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