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About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 11, 1917)
TODAY? WEAifi Oregon : ' and Wt; probably . west; pro rain or sno portion; mo oath we winds. i 4,400 SUBSCRIBERS (22,000 BEADEESJ DALLY Only Circulation in Salem Guar anteed by the Audit Bureau of Circulations. FULL LEASED WIRE . DISPATCHES SPECIAL WILLAMETTE VAL LEY NEWS SEBVIOB 7f JM L in ',Ti.rn "V FORTIETH YEAR NO. 294 GREATEST OF ALL BEENORM&D llindenhurg and Aids Plan Crush French and British Forces BLOW MUST BE STRUCK BEFORE AMERICA READY AH Available German and Austrian Soldiers Are Being Gathered Now Amsterdam,. J)ee. 11. Plans for the greatest of all German offensive cam paigns on the western front were laid ut a meeting Friday of Field Marshal H indenburg, Premier Hertling ami Quar termaster .General Ludendorff accord ing to dispatches here today. The German strategy, it was indicat ed, is to overwhelm British and French forces on the western front prior to the arrival of many American troops. In connection with reports of this plan, it was noted today that the Ger man high command has withdrawn near ly all available German troops hereto fore thickly scattered on guardXduty along the Dutch frontier. These troops are being sent to Flanders. The German press today interprets Count Czernin's recent speech to Hun garian delegates as a promise to Austro Hungarians that, they shall go to the west front. Presumably this is to be accomplished through withdrawal from Bussian lines. . German Artillery Boars. . London, Dec. 11. Over the whole of the western front today German artil lery was roaring a challenge to the "French and British armies. Somewhere along the" great battle line it was con fidently believed Germany was prepar ing to fliake her heaviest attack since the days of the invasion of 1914. She is masking the location chosen for that assault by an artillery bombard ment that is impartially scattering phells over almost every sector of the British and French lines. Official re ports, however, indicated a slightly stronger fire over the Frertch positions. From this it was deduced here that Hin- (Continued on page two) OrfEllSIVtMlAS How the Flax Industry Was Stabbed in the Back By Its Reputed Father, the Governor The war has caused a greater shortage of flax than of any other product that irt-a real necessity to carry on that war. Before the war there were three great flax producing countries: Belgium, Rus . sta and Ireland. The two former are no longer producing flax or much of anything else. Their dropping from the list of flax producing countries has caused a shortage that has practically put an end to-lhe manufacture of fine linens as all the product of the Irish fields is used for war purposes. Linen is tlie only fabric that is suitable for aeroplanes, and all that Ireland can produce Ts used for this work. Ireland niuce the war has extended her acreage and now grows about 150,000 acres of flax. This is practically the world 's sup ply now. It is under these conditions that the growing of flax in the north west is urged not only by the govern ment, but by the pressing necessity of having the product. Tho government must have it tor its aeroplanes. That Oregon and the northwest can grow the very finest grade of flax is assured. Samples sent by the late Eu gene Boss to Belgium before the war took the prize over the very best Bel gium could produce. Other sections of the United states can grow flax seed, but none of them can compare with Ore gon and Washington in the growing flax (suitable for fiber, and none of them have the climate adapted to its proper handling. Playing Petty Politics. It was this condition that induced the formation of the Oregon Women's Flax association of whih for many years Mrs. William Lord has been the head. She entered into the matter whole heartedly and has done more for the industry, and against all kinds of ad verse conditions, than any other one per son. It was information and statistics laid before the legislature by the asso ciation of which she was president that caused it in 1913 to appropriate f "0,0tO for us? by the board of control for es tablishing a flax plant, with the pro that psrt of the moucy could be used for road building. Mrs. Lord had JM,t her own money behind the efforts f Mr. Bj.se who vas twice burned out v. !i;L attempting to establish the injns-t.-y here, at-J sae tad so pointed out SAillES FIRE GAS SHELLS FOR PRACTICE FIRST TIME TODAY Rehearsal of War Drama , en Under Most Realistic of Surroundings With the -American. Expeditionary Army, France, Dec. 11. American ar tillery tried out gas shells for the first time today. The experiment was in connection with a complete rehearsal of an assault from preliminary preparatory fire down to aerial "liason work" and the final eharge. The artillery was that attached to a newly arrived contingent of American fighting men. Under conditions as nearly approxi mating those of the battle line as it was possible to mako them, this artillery hurled a big gas barrage, deluging a triple line of "enemy trenches". In voth tho asphyxiating shells the Amer ican guns mixed a rain of shrapnel aild high explosive projectiles. During all this fire, Sammies crouch ed in their trenches. Exactly at tho ' ' zoro ' ' hour, with American aeroplanes soaring high overhead, above the shell trajectory and wirelessing back proper ranees, the American troops "went over." American aeroplanes circled and wheeled above them, sending back word and correcting the barrage fire of the American guns so that it swepf ahead of the advancing waves. Precisely at "aero" had reported the "enemy trenches ' reduced by prelim inary bombardment. When the bammies charged they took three theoretical lines of these defenses. Incidentally, every Sammy who went over the top wore his mask. After the infantry had followed the curtain of fire and seized the three trench lines, American aviators signal led back "victory!" and tho show was over. The Sammies who participated in this realistic practice work were all mem bers of a certain newly arrived con tingent. It was their first advance un dor actual bai rage fire. They were so busy advancing that they had scant time to comment on '.' man-made Volca noes erupting on the opposite side of the valley, throwing up spouts of smoke und earth and frequently sending a snatter of water drops when projectiles from tho American guns landed in s. rxmd in tho valley. The American artillerymen worked like mad. Despite the bitter cold, they were perspiring when they finished their job. The guns they fired were of a type obtainable only at the front. Moreover, these particular field pieces had just been shifted back from a period of work again the enemy. the vastness of .the industry and its capacity for bringing wealth to the state, that others had also advanced con sidcrable money to get the business past tho experimental stage and down to a oasis or. commercial manufacture. The Capital Journal has at all season able times, and some that perhaps were not, advocated the building up of the industry, and pointed out that Salem could be made the "Belfast of Ameri ca' . It still believes this can be done and believes it still more firmly after il. 1 : i .-. . mo oiiowuig maue Dy superintendent Crawford of the prison plant. It is for this reason it has seen fit to find fault with the governor for jeopardizing the business interests of the whole of west ern Oregon by playing petty, politics. Outside of this the Capital Journal pays no attention to his excellency 'a pi i'e'n- itricities along political linesbut when ms political game threatens the success of what it considers the one thing that will build up Salem and the Willamette valley, in defense of the rights of the community it refuses to remain silent. Governor Finds Cady. The governor has been called the "father of the flax industry," by some sycophants. Ab'out all he had to do with it was that he occupied the governor's chair when the bill alluded to above was passed, and he signed it. It was pie pared and submitted by others, the Women 's Flax Association being behind the effort and the bill. When the bill appropriating the $ j0, 000 became a law, an effort was made to have the business placed in the hands of flax experts, and the board of con trol which then had charge of the prison favored this plan. At this stage of affairs, the governor stated he was in touch with such a man, named Mr. Cady as the person, and suggested he would send for him and have him meet the board. This was done and Mr. Cady appeared before the board, a"-suring its members he. knew all abont the flax business. The board out 1 of an abundance of caution wrote letters I of inquiry to persons in the east, Wis1 ' eonsin we believe, as to Mr. Cady, and j in justice to the governor we state j (Continued on page two) FLAG IS RAISED- BY THE BRITISH OVE JERUSALEM THE HOLY Entry of Troops Wifl Be At tended With Much Pomp and Formal Ceremony London, Dee. 11. The British flag wfts to be raised in formal state over Jerusalem the Holy today. General Allcuby, commander of the victorious British columns, announced his plans in messages received here early today. He will enter the city and be greeted by Shieks at the mosque of Omar and the patriarchs of the eastern Latin churches. To them and to the pop ulace he will read a long prepared proc lamation promising them freedom and security under christian rule. The flag will then formally be raised over the city. At the same time, French and It alian consulates and merchants will raise the flags of their own nationalities Martial law will be proclaimed at once and Allenby will likely appoint a mili tary governor Effect Upon Eussia. - ' London, Dec. 11. Commenting on the capture of Jerusalem by the British troops under General Allenby, London papers today pointed out that the event will probably have the most favorable effect upon the Jews of Eussia. The press editorially predicts that the signal victory resulting in the fall of the Palestine capital will most likely prove a strong factor in tlie strongmen iug of the Bussian factions who are antagonistic to the Bolsheviki and who are striving against the conclusion of a peace in Kussia without victory. Enter Holy City. Washington, Dec. .11. With bared heads and measured tread, the main forces of British, French aud Italian troops marched down the historic Jeri co road into Jerusalem today, official dispatches received here this afternoon states. Leading the allied troops, on foot, were the British general Sir Edmund Allenby, the commanders of the French and Italian forces, and the head of a French political mission as well as of the British political officer. The international character of the of ficials who formally took possession of the holy city was designed to eliminate possibility