Daily capital journal., April 17, 1917, Image 1

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FORTIETH YEAR NO. 92
DIVERSENDS
AT DESTROY
Submarine Sent Torpedo at American Destroyer Smith, But
Missed HerDestroyer Gave Chase But U-boat Sub-
merged and Escaped Attack Is Made Within Short Dis
tance of New York Harbor Has Base Supposedly
in Mexico
Washington, April 17. Germany fired the first shot
of the war against America today and it missed.
Official information reached the navy department
shortly after noon that the U. S. destroyer Smith was
fired upon by a German submarine at 3:f0 a. m. The
torpedo launched by the U-boat missed the Smith. The
latter gave chase to the submarine, but the enemy ship
submerged and escaped.
Announcing the first engagement of the war, the navy
department this afternoon issued the following bulletin:
"Reports from Fire Island lightship to navy station at
Boston and at New York that at about 3 :30 a. m., the
17th, an enemy submarine was sighted by the U. S. S.
Smith, running apparently submerged. The submarine
fired a torpedo at the Smith, which missed her by thirty
yards. Wake of torpedo plainly seen crossing the bow.
Submarine disappeared."
The navy department; had not heard about the clash
until press reports brought word of it. .
Immediately Lieutenant-Commander Belknap, navy
censor, got the New York navy yard on long distance
telephone and asked details.
New York too, was ignorant of the incident but at
once communicated with Fire Island lightship, from
which the original report to Charlestown had been made.
A few minutes later, the lightship, 25
miles off Sandy Hook, flashed back the
story to the New York yard, which at
unce notified Balknap.
The marines' efforts to sink the de
stroyer were the first definite evidence
of the oft-repeated rumors that Ger
man I'-boats lurked off our coast.
The fact that tho Fire Island light
ship conveyed the original information
led to the. belief that the German was
not far distant from New York City,
inasmuch as the lightship fs only 25
miles beyond Sandy Hook, the outer
portal of New York's harbor. While,
for military reasons, the navy does notj
Bay what is being done about hunting 1
the submarine, it is assumed that a re-i
doubled watch is being put into effect.
Reports to the Boston naval station
indicated that the submarine was hover
ing off the Jersey coast midway be
tween Atlantic City and Asbury Park
ml only a short distance below New
York City itself.
The navy has no way of knowing
whether the submarine has made the
journey from Breuierhaven, intending
to make a quick stroke and return, or
whether it has been lying off the Am
erican coast for some time getting its
supplies from a hidden base on the
Mexican coast or elsewhere along the
Atlantic eo'ist.
One of the numerous reporls of sub-
lines off our shores has been that a
yiunp of them were harbored in Mexican
ft:
ABE MARTIN
X
Mrs. I.afe Pud says th' hardest thing
is powderin' over a black eye. Th' fel
ler that used t' give his wife a house
hold allowance each week now gives her
his salary.
TORPEDO
D SMITH
waters ready to mnke a spectacular raid
on one of the big American ports.
Will Stir Country.
The immediate effect of the Smith
affair as the navy sees it, will be to
stir up the country to a realization that
war is at our shores and to stimulate re-
cruiting both 'for the navy and the
rrmy.
The fact that the enemy submarine
is in adjacent waters, still probably
well armed, caused a great stir in ship
ping and naval circles along the coast.
The destroyer Smith re of the "M"
class, built in liH)9, with a length of
2SS feet and a displacement of 700
tons. Her speed is 29 1-2 knots an hour
and she is armed with five 14-pounder
guns and three 18-inch torpedo tubes.
She carries 87 men.
The scout cruiser Chester, in charge
of the patrol in the New England dis
trict, displaces 3.750 tons, has a speed
of 20.5 knots and is lightly armored
She carries two five-inch, six three-inch
and two three-pounder guns, with two
torpedo tubes. Her complement includes
550 men. She was built in 1900.
When the I "-53 arrived at Newport,
Captain Rose especially called attention
to the fact that he had not put in for
fuel nor did he take any aboard.
The actual appearance of a fighting
submarine on this side has naturally
aroused the greatest specultion as to the
possibility of a secret base having been
established at some point within com
paratively easy roach 'from home waters.
