Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919, March 23, 1917, Image 1

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Daily capital journal., March 23, 1917, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Textxi!iiie CIRCULATION IS . OVER 43C0 DAILY m - x x d FULL LEASED ' WIRE DISPATCHES ! fin FORTIETH YEAR -no. n SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1917 PRICE TWO CENTS ON TRAINS AND NBW PTANIW F1VB C'KNTS ft krt Uftf AU r JL K . c if. 3 i,i i MIES ADVANCE EttlllTEfi FIRE : BIGSE W V This With Slowing' Re treat Indicates New Is Reached GERMANS DEFEATED WITH HEAVY LOSSES Germany Reported Placing Pnsoners In Front Line ofjattle , Loudon, Mar. 23 Pursuing British ami French troops between the Somme on "the fioissona me now encountering tire from big calibre German guns. The plain deduction is that the allies are now nenring the "Hindenburg lino," where permanent foundations for the liig guns have long been prepared. Front dispatches today, indicated fierce fighting at a score of points along the line of the Franco-British pursuit. The 'French still lead in the chase, having apparently penetrated very close to La Fore in the face of greatly- augmented opposition during the last 24 hours. They are likewise driving near to Lann, supposed to be another strategic point in the ."Hiu denburg line." On the British front the German ro sistence is stiffening to a bitter en gagement, all along the line. Hereto forelhe British advance has been by cavalry, fast moving infantry and light field pieces with machine guns. Jt was noted today, however, that front dis pHlc.hes mentioned the bringing into action of heavy artillery, indicating a stand or an expected stand by the ene my. . ' Germans Loss Heavily "Paris, Alar tili.r-While fresh French forces pressed steadily forward at. Ail lette and north of Holssons,'' other mass es ol' General Nivelle's forces inflict ed a stinging defeat on the Germans north of St- Simon, driving them back with heavy losses to Grand Serau couvt. ' ' Today's official statement, relating these facts of the day's progress a- stainst the retreating (Hermans, said the defeat had been very costly to the enemy. "The Germans attacked and were defeated with heavy losses north of Saint Bilnon,' the statement said. "They were driven back -to Grand Seraueoiirt. "It iii confirmed that the German defeat, on the front from Vregny to Chiurcs was very costly for them. An entire regiment was sent against one point with success." German Version Of It Berlin, via Sayville wireless. Star. i.l "On account of several advances of our own and of hostile reeonnoitering detachments artillery activity on the coast of Flanders and in the Arras sec tions was temporarily increased," de clared today's official statement. " VVe took a number of prisoners. French troops, which on both sides of .St. Simon had crossed the Homme and Orosut canal, were repulsed by an at tack against anil beyond these sectors. 'The enemy suffered sanguinary losses and lost 2110 prisoners, as well as sev eral machine guns and carts. "Between the Oise and the Aisne during the evening engagements de veloped west and south of Margival. "Attacks of strong French forces were repulsed under heavy losses by fire and hi counter attacks. "Our artillery also in other places found, advantageous aims in assembling (Continued on page three.) ABE MARTIN Xext t' 1her haint a yisterday 's cream puff nothin' worse'n a stale Ther's still a few ole newspaper. timers who briahten up at th' mere mention o' Alice Oates. Wheat Goes Higher Corn Breaks Record . Chicago, Mar. 23.-With . the war clouds inspiring a bullish feeling, wheat and other grain showed a, strong tone today, Recent submarine sinking of American vessels led the market 'to believe that this' country was in a state of war, despite the fact that it had not been declared. Ideal weather conditions over the wheat belt did hot affect the pit. May wheat opened up Vi. later advancing 1 7-8 to tl.SH 7-8; Julv opened np 3-8 ami sub sequently gaiued 5-8 to $1.58 5-8. Sep tember Wheat opened unchanged, later gaining 3-4 to $1.45. Corn made a new high level for the season on opening trade and later grfin ed steadily. May opened up half eent, later going up 1 to $1.14 18. July opened up 3-8, later gaining 1 to $1.12. September opened up 3-8, subse quently