of any petty jealousness aris ing in the future. "British, French and Italian troops will safeguard the holy places," the official dispatches said. MISS STTNSOX FLIES San Francisco, Dec. 11 Miss Kath- erine Stinson, flying from San Diego to' San Francisco, passed over Tulare at 1:05 p. m.. traveling about 50 iniis an hour. It is estimated that she will reach Fresno about 2 o clock. Tulare i approximately 300 miles from San Diego. She left' the latter city at 803 a. in. SALEM, OREGON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1917 p f.jM f j CRUMPLING the Kaiser Cries "Peace!" Why INVESTIGATION OF MiUTARY AFFAIRS IS TO BEGiAI ONCE AH Complaints Will Be Probed . and Progress of Prepared ness Gone Over Washington, Dec. 11. A searching in vestigation into the whole military sit uation, . particularly the organizing, training and equipping of the national army, was ordered by the senate mili tary affairs committee today. The investigation will start in a few dayg. Chairman Chamberlain, of the committee, announces mat Secretary of War Baker and other hjyri officials will be asked to give the exact progress of America's war preparations. Whilo the whole military situation will be probed, including conditions of the American expeditionary forces in France, special attention will be direct ed to the new draft army which has been the topic of many complaints as to the equipment and organization. At the coniaiittee meeting today Senator Wadsworth of New York, who has inspected conditions at several of the national cantonments, said rifles, clothing and other equipment had not been supplied satisfactorily and as a result America 's developing of war strength was greatly hampered. Another object of the investigation, it was stated, will be to give congress and the people the exact facts and si lence many false rumors regarding con ditions at cantonments. After all tV greatest industry inthis Abe Martin II ' countrr seems t' be that of amusin' th j ufactures was ordered today iy a reso public' Some fellers would rather find'lution offered by Senator Lodge, Mass aa argvment than a pocket book. aehusetts and adopted without debate. SOLDIERS' FAMILIES WILL GET CHRISTMA CHECKS AS PRESENTS Separate Allowance to Wives and Families New Govern ment Departure By George Martin (United Press Staff Correspondent) Washington, Dec. 11. Santa Claus will deliver Uncle Sam's first scp-, aration allowance check to tU, wivj mothers, sisters, children and other do- pUllUCMlB OA AUI'JIittt O .LlgULlltg wsu, aw was learned today. Down in the colossal marble pile built to house the new National Museum and turned into a war factory overnight, hundreds of pretty typists are hammer ing out tho slender, precious little wiate vouchers for the soldiers folks at home It is something new in American war history. Beginning with this first Christ- tthomselves and quickly gathered to op mas check and continuing as long as the pose tho rioters. war lasts, these monthly messengers of The negroes then took to the open aid and cheer will go sailing out from icountry in flight, some returning to here in their long narrow envelopes, 'leamp, where they were placed under Authority for them is contained in the Arrest and others-hiding in rienis ana , HS8ia'g great stores and her rail war insurance bill passed at the special ditches along the neaby roads. Armed T flesce is()iatioii of Petror session of congress. Citizens assisted the military authori- ' - t BolsLeviki centers Fearful that they might not get ties in tho search and finally all the starvation if the revolt continues, evervone's check delivered before 'stragglers were rounded up. , , Christmas morning, the tall, old man ... .....i J V,l,,a a,, if an1 witn ine ruu, wimc aim " the star spangled stove pipe hat and the fat little man who drives the rein- de"rs ordered a special night shift of clerks which will jump into tho work tonight nLnin tmlnv. the checks will bo 1 scudding out over the country in every i. j . t ....,! .i.no, IZlTny Ttn 00. Thel wa7 to . 1,1 , n;hr ?ZZ": u "fU Z The amounts appearing in the upper left hand corner of these unique Christ mas gifts range irora 0 up and repre sent one month's compensation by tho government to the dependents of fight ing men. The $30 checks go to wives with no children and represent $15 from the government and 13 from the hus band's 3') a month pay. Where there are youngtitei a wee nip is added to each check for each one. "The aggregate of these first checks", said an official of the war risk insurance bureau of the treasury de partment, "while large, will not run into the millions we will be mailing out iir.f Christmas. " "We have only a small percentage of men with dependents in the regular ar my and national guard and practically none in the first draft army and only a few casualties. Nineteen eighteen will be a different storv." Another Investigation. Washington, Dec. 11. A nation-wide investization of sugar and coal condi- tions by the senate committee on mn- PRICETWO THIRTEEN COLORED SOLDIERS HO FOR RIOT ATI10HST0N Forty Others Given Life Sen tences and Five Acquitted at Trial Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Tex as, Dee. 11. Thirteen negro soldiers, members of th. Twenty Fourth United States infantry, were hanged here today for participation in the Houston riot, the night of August 23 in which seven teen persons were killed and twenty two iajur-id. So far" as it is officially know, this is the first execution of American sol diers on American territory since the United States entered the war. Aside from the thirteen blacks hang id at 7:17 this morning, forty one were given a life sentence m federal prison, one a sentence ox two years ana six months, and three sentences of two years. Five w.