No information is available, however, as
to whether the navy department be
lieves this may bo the ease.
The Official Report.
Boston. April 17. Official reports of
an engagement between the U. 8. S.
Smith, submarine chaser and an enemy
submarine were received at Charleston
navy yard todav from the United
States scout cruiser Chester. . i
The message, which came from the;
Fire Island and was relayed bv the!
cnester, read as follows:
"At s-sn o a...:i it l
y sighted enemy submarine she! fired w" m bm!d 8 hlf!,h
torpedo. Missd U. 8 S Smith 30 ?l d.. . t Tlig) 88 enend.
yards. Wa'tc plainly seen crossing eTd by e ate highway commission on
bow . " crossing jamlaTy pou0 county wm enter n0
"Submarine disappeared." 'TJ"? iU Ve"US 4uestioa H
1 , - ! tho Polk county court through its at
DESPERATE CHARACTERS
.j ' "l H'"--e aim numoer oi
militiamen tnrn.i.l , o.l ..!..
tun., lu j-oiK eoujuy is to also pay 3U per cent
round up five susiHcioug characters loit-iof tho maintenance of the new bridge.
frJ?.1?.01 the Harrimau bridge across! The new bridge will be of the hitrh
the Willamette.
After two races up
lhird street and considerable hunting
under docks and warehouses alon? the
river th five were caught and taken
iu me ponce neaoquarters. mey were
students at the Oregon Agricultural
college and were attempting to "beat"
their way back to school.
WANT TO FIGHT US
- El Uaso, Texas, April 17-
Only eight deputies of the entire
membership of the Mexican
house of deputies favor Cariau
za's plan of neutrality, a-s an
nounced in his message Sunday,
according to word received hero
today from Mexico City.
It is reported in unofficial ad
vices reaching here that scenes
of wildest disorder occurred
when discussion of Carranza's
address commenced, and that
several deputies yesterday spoke
from the floor, openly advocat
ing an alliance with Germany
against the United States,
c . . , .
! ;
sje
SUTFBAGE DEFEATED
Harrisburg, Pa., April 17.
By n vote of 101 to 94, the house
of representatives today defeat-
ed n proposed constitutional
amendment establishing equal
suffrage. To pass the bill 104
votes were required.
CALLED IN BANKERS
Washington, April 17. Secre
tary of the Treasury McAdoo to
day called upon the big banking
interests of the country, includ
ing J. P. Morgan & Co., for sug
gestions as to floating the $7,
U00,000,000 bond issue.
4
WOULD TURN PLANTS
OVER TO GOVERNMENT
$
Chicago Packers at Same
Time Say Meat Supply
Must Be Conserved
Washington, April 17. Government
supervision at least during the war,
of America's great meat packing in
dustries is expected to result from the
offer of the nation's packing kings to
turn their plants over to the govern
ment. The packers who have tendered their
plants to tho government represent a
combined industry of $1,000,000,000.
They are:
Armour and company, Swift and
company, (.'uduhy and company, Wil
son and company, Nelson Morris Pack
ing company.
The packers warn that unless imme
diate action is tauen by the govern
ment to cooperate with the packers in
conserving the meat supply the nation
must soon go on moat picket system,
similar to the bread and meat card sys
tem now in vogue in heveral European
countries.
The Council of National Defense
would supervise the work of conserva
tion and dissemination. Julius Bosen
wald, member of the advisory commis
sion of the council, and Secretary of
i Agriculture Houston, probably would
head the department in charge of this
1 important work.
By the arrangement, the middleman
would be reduced to a nonenity inso
far as a middleman's power to make
prices to the retailer in any way affect
distribution is concerned.
Conferences between Kosenwald
the packers continued today. The
sions ore executive.
and
sea-
BRIDGE
DISPUTE
SETTLED
The bridge controversy between Ma
rion and Polk county is settled. 11a-
torneys ottered to the Marion county
court through McNary and McNary to
the maintenance of the free ferry. t
T. ... . '
'level tvoe according tn the nlim nf
tne state nignway commission,-with ai
tirst class woden approach on tho
Polk county side.