advancing 1 to $1.10. Oats" followed corn and wheat. May opened up half, later gaining the same amount to sixty. July opened up at 51 3 8 and later gained 5-8 to 52. Provisions were firm and registered slight gains,- in spite of the uncertain ty of the hog market. PITIFUL CONDITIONS OF FRENCH WAR VICliS Brains Dulled by Lack of Food Colorless Faced Babies Tell of Want By William Philip Simrus, (United Press Staff Correspondent.) With the British Armies Afield March 23. The horror of the German retreat grew- today when it became known that, the Teutons at Rouy Le Petit collected about two hundred old people and children, in addition to the usual population of the place and then deliberately shelled the village. A number or these defenseles?, in nocent people weTC killed. As the Germans fall back under the relentless Anglo-Froneh . pressure the ugliest side of the war is uncovered. Hideous evidences of vandalism abound everywhere. ... vBut most tragic of all are the humaa wrecks left behind. They .stare at the incoming British and French troops with eyes mado mild by 'suffer ing. Their faces wear a blank ex pression because back of them are brains . dulled by lack of proper sus tenance. The faces of babies and the younger children nrc especially pitiful. Color less they are, with gTeat black circles under their eyes. No one had tasted meat for six months or more. Wherever we went' we heard praise of the American relief commission, whose efforts reached to the foremost villages behind the German lines. How ever, the people declared that -the Germans profited through these sup plies. Babies through all the region were especially hard hit, owing to lack of milk. Cattle disappeared entiroJy, long ago and the babies have been without milk since then. ' . , .. The problem of feeding the old peo ple and the babies is difficult but is being rapidly attended to. Citizens between 16 and 60 were mostly driven back before the retiring Germans, presumably in order to force them to work. The letreat continues today. The British are wirhin' five miles of St. Quentin and are still pressing on to ward the Nord canal, which the enemy is utilizing for purposes of defense. S LAUGH AT SIHff OF REVOLT Say German People Are Satis fied With Progress of the War By John Grandens. (United Press staff correspondent.) -Berlin, Mar. 23. "There is no revo lution" in Germany. London. Holland and Kew York rum ors that trouble has been brewing in Germany are merely the result of the entente's wish being father to the thought. Germany is united, confident and with no signs of any revolution: German officials today were amused at the circulation iu entente channels of such a report. They attributed it first to nervousness felt by Germany's en emies over the Russian revolution. And the Russian revolution itself they at tributed to failure of the allies to make any gain which might be construed as advancing their cause toward victory. Not only German officials, but the German people are entirely satisfied with the results of the submarine war fare. They are satisfied with the pro gress of the war. The German peo ple arc entirely content with present conditions. The promise made by the imperial4 ichancellor, Von Bethmann-Hollweg re - centlv in the Prussian diet of future ' j liberties is a guarantee to the people of the future. The retreat of the German torses on BECAUSE BOMBS DQ HOT EXPLODE MAHY SHIPS SAVED These Were Made by Captain Charles Kleist, Detective Swears WERE PLACED ON BOARD ALLIES SUPPLY SHIPS Hundreds of Them Unexpbd . ed Found In Vessels Reaching France New York, Mar. 23. Only faulty eon struction of bombs manufactured by Captain Charles Von Kleist, to be placed on allied food ships, saved hun dreds of vessels from destruction, De tective Barth testified today in the trial of six alleged bomb plotters. The bombs, he said, were taken aboard many vessels, but they were not proper ly made and failed to explode. Hundreds of bombs, Barth said, wrc found in the holds of vessels after they reached France. The state department was notified. Barth said he had been assigned to the case in January, 1915, and had worked continuously to get evi dence for a year and a half. , Barth, who has traced down numer ous German intrigues, was not shaken by the cross-examinntiou from the pris oners' six lawyers. A chance acquaintaace