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About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919 | View Entire Issue (April 11, 1917)
M . FULL LEASED WIRE DESPATCHES. m CIRCULATION IS OVER 4100 DAILY v f- if t I FORTIETH YEAR NO. 87 SALEM, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1917 PRICE TWO CENTS ON TRAINS AND STAN PS FTVB CKNTS 11 ill i m t ii i p, ii ii nil 11 it SM WWW. M I J. . DEATH LIST GROWS NUMBER OF DEAD I IS PLACED AT 140 Codies So Mangled That Even Sex Could Not Be Determined EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY DEAD GENERALLY VAIN Two S uspects Arrested and Belief Grows Explosion Not Accidental Trenton, X. J., April 11 lira. An nie Keating of this city this afternoon yiive federal authorities proof which on its face apparently proves that the great Eddystone munitions disaster watt caused by a carefully laid pint. Ou March 14 while en route to Potts villi". Pa., she saw a man drop an en velope in the Broad street subway, lie was lost in the crowd before she piek i'dit up, found it unsealed, and discov ered inside a note: "Already to blow up Kddystone. Send us help." On a sheet of' white paper enclosed was a sketch of League Island navy yard and a rough drawing plan of Chester, Fa. A notation requested that "N. K. ", to whom the envelope was uddreased, copy these maps and return t hem. The notes were signed with the names ot two foreigners. An express inuk enclosed showed that a package shipped to Eddvstone had not been ac cepted at that point and had been re turned to its sender. The arrest of the men implicated expected. Die Horrible Deaths. Philadelphia, Pa., April 11. Most re liable estimates early today plaeed the death toll of the Eddystone munitions' disaster as high as 140, many of the vietims having died horrible deaths dur ing the night at the various places in Chester used as. hospitals. More than 150 are now placed in the list of in jured, although an accurate account is next to impossible. It is feared that there may be still others dead in the ruins of the plant and a minute seareh will be made for additional bodies to day, now that the fire has subsided suf ficiently. , Work of identification progresses .slowly. Although many bereaved rela tives have identified loved ones as their own, scores left the morgue and hospitals in despair. Most idenicications were made by means of finger rings or other trinkets. It was utterly impos sible to identify them by bodily marks. Si-ores of bodies were so charred that it was impossible to ascertain even their wex. In the Chester morgue alone there are nl ill 10.3 bodies yet to be claimed. Scenes Are Pitiful. Friends of the dead were let in dur ing the night by twos and throes and led down the rows of sheet-enveloped dorms laid in as caretnl precision as the rows of death dealing shells that killed them. Fathers, mothers, sisters and friends slowly scanned the bodies, moving from form to form. Tho horror fis so great that many were awed be yond the stage of tears. Thev merely walked along, with pallid faces, stooii jug over each form and proceeding ou ward in their vain search. Two or three women fainted, but for the most part there was a grim and horror stricken de termination not to be overcome. Investigation shows' the victims were inn inly residents of this section. (Continued . on page tw.) 2 jc fc ( "1 f i J 1 ABE MARTIN A'fter most fellers git t' hoverin' around fifty they begin t ' look fer a young men's elub t' join. Tell Bink ley reports havin one o' th' new t weuty-five ernt pieces fer a little while yesterday. Favorable Crop Reports Cause Yheat to Drop Chicago.- April -The wheat mar ket was irregular lav. Buying in May wheat waa fa s vhieh made it stronger than other Favorable crop report from the ? 'at belt act ed as a bearish factor. .. tay wheat opened up 3-4, later de ug 1-8 to $2.07 7-8. July opeoed do J-8, later losing 7-8, goiug to $1.81 . Septem ber openett down nd lat clined 3 to $1.0(5. - Corn started, strong but latt ,'vel oped weakness. Mav opened I, 1-4, later declining 1V4 to $1.27. - July opened up V. but subsequently drop ped 5-8 to $1.23 7-8. September' opened up 3 8, later losing 3-4 to $1.23'i. Oats opened firm and later weaken ed with wheat. May opened unchanged but declined' going to 63 1. July opened up Vi, dropping 3 8 to 61 5-8. September opened up 1-8 and lost balf to 53 Vi. Provisions, opening lower, regained their strength and advanced material ly. An. average of 20 cents waa gained by lord, pork and ribs. E TO L At the Same Time Tells the . United States Her Acts . Justified By Charles P. Stewart (United Press staff correspondent) Buenos Aires, April 11. Argentine today formally "recognized the jus tice" of America's declaration of a state of war against Germany, but an nounced her strict continuance of a neutrality. The announcement showed clearly that while Argentine maintained her present status as a neutral, she had not decided as yet on a future course. The formal decree announcing Ar gentine's policy contained this state ment: " In view of the causes which induc ed the United tSates to declare war on Germany, the