether or not secret or ders were issued to the gunners, armed merchant ships could not be classed as warships, though Germany has claim ed that Great Britain's secret orders made her armed ships actual war ves sels. Inventors at Work While tho state department was making this definite announcement, presumably at the direction of Presi dent Wilson, the navy department was refusing any details as to its plans. American inventive genius, it is known, however, has been called upon to give aid in ' protecting American . . ..... snips venturing loriu suun nnu manv'a barred area. United Slates inventors, including tho plectrical wizard. Thomas A. till son, are trying to design methods of sheltering merchantmen from all Gcr- ni-in undersea boats. These new inveii tions will be installed in the armed vessels, provided they meet with gov nrntm'Ut. nmil'OVftJ. What the plans are will be withheld lor military reasons, but it is admitted a perfected smoke screen may be one means employed. British ships now use such device, artificial, 'smoke from chemicals that hides a vessel Denimi an impenetrable screen. Electric methods of detecting sub marines, improving upon the present microphone attachments, may oe in vented. But in keeping with the ad ministration's plan of secrecy, no de tails will be announced lest German inventors be placed at work to over come the American advantage. The work of arming merchantmen should occupy only a few more days and men -American i-uunucuc ireed from the bonds that have kept it in American harbors. SHERIDAN IjOS8. V Woahinctin. March 12. The antii-oiiiB court todav refused a hearing to Thomas R. Sheridan, president of the first national Runic of Rnaebur'?. Oregon, con- vintorl nt misaiinrooriation of funds belonging to Iavid Hull and Laura Verrell, depositors. The court's refusal closes the cose. ' - AIIERICANIAIIBASSADOR St. Members of Party Tell of At tempt to Force Him to Signlreaty WILL SAY NOTHING UNTIL HE TALKS TO PRESIDENT Has Ready for Submission to Wilson a Story of Amaz ing Details GERMANY'S SITUATION Members of Ambassador Ger- ard's party, arriving at Havana today, were authority for these statements as to Germany's present situation: Food is very scarce; infants and aged persons are particular- ly susceptible to lack of proper nourishment and their mortal- ity is increasing. Germany hopes her present supply of food will eke out un- til this year's harvest. But this year's harvest promises only a fair crop- Insufficiency of nitrate and metals is interfering with the output om munitions. Confiscation of private prop- erty, to an extent at least, has been considered by the govern- nient; either will be necessary or Germany must repudiate her war debts. The war empire is close to bank- ruptcy and this is one of the ominous signs of possible break- down. By Fred S. Ferguson. (United Press staff correspondent.) Havana, Cuba, Mar. 12. By nightfall James W. Gerard, former ambassador to Berlin, will devoutly rejnie.n in once more treading United States soil. It has hcen a long, long way from Ber lin to Washington nearly 6,000 miles in the route traversed by the former envoy and until the very last moment it was a journey filled with apprehen sion; a journey that came after wear ing days of long drawn out tension in Berlin. The ambassador and his embassy par ty expected to leave Havana today. Gerard will report to. President Wilson at. the earliest possible moment.' Until he has thus personally detailed the cir cumstances of those trying days in Ber lin and given the chief magistrate the (Continued oi page two.) J WMMt HOI-IE TODAY 111117. Oregon Men Members of Farm Loan Board Washington, March 12. Announc ment was madd Saturday night by the federal farm loan board of the follow ing appointments of officers and di rectors for the Federal Land bank of Spokane, Wash.: President and director, D. G. O'Shea, Red Lodge, Mont. Vice president and director, C E. B. Roberts, Rupert, Idaho. Secretary and director, Georgo C. Jewett, Palouse, Wash. " Treasurer and director, George M. Dreher, Spokane, Wash. ; . .Director, A. W. Cauthorn, Portland, Or. ; Registrar and attorney, Turner 01 .iver, La Grande, Or; Treasury department statement re garding appointees says in part: O'Shea, -by sheer ability, has built up a large banking institution at Red Lodge; has devoted efforts to build ing the great northwest, and has gain ed extensive knowledge of problems of