in a water Sront restaurant juid bar, he said, start ed him on the real trail of his prey. For a v-ear and four mouths he had been dodging about the wharves in search of the men. - . . ; While ' drinking n glass of beer he casually started a conversation with the man next to him, ho testified,.1-It was one of. Yon Kleist 's. operatives. The man informed liiny Barth said, that Von Kleist was trying to get an interview with Captain Von Igel, relative to the sale of some bombs. Prisoners on Full Press. Barth lost no time in finding Von Kleist in the back Toom of a bar, ! "I am a secret service operative un der Captain Von Igel,, "-Barth said he told Von Kleist. "it yon want any en. gngements with him you must tell me fully your business." - '-. Von Kleist told him full details. Barth said, and ho went away. Later (Continued on page three.) CZAR AND FAMILY ARE When Arrested Says "I Am Willing to Submit to Any Decision Petrograd, Mar. 23. The last of the Romanofs was under detention at Tsarkoe-Solo todav, his guards bearing racy. The former czar, the czarina, the royal couple's only son and their four! daughters are now housed in the place.' Kvery deference has been shown all j these members of the former royal f am- iiy. Formal granting of recognition to the provisional government by the I'nited States was a cause for public rejoicing throughout Petrograd today. The newspapers Ruwkaya Volya's front page today featured a slogan in huge type, extending across the page nud remliniT "T.riiitr lii-. iha rrtnlil;l " The former czar's arrest and hisij innviiv horn wprp wmlntrt with ilrmimfip ! ncidents. Ihe four duma commission ers sent to arrest him boarded his priv ate car at Mohileff, just after the dowager empress' mother, has bade him an affectionate farewell- "I am reudv to go anywhere and sub- nut to any decision, " the czar told General Alexieff, when the latter in- formed him the duma commissioners wvere waitine. The four duma leaders later talked with the czar freely. . At Husanito station the former ruler I bade farewell to all his servants and his suite. "I thank you all for vour services."! he said. "Au revoir." DOES JUSTICE TO JEWS Washington, Mar. 23. Jews will be admitted to the free, or public schools of Russia under the new democratic "gov ernment of that nation, according to a cablegram from Ambassador FrancTs. This tremendous reform in Russia's antipathy to the Jewish race is one of the first reforms instituted by the new government. - the western front is not causing alarm, On the contrary, it is regarded with ad- miration, as one of Field Marshal Ven Hmdenburg's clever strategy moves to save human lives. . LOSS OFWARSHIPS Berlin, via 8ayille' wireless. Mar. 23. Entente losses of warships, including , auxiliary vessels,- nave now reached ! proximately 850,000 tons since the beginning of the war,- the official press bureau estimated today. - - - - . "this," the statement added, 'is equal to the combined ton nage of Russia and Japan at the beginning of. the war, or only 60,000. tons inferior to the Unit ed State navy, which was the third largest in the worldat the beginning of the war. ": AMERICAN SHIPS SUNK Amcriefin, .ships . have been sunk and lives lost, since Fcb- ruary l,as follows: . . February- 3, Housatonie, no casualties. February 1,1, Lyman M. Law, no casualties. March 12, Algonquin, unwarn ed, no casualties. March 10, Vigilancra, unwarn ed. 15 missing. March 17, City of Memphis, warned. March IS, Illinois, no casual ties. , March 21, Healdton, unwarn ed, 21 missing. OREGON SHY OF POTATOES Portland, Ore., Mar. 23. Ore gon, although supplying several other states with potatoes and ranking high in the production of the humble spud, today faces a potato famine. Aside from the holdings of .two or three large Japanese growers, prac tically no potatoes are left in the hands of the producers in the state. The fact that Oregon potatoes are sprouting badly and that the new crop will be about a month late complicates the situation. Dealers say it is almost irapoasi!' to secure ' spuds at any pric;-- ' ALLIES KECOGNIZE IT London, Mar. 23. Full recognition- was accorded the new Russian government by action of all the allies today. It was announced here on be half of the, allies that all en tente diplomatics. 