Levi Hurlburt, aged 81, died Sunday
morning at the home of his son, John
Hurlburt, of Aloany.
SALEM, OREGON, TUESDAY; APRIL 17, 1917
COUPTIOFi
m YIELD TO
VOLUNTEERING
President Invites Republican
Floor Leaders for a
Conference
SENATE IS SOLID BUT
HOUSE AFRAID OF IT
Secretary of War Backed by
President Refuses Any
Compromises
By F.obert J. Bender.
(United Press staff correspondent.)
Washington, April 17 Politics may
beat the conscription, army plan.
Growing fear on the part of many
congressmen that they could no longer
face their constituents with an "I kept
you out of war ' ' plea should they vote
for conscription made it appear inev
itable today that the volunteer plan will
be given a trial first.
The compromise which seems likely to
go tnrough will De authorization for
president to call for 500,000 to l.OOoMj
volunteers immediately, to be raisedi
.iiuiu iTV mujb. ill Uifv .Hiue iiih-, T11C
machinery 'for conscription will be au
thorized and put into motion so that if
the volunteer system docsn 't work with
in 90 days conscription could be put into
effect immediately thereafter.
This is the situation in the house. The
senate, on the other hand, appears more
favorably inclined to the conscription
plan. Senator Chamberlain believes
there is- only one vote in the senate
military committee which favors a com
promise. Chamberlain feels there is suf
ficient volunteer provision in the bill
as it stands to give that system thor
ough, test while the actual work of pre
paring for conscription which admit
tedly will take two or three months
is being done.
Senate May Act First.
It was indicated today that the sen
ate committee will not wait for the
house committee's action on the bill
much longer. The situation is better in
hand, from the administration 'a view
point, in the senate than in the house
and it may be that tho upper branch
will get the jump and pass the whole
back up to the house.
unless President Wilson and Secre
tary Baker weaken and accept a trial
of the out-aiid out volunteer system, it
appears likely that there will be consid
erable debate on tho army bill and it
probably won't become a law for some
time.
A popular demand that Theodore '
Roosevelt be permitted to lead a di
vision abroad as soon as he can raise it,
has sprung up all over the central west-1
cm part of the country, if a rush of
(Continued on page Biz.)
NEW YORK CITY NOW
WITHINWAR ZONE
Germany Brings War to Sub
urbs of Greatest City in
the World
New York, April 17. The greatest
city in the world is in the war zone this
afternoon.
The greatest secrecy ig being main
tained as to steps that are being taken
to protect the port, but with a German
U-boat reported by the navy department
immediately off the coast, the tity was
admittedly menaced.
I.ate reports from the Boston naval
station indicated the belief that the
submarine which attacked the V- 8. H.
Hmith might be off the Jersey coast.
Fire Island, from which original re
ports of thej hostile ship's presence
,.,. r. i .,i.r ,;i.. e i-'-., .i .. ir,.i.
vault;, tn u'HJ' JV luiicn num HtXUilf JIUU1V,
v-.. ..v.U,.v.
If successful in eluding the Ameri
can patrol ships, the submarine might
slip into -Long Island sound and bom
bard outlying sections of the town.
New York harbor is guarded by sub
marine nets, it is known, but whatever
defenses there are is kept secret by the
navy department.
Coast Will Be Dark.
The navy yard in Brooklyn wa closed
to every one this afternoon. , Inquiries
by telephone brought only the eurt re-
(Continued on Page Three.)
BANKER PARDONED
Washington, April 17. Presi
dent - Wilson has pardoned
Thomas R. Sheridan, president
of the First National ban'; of
Boseburg, Ore., who was sen
tenced to five years in tho peni:
tentiary for withdrawing funds
of depositors, according to Sen
ator Phelan, California, today.
Sheridau eontendd he had
writteu consent of certain de
positors to withdraw their
funds. His case was recently
brought before the United
States supreme court.
RUSSIAN WOMEN TO VOTE
Pctrograd, April 17. A con
gress of the council of the
workers and soldiers' dele
gates today adopted a report
providing for election of a eoni
stituont assembly for Russia as
soon as possible. The election,
according to the recommenda
tion ig to be held under the su
pervision of the duma council
and all above 20 years old will
have the privilege of voting
women included.
