xi!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 .