'employes in Petrograd had been instructed previously to accord full recog nition when in their discretion the time had arrived for such action. " . KAISER BREAKS DOWN The Hague, Mar. 23. Kaiser Wilhelm is on the verge of a nervous breakdown and has de parted for Hombnrg, a health resort, according to private mes sages received here today. He will receive Chancellor Von Bethmann Hollweg there in stead of at German headquar ters. j. CZAR'S CHILDREN ILL Petrograd, .Mar. 23. The con dition of the children of Die former czar took a turn for the worse today. Four his daugh ters, are reported suffering from scarlet fever and the eld est of these, the Grand Duchess Olga, was said today to lie delir ious. The czarevitch is also very ill. SNOW STORMS RAGING Baramie, Wyo., Mar. 23 Kail road traffic in Wyoming is pa ralysed by a raging snowstorm, which shows no signs of abating at noon today. Four v.estbmound Union Pa cific trains are held in the yards here, despite the efforts of five rotary snow plows which work ed all night to clear the tracks. WHEAT BREAKS RECORD Portland, Ore., Mar. 23. Fivo thousand bushels of blucutem wheat, for May delivery sold on the Merchants' Exchange today for $1-75 a bushel, the highest price ever known here. Another record was set by club wheat for April delivery, of which 5,000 bushels brought 1.69. SINKHIG TANKER "SHOWS GERMANY S SEEKING YAR America's Answer Is Doubling Activities In Preparing Our Navy GERMANY IS PLANNING MORE ACTIVE SEA WAR Secretary Baker Meets Heads: of Great Industrial Concerns By Robert J. Bender (United Press staff correspondent) Washington, Mar. 23. Germany's latest affront in the torpedoing with out warning of tho American tanker Heardton will bo answered by contin ued speeding up of all preparations for actual hostilities which are now regard eil as Inevitable. President Wilson and Secretary Lansing are convinced that Germany's present course is merely hastening a clash. The president and his premier are known from the highest, and most anthoritive sources to have held the firm conviction even before the sink ing of the Healdton that the kaiser's government is determined on forcing a declaration of war from this eonntrv. President Wilson met with the cabi net today to consider developments in the international- situation and to dis cuss tho progress made by alt depart ments in preparing for hostilities. There is indication today that the pres nlent,, alter congress has denned the status between Germany and tho Unit ed States, will augment his cabinet by one or more poBts to eovcr tho work of transportation and possibly a port folio to handle the work jOf munitions making, v. - ' -- - Mi - i Confers With Bia Men ' This, however, is entirely tentative. The more likely eoursc for the pres ent, at least, ig'bclioved to be the con tinuance of the national defense coun cil as a special advisory body iii pre paring for war. Government activity embraces such a wide range now that no accurate con ception can actually be drawn as to the scope or effectiveness of the coun try's preparedness work. President Wil son is personally directing nil of these war preparations. Secretary Baker as chairman of the (Continued bn page three.) All in Devastated District Have Warmest Praise for America's By William Philip Simms ' (United Press staff correspondent) With the British Armies Afield, Mar. 23. Not only did the Germans sweep that part of France they are relinquish ing clear of homes, -supplies and roads but in many cases they swept it clear of its womanhood. In some districts women between 15 and 50 were forced to go back into the interior of Germany. The inhabitants left behind were given to understand they were being forced to work for Germany. At Kouy Ie Grand toilay 1 was told over 400 women and girls between those nges had thus been driven to the interior for work. When I asked "why?" the rcfuge.es merely shrugged their soldiers. An old man he paid he was i5 told me in a quavering voice as we stood on a ruined street at Houy he Petit: "1 have lived three miles northwest of San iuentin since a year ago whenl"'r,"n the bodies made me dig trenches along! . ..i . L-t u without tl; "They paid us fifty cents a 'day- ,i ;t L .