As b t J 4( )lf
p p r p
BULGARIA AND TURKEY
Zurich, April 17. A report
received here today declared
that Turkey and Bulgaria have
formally broken off relations
with the United States.
GERMANY WILL STATE
CAN BE NEGOTIATED
i
Sends Spy Bernstorff to
Sweden to Work for Peace
with Russia
By William O. Shepherd.
(United Tress staff correspondent.)
Christiania, April 17 Germany is
shortly to issue to neutrals a statement
of tho terms on which she considers
peaco negotiable, according to rumors
in diplomatic circles today..
The reports came from sources known
to be closely identified with the Ger
man officials' plans. ,
Those closest in touch with the Ger
man movement here had not heard any
details of what Germany proposes to
offer. They did not believe, however,
that there would be many concessions
from the unofficial, but highly inspired,
outlines of Germany's demands given
out both at Washington and in Germany
at the time of Von Bcthniann-IIollweg's
famous peace tender last December!
Scandinavia is the center of Ger-i
many's peace efforts, aimed at Russia.
That the Teutonic officials arc bending
every effort to realization of their hope
of separate peace with the new pro
visional government at Petrograd, is ap
parent in every quarter here.
American diplomatic officials have
been formally advised that the German
government is behind the pseudo-socialist
movement for peace. It was tho Ger
man government that apparently start
ed the socialist propaganda work and
it was the German government that
pushed it by Ectivc Bupport.
Count Von Bernstorff, prime apostle
of peace propaganda work, has been se
lected aB German ambassador to Swed
en, purely in line with this Russiun ef
fort. Meanwhile, German propagandists of
lessor calibre spread reports of Ger
many's desire for peace carefully
avoiding, however, any statement of
terms.
Schwab Turns Down
Huge German Bribe
Boston, Mass., April 17. Charles M.
.Schwab, president of tho Bethlehem
Steel company, was offered $100,000,
000 by a German emissary if he would
cease making munitions for the allies.
This astonishing statement was made
by Mayor Curley, of Boston, at a big
patriotic gathering here Sunday.
Mayor Curley said he had received
this information from Mr. Schwab
himself. Mr. Schwab told him, the
mayor said, that the offer was made
two days before cohgress declared 8
state of war with Germany.
"And' this big American, who stood
for tho great principles of tho repub
lic, refused," added the mayor amid
applause. . .
The Girls Honor Guard of Astoria
has leased a tract of filled in land aadTeutone and so firmly established the
will plant it with potatoes.
PPTPV. Tvn
FIVE KEY POINTS MAY
GIVE WAY
Lens, La Fere and St. Qnentin Almost Within Grasp of
British While Cambrai and Laon Are MenacedGermans
Make Desperate Struggle to Check Forward Rush cf
French, But It Is Yam-May Cut Main Supply Road
at Any Minute
London, April 17. Five key points to the much-vaunted
Hindenburg line were struck at so savagely by the
great Franco-British drive today that their continuation
in the enemy's hands much longer seems impossible.
Of the five, Lens, La Fere and St. Quentin may fall to
the allied onslaught at almost any hour. Cambrai and
Laon are less closely enveloped, but the menace of the
drive was none the less potent
General Haig's report today toJd of another successful
thrust to the south of Cambrai, around Epehy, aimed at
LeCatelet, eleven miles south of Cambrai.
The Paris official statement more than confirmed the
most sanguine hopes of success in the joint offensive en
tertained here.
General Nivelle reported a desperate German attempt
at Ailles tq stem the French forward rush at Laon. Ailles
lies just seven miles to the south of Laon. The counter
attack was repulsed by the French. .
Again, General Nivelle's forces -withstood another
powerful German counter-attack at Courcy, four miles
north of Rheims. It is in these two sections, apparently,
that the French wedge has been thrust farther forward
against the German lines.
Unofficial battle front dispatches received here today
declared the German losses were tremendous in opposing
the French offensive.