Argentine government reuuguiy.es me justice Ol mia utTiaiuu because Jt was due to violations of prin eiples of neutrality, consecrated by the rules of International law which were considered lis definite gains of civili zation," ' ' From the highest source . today it waa learned that . Argentine intends "strict continuance of her neutrality unless either side violates her rights.' People Dumbfounded Despite rumors, the actual publica tion of the decree dumbfounded every body in Buenos Aires. Allies and their auuuorters here were pleased out skeptical of tho genuineness of the gov ernment s friendship. (Continued on page four.) Prisoners Glad Hell of British Declare 'Kaiser Is Finished By William Philip Simms (United Press staff correspondent) With the British Armies Afield, April 11. Field Marshal Haig's crimp in the German line reached a depth of live miles east of Arras today. Willi tlis sweep forward the strength of the British offensive in creases with each battering of the en emy line. The push today was pressing along, tho entire fifty miles of battle front. The Canadians' hold on Vimy ridge, of bloody' memory, grows stronger each hour despite desperate efforts of thc enemy to dislodge them. Counter at tack after counter attack was repuls ed during the night and today. Through the whole forest covering the northern slope of the Tidge today British patrols were actively pressing on. From the plain beyond the ridge the Germans feverishly served their guns, directing shells at all parts ot the forest in the hope of checking the onward rush. lit freezing, blustery weather, with bursts of blinding storms, the British smash continued today, unabated ,by the fiercest resistance from the enemy. Many rnsoners xawen On tho blood-soaked crest of Vimy ridge alone it was established by count today that the Canadians had taken al most 3G00 prisoners, including 72 offi cers and 23 guns. Included in this num ber were nine guns of heavy calibre. The booty from the defeated Germans also included 70 machine guns and about 40 trench mortars. KJsewhere along the line where Gen eral llaig smashed his men forward, three corps mt British troops took 7, 294 .prisoners, including 170 officers. Thev also seized 88 guns, IS trench mortars and 84 machine guns. From the top of Vimy ridge, now at tained and firmly held, the British were (systematically clearing out snip ers in villages farther ahead on the lower slopes. The steadv pounding of field guns searching out such nests of the enemy continued incessantly. Bad weather made no difference to day in the strength of the "big push" Klated by their victories, confident of their' superior strength and secure In the perfect co-ordination of all arms of tho service, the British poured for- MARSHAL HAIG'S SMASH LI , MAYBREAK L1HES Country Swept Clean As British Encircling Move ment Goes On . VIMY RIDGE CAPTURED BY CANADIANS IS HELD Actual Breaking of German Line Seems Now a Possibility By Perry Arnold (United Press foreign editor) New York, April 11. Vimy ridge, prize ot the Canadians in the llaig spring offensive, was stiJ more firm!- cnnciieu in uie nst of tne Hritisn blow at the German line today. Battle front dispatches, official and unofficial, gave hint of a tremendous effort by the German commanders to dislodge the British from this position of dona nating strength. They likewise indieat ed complete success bv the British ii repelling these attacks and a hint of the tremendous power in the British of fensive was 'evidenced by continued advance to tho north and south of the slope itself in the face of this violen German defense. The British line, according to Field Marshal Haig's report and United Press front dispatches, has now reached a point five miles to tho east of Ar ras, where it seriously menaces the Ger man grip on the Lcns-Arras-Douai coal field. The depth of this penetration of the German line hints at actual breaking of the German line. British Resistless London, April . 11. Field ..Marshal Haig's smashing blows eawiod him still further forward against the Ger mane today. Capture by British forces of tho village and heights of Monch Le Preux La Bergero was announced in an early dispatch from him todav, "Satisfactory progress is being made elsewhere," llaig declared." Th battle front situation is developing generally in accordance with our plans." Monehy Le Preux lies at the south erri extremity of Vimy ridge and the heights of Lauergerc are just adja (Continued on page six.) To Escape Shell Fire- ward in wnves, steadily encroaching on the German-held land and as steadily eating it away from the enemy. A Horror of Shambles It was possible todayto understand in a way, why the hSritish losses in tin great spring offensive to date have been far less than the minimum antic lpnted. Kritish artillery in its concen tratcd fury of discharge literally turn ed the ground the Germans held into a muck. It was the same story over again that was first told when the Ger mans started their retreat. They had to go back. British artillery had made their positions a hoi'ror, a shambles, a sea of hummocky earth, pock marked by craters. German