-.rint w,n,.v hi,.h T.HTn and other French cities had been fore ed to print for the invaders Hindenburg Line Strong "The new German line on which we worked, is extraordinarily strong. I am positive the Germans intend to hold it if they can. "It is aoout a. mile wide, covering the support lines and communicating trenches and roads and with enormous fields of entanglements. "Months ago the German forces came here with a number of other old folks like myself and children. Iloth men and women from 15 to 50 and in some districts up to 00 were forced Lto go into the interior. I understand they were forced to worn tor Ger many." Tliere is no doubt of the strength of the new German line on which this old man and scores of other civilians had worked. As the Franco-British forces approached nearer it today, the fighting became stiffer and stiffer. The British and the French are pin ning the retreating Germans, right against the Arras-Cambrai-St. Qucntin-Lal'erc-Laon line. Evidences multiplied today that the Suit Over Paving , of High Street to Be Heard April 13 Friday, April 13, is the day aet for the hearing before the supreme court of the case of Mrs: Juliet M." Lord, Montague Ixird, Dan F. Fry, Hettie E. Fry and John A. Carson ajrairmt - the City of Halem In a suit to enjoin tlie city from collecting assessments levied for tha improvement of High .street from Mill to Push atrect. - The suit involves $19,000. The legal point involved is that of the procedure followed -by the city in paving the six blocks on this street and doe not in any way affect other paying assessments in the city. - - The case was first tried in Judan Oal. loway's court and his decision was against the city' tha charter nowers of the city (re a hi ply sufficient to pave ana assess ror pavements, and the de cisions of the supreme court have so held. The only question involved is whether the city followed the leiral nro- cedure. ! The city will be represented my City Attorney B. W. Macv and William H Trindle, while the interests of the re spondents will be cared for by Carson & Brown, William P. jurd and rant , Corby. , . .; AMERICAN SHIP SUNK IN SAFETY ZONE Twenty Lives; Lost in Ger many s Last Exhibit of Rothlessness London, Mar. 23. At least a score perished in the unwarranted sinking by a Gorman submaripe of the Standard Oil tanker Healdton, according to latest information tivailable here today. The ship was torpedoed five miles north of Terschelling, Holland, in the middle of what has heretofore been announced by Germany as ono of the "safety zones In the hnrrnil '.' TMrfcun. !,., u., 1,i...i i ir-...!.i TT.H-...1 u,, ra ,,MfflulUM, .unu,; of a total of more than 40 on board the vessel. One Holland dispatch today quoted survivors as declaring that three life boats left the sinking Healdton. Two of these, one with seven men and a sec ond with 13; wore picked up. The third reported to contain 21 men, is still miss ing. - Not all of tho Healdton 's crew were Americans and it is not stated in Hol land dispatches whether those missing were citizens of the United States. Some dispatches from Ymuiden declared at least a dozen men had been killed or injured by the explosion of the torpedo which sank the Healdton. Generous Help Germans regarded the territory over which they have now retreated as per manent property. The fact that they had to give it up after viewing It as their own for some time may in a de gree accord for the great ill humor of the destruction on all sides. All Praise America Among tho evidences of this idea of permanency the invaders must have had, was that many cemeteries were carefully constructi'd and permanently decorated with solid maruio tomii stones and crypts. One hears America .mentioned every where in the desolation for it whs American supplies which enablod the French civil population to exist. All speak gratefully of American aid. "Please havo some coffee," said a woman near Ham early , today, as we passed through. "It's American cof fee, sweetened with .American sugar. This bread is American bread. We have American salt, American lard, and peP- and vinegar and everything, i now what, we would have done us lood '''T (,er"mn!! 11' , ...X's allowed to draw enough food supplies to lawt us for three or tour days. I un derstand somo did not draw this ad vanceand those are now the hungry ones. ' The woman who spoke had a six months old baby in her arms and was with four other children all hers and her grandmother. All these were driven from the re gion of Ht. Quentiu by the Germans. The woman's