agriculture. He is owner of farms, interested in merchandising, a large stock raiser and member of the Mon tana senate. ENGLAND IS FEELING A POTATO SHORTAGE agar and Some Other Com modities Short, But Most Are Plentiful By Ed L. Keen, (United Press Staff Correspondent.) (.. London, March 12. Hngland feels tho pinch of shortage of potatoes in her decreased food supplies today more than America would under the same circumstances. The Britisher has an inordinate potato appetite. The vege table is regarded as an essential in gredient of every meal. N It is this shortage of potatoes that is causing the only real outcry here. It was manifested in accusations from the poorer quarters of London that certain provisionos shops and markets are saving up their present supplies, hoping later to extract extortionate prices. So far Americans in London not as exacting as the Britishers in de manding potatoes with every meal have not felt pinched by any shortage. There is the usual variety in diet everywhere. Throughout London today all cafes and restaurants united in reducing the size of the potato portion while lifting the price. Sugar is also steadily diminishing So are some other commodities, but to a much less degree.' The whole food situation emphasizes the recent exhortations for economy made by Premier Lloyd-GeGorge, Sir Edward Carson, Lord Northcliffe and others. Portland, Ore.: Lumber aggregat ing $.500,000 feet and valued at about $150,000 wm sold yesterday morning 1 - 4. . TI....1 .1 L CtLn.n. i ior Bmpment xrum runuou w ouuk- I nai ana Australia, ine aeai is me Heav iest to be closed in a single day during the year. Attesr.pt Made to Plat - . Fortification Sites I.os Angcleg, Cal., Mar. 12. Federal officers todiy began an investigation of what they believe may have been "un rueeesaful plot to map the pomrible, for tification sites of southern California for a foreign government. This follow ed the receipt from Chief of Police Cole of military sketches, a diary, a German book and a number of personal effects found beside a skeleton discovered by a Long Beach hiking party near Glendora 8unday. The Long Beach authorities believe the skeleton is that-of a Young Ger man officer, and hint that Teuton ac tivities in this country were under way six years ago, according to the diary, wnose last entry was dated April 6, 1911. The maps are said to bo the work of a trained military man and all letter ing is in "code. The last entry in the diarv read: "It is raining now. From this moun tain, I want to leave the earth and go back to Mr. God where I was from the beginning. God forgive me, tor I know not what I am doing," The tone of this entry and the dis covery of a rusty automatic near the skeleton, with a hullet Rone, indicates the myrftery man committed suicide. I AT Lorenze Bellomo Who Shot Him Says He Came to City for Purpose San. Dicgn, Cal., Mar. " 12. William Clayton, vica-president .and general manager of the Spreckles companies, owning the street car' system and other big public, utilities of the San Diego bay district, was shot shortly after noon to day by Lorenze Bellomo. The extent of his injuries or the cause of tho attack is not yet known.- ' Clayton was stepping into his auto mobile when, tho mrfn walked up and fired, twice;- .Clayton fell into tho arms of Horton Titus, an attorney .The assail ant handed his Revolver to a polieeman an Clayton was rushed to a hospital. The man told officers ho bad a foot cut off in a street car accident six years ago. One shot struck Clayton in the pit of tho stomach. Bystanders say that when the shots wero fired the injured man ex. claimed: "I am shot. Go get him." - Bellomo said he came here from Los Angeles expressly to shoot Clayton. He is an Italian. Washington Has Big Street Car Strike Washington, Mar. 12- Washington is today in the throes of its long threat ened street car strike. The men wrrc to have acted March S, but on a patri otic appeal postponed their action until after the inauguration. Following failure of efforts by Secre tary of Labor Wilson to bring officials of the Washington Railway and Electric company and one thousand of its men to terms, the latter struck at 2:30 a. m. The strike affects 10 of the capital's most important traction arteries. Company officials immediately put to work HOO strikebreakers, imported from Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore. The Capital Traction company met tho men's