prisoners today led back he hind the lines declared the British fire was so cyclonic that many of their of ficers fled for their lives at the tirst titanic outburst. The terrific hell of shell fire had a perceptible effect on the morale of the Germans. "As fighters, they are finished," remarked one British officer today who had been fighting constantly for two days. "Picked men faced us, but we were better men than they, me picked Germans ran both ways from the niiddlo when the assault began. Some ducked towards us, holding up their hands. They were hungry, tired and nerve Battered by their experience Some showed ua the black bread that constituted their ration and complain ed it was all thev had to eat." Cursed the Kaiser Others declared they were hungry and tired of war. More than one de clared tho "kaiser was 'finished;' oth ers cursed their imperial emperor. And all of them were very well satisfied to remain as prisoners and escape the hel! of British fire." The British curtains of fire, perfect ly placed, blasted away communicat ing trenches and frequently cut off lnrffft Itrulie nf Germnits 'without food unu wiwiout uinmuutiioii. . One British officer related today that his brigade had taken two thous- and prisoners. One of his commanders which took a complete German battery of field guns or, rather, what. was left of it after the British fire, said (Continued on page two.) BEZIL TAKES STEP Bio De Janeiro. April 11. General publie tejoieing greettd announcement today ot Braxil's formal severance of diplomatic relation with Germany. In many circles, however, the view was expressed that the republic should go further and actually enter the war. Several newspa pers today began a bitter attack on the government, demanding the resignation of Foreign Min ister Muller because of iliiller's German descent. - TO KEEP ANNIVERSARY Portland, Ore , April 11. The 142nd anniversary of the battle of Lexington, April 19, will he observed here with a celebration in which cer 600 organizations of the sjnte are asked to take part. An effort is being made to get 20,000 persons to march in the parade, which will fea ture the day's program. i(sc - WILL BE DISCHARGED New Yoi-k, April 11. Orders were received at National Guard headquarters here from the war department today that guardsmen having dependents are to be discharged from serv ice "whether they wli the dis charge or not." i TO TAKE OVER SHIPS Washington,- April 11. The house naval committee today re ported favorably a bill giving tho president authority to take over all ships in time of war. The bill, reported unanimous ly, -gives the president power like that recently given him to seize all factories in time of war. BILL FOR VOLUNTEERS Washington, April 11 A joint resolution authorizing the presi dent to call for one million vol unteers was introduced in tho senate today by Sherman, Illi nois. The resolution provides the first levy to be five hundred thousand men. PLANT AT CHARLESTON Washington, April II The new government $11,000,000 armor plate and projectile plant will be located at Charleston, W. Va. ' Announcement to this effect has been made by the navy department today. URUGUAY NEUTRAL Montevideo, April 11. Uru guay 'formally announced her neutrality today, but declared her adherence to and endorse ment of the principles enunci ated by President Wilson. An extra session of the Uruguayan congress was called. MOBILIZE IN CHILE Santiago, Chile, April 11. Mobilization of German reserv ists in Chile for "service in Mexico" wes reported here to day. Allied ministers put enough eredence in the report to apprise their respective governments. 3$9fC WATCHAMA COLUMN By "OM" Lost Food Do you get lost in the shrub bery at the dinner table? We r"o, Frequently. And some times we have to hunt around ; under sprays of celery and sprigs of watercress for hours before we find anything to eat, And isn't it awful to try to carve a roast that's becked up against a botanical garden in the middle of the board? Women ought to be called off on thiil garnish habit before they go too far. One of these days they'll be wanting to dec- orate us with bay wreaths and daisv chains when we go to tha table. We prefer our food served like our funeral, sans floral of- "J . ferings. ' GREAT FOOD DRIVE FIRST MOVE MADE . Ill STARTING WAR Hundreds of Ships To Be Built To Carry Foodstuffs to Europe TO HELP ALLIES WHILE WE BUILD UP AN ARMY Interned Ships Taken Over To Be Repaired and Put Into Service By Robert J. Bender. (United Press staff correspondent.) Washington, April 11. The great "food drive" of the United States was on in full blast today. Railroad officials and all government departments were working to the Imme diate end of mobilizing food stuffs for this country and her allies. President Wilson and Chairman Den man of the United States shipping board completed plans for the prompt construction of one thousand vcsbcIs to transport the supplies to entente port3. Co-operation with the entente govern ments towards safely delivering the necessities wrs planned in detail. W tnle moang of putting under culti vation thousands of acres of unused land were being