husband was forced to leave for tho interior of Belgium or of Germany to work. The family had not heard from him since. Murgaia Borrows . Money With His Gun El Pasco, Texas, Mrs. 23. General Francisco Murguia, Carranzista com mander has levied a forced loan of fifty thousand pesos upon the merchants of Chihuahau City, according to apparent ly reliable reports reaching here from the interior today, The money, it is said, will be used by Murguia to pay his troops, which have been retreating before villa's advance RAILflOADS VAHT RATES HICREASED TO MEETPAY ROLLS Ask An Increase In Both Passenger and Freight Charges 10 PER CENT NEEDED ON ACCOUNT ADAMSON LAW Say Cositki of Railroads Financially Is Menace toCosntry Washington, Mar. 23. A genera) in crease from 10 to 15 per cent in all freight and passenger rates to cover tho increased eost of operation under the Adamson law, is asked by all the railroads of the eountry in a petition laid before . the interstate commerce commission, the receipt of which was announced today.. . v It was stated the roads have met oth er heavy expenses besides the Adam-, son wage increase and 'that they want to get themselves in shape to servo the country efficiently in time of war. Bequest was made for a blanket in-, crease to facilitate prompt action, tbp, roads explained. - In presenting the case for the rail roads, President Eeo, of the I'cnnsyl-. vania, stated: ' We realize that the condition of the railroads today presents a menace to the country, not alone to the owners of the property, but affecting directly the in ternational situation. It is absolutely essential that the railroads shall be in splendid working order. ' ' Udcr present conditions, rates and revenues of the carriers wo believe this ,. to bo impossible. . nvu aiwrej iw Buwsij. I vrLs.A r - ..Tjppenn08t in our min(8 is that we are facing' a 'national emeigency j which the railroads must he a most ef' ficient ami to ylace at the disposal of: the-country tg industries and its x0" pie. ' :' : i ' ' The most reasonable and prompt ac tion ia required, in our judgment. Kven apart from that of the national emerg ency, the facts of the situation are that we already are confronted with -in creased expenses on account of fuel sup plies and materials, wages and taxes, as well as tho increasing difficulty of raising new cupital on reasonable terms on nc,eunt of the existing conditions. "An examination of the conditions which the carriers are facing convinces us that there will be a serious reduction of the net operating incomes of the carriers due to several causes. We," therefore, deem it very essential that the situation should be clearly disclwed to the commission. "Under the existing international com plications and exceptional industrial activity, tho necessity and justice for requesting increased rates is o clear and pressing for the benefit of the country as a whole, we suggest that the commission, will realize the importance: of having the railroads in a stronger financial position. Must Meet Heavy Demands. "That can be done only by prompt ' and liberal consideration, so that they may place themselves in a stronger physical condition to meet all the de mands of thj country. And that in creased rates required will be promptly grunted without any suspension of the tariffs and to avoid tedious delays and expense of compiling and- printing tar iffs for all the railroads of the coun try until the commission has decided the question." Supplemental statements were maiTo by representatives of the New York C'eiietnil, New Haven, Baltimore & Ohio, Krie, Chesapeake & Ohio, Boston & Maine, New York, Chicago & St, Louis and other roads. The roads' petition stated that "in our opinion the only practical method of securing proper relief is by a per centage advancement in all rates. This, of course, should be adequate to cover the effect of the Adamson law and oth er wage increases already mado ami those which will naturally follow to gether with increases inthe cost of fuel, niateriul and supplies. CHANGE REGIMENTS ' El Paso, Texas, Mar. 23. Four regi ments of United States regulars wero today ordered transferred from El Vaso to other points. , THE WEATHER Oregon: To night and Satur day rain west, rain or snow ens,t portion; moder ate southwester ly winds reach ing gale force, near the coast 7TH(S 15 A .