demands. The National Amalgamated Associa tion, which conducted the strikes in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Boston and other big cities, is behind the local strike. Polk Will Resist New Bridge Order Dallas, Ore., Mar. 12 The Polk county court has decided to fight the action for a writ of mandamus to com pel tho county court of Polk and Ma rion counties to start the building of the Salem bridge across the Willam ette. The members of the two courts were this week served with copies of tho writ, signed by Chief Justice Mc Bride of -the supreme court, to which D. A. White nnd Pinckny Brothers, Polk county taxpayers, are petitioners. The Polk county court ha employed Oscar Hayer, of this city, as special counsel to assist County Attorney Pia- -secki in fighting tho case in the supreme court. The Polk county "court yesterday granted a license to the Salem Ferry company to operate a ferry across the Willamette river during the time that bridge traffic is closed. WRECK AT MEDFORD . Medford, Or., March 12. Four men were so seriously in- jured that they died and eight others sustained minor hurts. when a freight train was de-. railed by a broken xU two miles south of Medford early today. The dead and injured were all said to be persons stealing a ride. The names of the dead have not been aseer- tained. None of the train crew was hurt. ' TWISTER STRIKES MUHiCE, IIIDIAI1A DEATH TOLL HEAVY Twenty Known Dead. I Missmg, Property Loss aiuiiiioon CAME WITHOUT WARNING . LASTED ONLY A MINUTE- Did Much Damage On Farms Torrential Rains Followed TOLI. OF TORNADO ew Castle, Ind., and vicin ity, 20 known dead; many miss ing; 130 injured; property loss $1,000,000.., - . ' Cincinnati, three dead, CO in jured; $,W0,000 loss. Trotwood, Ohio, two injured; 4,000 domace. ... Ilrookville, Ohio, one injured $.i0,000 damage. Johnsville, Ohio, one injur ed. Dayton, " Ohio, property loss .$15,000. . (By a United, Tress staff coresrpond-' . ent) , , - New Castle, Ind., March 12. Steps for the relief of victims of the cyclone which struck this city yesterday, hill ing at least twenty persons,, wero well under way today and all immediate wants tif the homeless were cared for. Temporary lodgings were found for all whose homes had, been destroyed and-work-wasrted of cleaning up the debris and replacing the $1,000,0(10 worth -of property demolished. Fund- were received from iv larger cities in the state to be applied to take care of the destitute. Revision of the death lists at noon showed several duplications in former lists aiid brought the total number of dead in tho city and vicinity to twen ty. Russell McLean, aged 8, wan the on ly additional death rcpovted today. Ho succumbed to injuries- Many are still missing, however, and it is believed the death list will grow as the niiiis are cleared up. These figures include) the two children of Krnest Gray, a farmer living about eight, miles south of New Cas'lc, who were crushed fo death when their borne was demolished. The Death List The revised death list follows: Kverett Dunlap Mrs. Johu Davis Gray Davis Oivillo Davis Razor Newton Mrs. Aza Williamson Mrs. Vera Higgins William Lowry John Neilis . Mrs. Archie Fletcher , llcrnico Day June Day Ethel Day Krnest Watermnn Price Shelton Russell McLean Two small children of Ernest Gray Unidentified boy about 10. Relief is Rushed With tweuty bodies already recov ered search continued today for fur ther dead in the wake of the eyclone which swept down On this city late yesterday, destroying 500 homes and causing property damage of more than a million dollars. Manufacturing plants were closed while the workmen aided three com panies of militia anil 100 special po licemen in keeping guard and cleaning up tho debris, strewn over a district two and a half miles wide and fifteen miles long. The cyclone swept through tho rcsidenco district of tho city and on into a prosjierons farming country. Fifty physicians and nurses from neighboring towns are caring for the. wounded in improvised hospitals. "Fif ty are seriously injured and more, slightly hurt, uranch emergency hos pitals have been established at the Ellis home and at a fire s ation. Martial law exists in the Btrieliea district. No one is permitted to pass. (Continued nn page six.) : THE WEATHER Oregon: To night and Tues day rain west, rain or snow east portion; warmer eajt portion to night; southerly winds, strong near the coast. (WfSrf lHfitD Y BIG