worked out, the presi dent conferred with members of con gress relative to measures for mobiliz ing farm labor. examination into the teasibilitv ot a plan to exempt all farmers, 'farm hands ami others engaged in the tilling of the soil from conscription was asked in a resolution introduced in the senate by Senator Frelinghuysen. To Increase Crops. Other provisions suggested that the Council of National Defense inquire in to the advisability Of appointing a com mittee on agricultural tlefense to organize- the farm labor to increase the production of crops. ' "Hpeed up" was the word passed along the line, The-president went up to the capitol and conferred for nearly an hour with Democratic Floor Leader Kitchin, emphasizing tjj,e need for im mediate action -on the war measures pending in congress. Nevertheless, the house adjourned un til Friday after receiving the favor able committee report on the $5,000,000, 000 bond issue bill. With the exception of congressional delay on the army bill, other military and naval business went forward rupid Bids were opened for construction of is suu-ton submarines, the largest such order ever given by this government. T'ricen rnnoeii f mm 1 !nn flfin r 41. i - ... ' ' ' ioK,w) each. - I President Wilson was assured today by Speaker Clark and Leader Kitchin 'that the administration army bill will be voted on in the house probably ncx,t ween. Kitchin told the president of the op position in congress to conscription. The opposition Is as yet not definite enough, he said, to permit a guess as to u seriousness. Must Feed the Allies. Washington, April 11. "Feeding our lies" is to bo this country's imrt in jjeUbt! great war for the present- Mobili jzatioii of foodstuffs and providing I means by tull navy co-operation tor de ;.ivering them at the ports of England ud France, is to be the extent of Am erica's physical effort now. Meantime, hundreds of thousands of men will be trained for action on Euro pean fronts as soon as they are fit and as soon as the transportation facilities ase available. The problem of supplying the allies with food a gigantic one is being worked out in practically every depart ment of the government. Millions of acres of land not under cultivation are to be immediately put into use. j Hundreds of ships will be built to car ry foodstuffs to Europe. German and j Austrian ships taken in American ports will be hastily repaired for use. The fleets of the United Slates, 'France and England will co-operate in j safeguarding the delivery of the prec jious supplies to entenle ports. Mobilizing Industries. Fanners, agricultural experts and I farm students are being mobilized as I" soldiers of the commissary," to carry on the "bread and butter war,' against tho central powers. And while these suppnes go forward to keep up the strength of the allied fighterg in the European trenches, Am erica is to build up and train her man hood, later to relieve her follow fight ers and drive home the victory. Thin will probably be six months hence but it may come sooner. It is probable, however, that no word will be sent out from this country when the 'first expedition starta for Europe. For purposes of precaution, it is prob able the people of the United States won't know their men are on foreign fronts until the men arrive. Heads of the great railroads of the country went into secret session here (Continued on page two.) &sti SUrJBILL AUTHORIZES rortland, Or., April !!. Alleged to I have advertised forty ertt of Cali- j fornia desert land as a thriving town- site with banks, schools, stores and many homes, E. R. Krickson and E. B. j Rivers are on trial- here today la the federal rourt on a cnarge of using the mails to defraud. Kivers and Erickgon, according to the government, ' traveled through the east with motion 'pictures of California At each theatre they secured the names of all in the audience, explaining that a drawing would be held for a Califor nia town lot. lractically every pernoii then received a letter that he had won, and that for $8.10, representing legal costs, a deed would be forwarded, ac cording to the prosecution. The government contends that Erick sou and Rivers did not have tots enough on their forty acre tract, so they gave many persons , the same deeds. The two were arrested after many had tried to pay taxes on tho game lot. EARLY MORNING FIRE Row of Frame Buildings On State, Half Block From . Commercial, Burns Fire originating somctimo before 5 o'clock this morning in the row of frame buildings on tho north side of State street just cast of the alley in block 30o practically laid waste the urea occupied by tho Scotch Woolen Mills, the French Shop, Given 'b Barber shop, the Central Cigar store, and the Midget Market. The fire alarm was turned in by the head waiter at the White House res taurant shortly after 5 o'clock, as the names were seen through the window of the barber shop. The department re sponded promptly at 5:15 o'clock, but when it reached the scene tho whole corner was mass of flames. The only thing for the department to do was to attempt to corfine the blaze to its area, which was done so that no other build