The Soissons-to-Rheims battlefront
selected by the French staff as the spot
in which to strike is iileal for offensive
fighting. It is a slightly rolling coun
try, permitting tho operation of vast
forces and sufficiently clear to enable
best maneuvering. Moreover, , aside
from the favorable nature of the coun
try itself, the spot is strategically well
situated, since every blow there is a
jar to the German lino nortnwest to
the channel. The German lino makes a
vast blunt angle around Lafc'erc, hcad
uig on an almost straight lino around
to Verdun. The base of this angle on
the new Hindenburg -line is Laon.
The French blow is directly against
this point.
' Driving Wedge In
London, April 17. Field Marshal
tfttig today jammed his Britinh forces
a mile closer to LeCatelet and the main
line of German communication between
Cambrai and St. Ouentin.
"In tho neighborhood of Kpehy, we
captured Tombois farm and nt night
gained ground along tho spur northeast
of Kpehy station, taking a few prison
ers, ' ' he reported today.
"Thtt weatlhck lntmues stormy,
the British commander in chief declar
ed. "There are high winds and squalls
of rain."
All tho way from Fayct, a scant two
miles north of St. Quentin, to Kpehy
eleven miles north the British now
are established within two miles of
the St. Quentin Cambrai high rond. The
road is really the artery giving life to
the German forces at St. Quentin and
LaFore. Once it is cut, the cities be
low miiBt full.
British now hold Fayet, Fresnoy-Le-Petit,
Pontru, Levcrguier, Villerel,
ground near Hardicourt, Itonssey, and
today ground near Kpehy. All are near
ly equal distant from the "Hindenburg
Line" of C'ambrai-St. . Quentin.
Greatest Offensive of War
London, April 17. The greatest of
fensive of wars was on toduy. Over a
front of nearly 170 miles Franco-British
forces were driving with all the
strength of energy carefully conserved
throughout months of minter prepara
tion. Forecast through four days of tre
mendous artillery concentration, the
French movement began with a bril
liant victory, despite the most desper
ate resistance from the German de
fenders. Laon, one of the most important or
the center supply stations on the Ger
mans' line, is now added to tho list
of German key points directly menaced
bv the Franco Britinh attack. It was
apparently the direct object of the first
smash with which General Nivelle
threw his massed forces against the
enemy. That tremendous blow swept
the Germans off their feet, forced thein
back of third line trenches, inflicted
devaatatintr losses on the detendiug
French attacking forces that hurriedly
rrwTo on trains and kkws
.
summoned German counter attacks
could not dislodge them from th
ground they gained.
London was thrilled toduy with the
actual start of tho greatest of offens
ives the forward thrust for -which ev
ery man. woman and child in tho Brit
ish empire has ripen working and sac
rificing for the last six months. At
least threo million of France's and
England's best troopa are probably
fighting along the gigantic front. Mora
guns than the world has ever hnowit -before
in one operation are belching
forth death over this stretch of 170
miles.
French Wedge Pounded In
It was along the fumous "Aisne
line" that tho French made their great
est advances in the first blows) struck
by General Nivelle. It was here that
the Germans stood firm after tho re
treat following the battle of the Marue ;
The point of Nivelle's wedge wan,
pushed into the German line at a point
about midway between Soissons and.
liheims, with another smashing blow
struck coincidentally around Borry-Au-Bae,
where the German lino turns an4
twists around llhcims. Ten thousand
prisoners and a great quantity of sup
plies captured -attested the irrosistiblft
force of these two great blows.
Meantime, tho British force havet
not stopped the force of their owa
drive. Like a skilled boxer, General
Ilaig was "mixing" his blows today
on tho entire British front of fifty-odd-miles.
Battle front dispatches indi
cated the perfect co-ordination of tho
Franco-British drive in the synchronous
attack of both great armies. Ilaig was
smashing away with I.ens almost in
his gra-p; he smashed again nearer
Cambrai; he pushed forward north of
St. Quentin.
French Still Gain
Paris, April 17. Still driving nbeal
French forces today organized the po
sitions they conquered in the first
smash of their offensive today's otli-
(Continued on pago two.)
I THE WEATHER 5
CAN PO OUR
and Wednesday
fair,' light frost
south, heavy frost
east portion to
night; winds most
ly westerly.
T
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