ings were damaged. Five lines of hose were run out and connected by the firo department under the direction of Chief Hutton. Two lines were attached to the auto pumper and three to hydrants. One line was run as tar over as tho armory hydrant. In all 3,500 feet of hose wore laid with the result that the five streams kept the (Continued on Pafe 5.) BALL SEASON OPENS E Weather at Boston Cuts Out Game-Others All Played New York, April 11 Clyde Milan of the Senators made the first birsc hit of tho 3917 baseball season at 3:05 this afternoon in the first inning of the Vashington-Ili.ilnd(lhia game. Tho Senators also led off with the first run when Smith singled in the second inning and raced home at 3:15 on a triple by Judge, which went siz zling over Thrasher's head. The Polo Grounds furnished a close uanii,l lw. Un. i:...,- ! ",o, rto Hd singled to right Z 3:21 and scored at 3:28. A scrifice, an infield hit and three bagger, the latter by Walker, sent Hooper around. National League. New York-Boston postponed, wet grounds. I?. H. E. Philadelphia 0 8 2 Brooklyn 5 10 1 Alexander and Killifer; Dull, ('adore, Snyder and Meyers. - R. H. E. St. Louis 1.4 0 Cincinnati 3 8 1 Meadows and Snyder; Schneider and Wingo. JJ. II. E. Pittsbufg ... 3 5 2 Chicago 5.8 0 Jacobs, Evans and Schmidt; Vaughn and Elliott- American League. R. H. E. Boston 10 14 1 New York 3 3 0 Ruth and Thomas; Caldwell and Nu namaker. R. IF. E. Washington 3 5 1 Philadelphia 0 3 2 Johnson and Ainsmith; Bush, R. Johnson, Meyer and Schang. R. It. E. Cleveland 6 8 0 I Detroit 4 8 4 Covcleski and O'Neil; James, Couch, Jones, Strange, and Spencer. R. If. E. Chicago 7 9 0 St. Louis 2 8 5 Williams, Scott and Sclialk; Haniil ton, Koob, Weilman and Hale. RA1SIHB OF SEVER BILLI DOLLARS $5,000,000,000 of This Sua To Be Provided by Issu ing Bonds TWO BILLION MORE BY TREASURY CERTIHCATES Three Billion To Be Leaned Allies Will Remain In This Country Washington, April 11. Majority Leader Kitchin today introduced in thev house the administration bond bill au thorizing the issue of 5,000,000,000 in bonds and $2,000,000,000 in treasury ' certificates, Kitchin introduced the record break- ; ing bill after a maeting of the ways and means committee at which the measure was approved unanimously. The bill will . be reported favorably and will be pass ed in the house not later than Friday- Tho bonds will bear 3 1-2 per cent interest and arc offered at par for pub lic subscription. Three billion dollars of the issue will be used to buy three and a half per cent bonds of allied gov crnmen t s. The bond bill also authorized an addi tional bond issue of $H3,945,460 to re deem a three per cent loan of 1908 te 1918, which matures August 1, 1918. In a report accompanying the bill the ways and means committee stated: "Your committee deem it advisable to authorize the five billion bond issue at this time in order to enable our govs-1 eminent to extend liberal credits and in order to provide immediately an ample i fund to meet such expeditures as are authorized for the national security and defense." The report concludes: ' ' "Tho total interest benring debt of the United States outstanding February 28 amounted to !7:).000,000, and under existing law $472,000,000 worth of , bonds are' available to be issued. This bill authorizes, in addition to bonds at- ready available to be issued under ex isting law and exclusive of the three billion bond issued to' extend credit to . foreign government,-which takes core , of itself, the issue of $2,000,000,000 worth of bonds. Should this amount of bonds be issued the total interest bear ing indebtedness exclusive of the $-V 000,000,000 credit to foreign govern ments, will amount to $3,445,000,000." .' If You Write the Boys Address Letters This Way' Washington, April 11. Amerifa's . boys in khaki, serving "somewhere in the United States,'! will be ablo to re ceive their mail from home regularly, even though tho war department has decided to withhold the destinations ot army units. Letters should be addressed to the soldiers in care of the department to which he has been assigned. These de partment addresses are: Southern, Fort Sam Houston. Eastern, Governor's Island. Central, Chicago. Western, San Francisco. If the correct department is not known, mail addresses to soldiers in care of the adjutant general's office, war department, Washington, will be promptly forwarded, it was stated. Would Furnish 75 Ships for Uncle Sam Washington, April 1 1. Government operation of all railroad - water line bouts is provided in a plan laid before the meeting of railroad officials hep today by representatives of the Coun cil of National Defense. . Such , action would add at least 7-- vessels for use in trans-Atlantic, com merce and would double the govern ment's present facilities for handling supply shipments, it is stated. The boats which would be drawn : from the service under thin arrange ment are those now used by the Tail- roads in coastwise and Great Lakes ; commerce. ' : jt THE WEATHER a. ' rA- ' '' " Oregon: To night and Thurs day 'showers, cooler tonight central and northeast por tions; south to west winds.. llU B OUT7o