-?re acuitted. The thirteen negro soldiers were nang- ed near Camp Travis. Corporal Charles Baltimore was one of the men executed, Thi others were: Sergeant Nesbit. Corporal L. J. Brown. Corporal Wheatley. Pnrnftrnl .Tpfma fnnTP. Private William Beckeuridge (first class). Private Thomas C. Hawkins (first cIqsh). Private Carlos Snodgrass (first class). Private Ira B. Davis. Jrivate James Diving-. Private Frank Johnson. Private Ril-y W. Young. Private Pat McWhorter. The names of those sentenced to im prisonment and those acquitted have not yet been made puouc. The executions were in charge or ma ior General John W. Ruckman, com mander of tho southern department. They took place on the government res ervation on Salado creek, Camp Tre- vis. No om aside from military officials knew of the impending execution until this morning. The Terdit convicting the black sol diers was returned November 30, it was statid officially. The riot which resulted in the con viction and imposition of sentence on necro soldiers occurred at Houston, Texas, on the night of August 23, 1SJ17 The riot resulted in the death of sev 'entoen persons and the wounding of twentv one. Anions those dead wero four policemen, three negro soldiers, one Mexican and nine wuir.es, tne iuii ter including white soldiers. This came from an outbreak of about 150 negro soldiers of the Twenty Fourth United States infantry at 8 o'clock at night. During tho day the negroes became inflamed against the whito police at Houston because of the reported shooting of a negro sergeant by a polico officer, - .- $ uheir cajll(p parting toward the city, shooting indiscriminately. Warning was given immediately and mounted , .1,1- n holt rtwvl. ito drive the soldiers back. Illinois guardsmen encamped at :Camp Logan, scon arrived on the scene but only in time to throw a cor idon between the negroes and great ',r0wd of Houston citizens, who armed I Excitement ran high not only in . 'TTntnn hil. t h rOllilhoilt. nil lCXaS. - - --- - , . (Martial law was declared in Houston, and rigorous measures taken by bothi 'civil and military authorities. 1 The war department promptly con.-, -ducted an investigation ami uuring us Tiroeres the negro troops were trans- f erred to the west, f.na y boinst sent ttn Columbus. N. M- l-ate there trs an official inquiry at El Paso and nearly seventv neeroee were taken to I ort '.Bam Houston where a court martial iwas held. . Tho court martial lasted all through November. The verdict was return ed November 30, but was not known pub licly until 13 of the negro participants were hanged today. The first intelligence that mere, nau been convictions and executions came today in the hape of the dispatenos announcing that 13 men had been hang d nml that many of the ctners na 1 been sentenced to imprisonment Only I - i live wcic n, , i-.v.. . IWoiU nf thn executions were not tka milltnrr authorities. TM. It ! nntiAiinfAmnFI t msilf was fciv-i fjivcj uui "-'--.' - 1 j'en out by the chief of staff at fort Ham Houston. Accordance With Law Washington, Dec. 1 1. Kxecution of sentences passed on the negro soldiers who figured in the Houston riots was in full accordance with the law, the war department stated thi afternoon. 'While refusing 10 give out the official report of the hanging or- i-i coioreu soldiers, tho department said the com mander had power to act without re view or approval in advance by Wasb- (Continued on page two) CENTS htandifivb cent WAR IS DECLARED BY BOLSHEVIKI 0! GEIUiALADHIE Troops Were Dispatched On Armored Train Today to Revolt Zone MARTIAL LAW IN FGUCE BY COSSACK LEADER Fighting "Is Reported la Streets of Moscow Where Crisis Impends Petrograd, Deo, 11. War against General Kaledine and his Cossack re voltors was formally declared by tho Bolsheviki today. Troops wore dispatch ed from Kazan on an armored train through Khnrwoff. . . " Foreign Minister Trotsky ordered En sign Krylenko, Bussian commander in chief, to send as many troops from the front as possible to crush tho Cossack revolt along the Don and in Ural. Kaledine himself declared martial lav in force throughout the territory of th Don today and announced his Cossack forces were ready to fight. From Kharkof f it was reported today that rebels had mustered three train loads of troops, together with three from Sumy. General Korniloff was said to be in command of these forces. Fighting in Moscow. Stockholm, Dec. ll.Fighting in tha streets of Moscow between Bolshevi kiists and members of the Kalcdine Korniloff revolutionaries is in progress and the situation has reached a critical pointj according to advices from Hap aranda today. The Swedish consul-general at Mos cow, in view of tho disorder, has coun selled all Swedislr subjects to leave tha city. It la reported the people there ar threatened with starvation. Denounced As Terrorism. . London, Dec. 11. Violent denuncia tory charges of terrorism were mad a against the Cossack rebels by the Bol sheviki today. Proclamations issued at Petrograd . and reported in dispatches here declared Cossacks had mounted guns on top of houses at Kostoff "for tlie purpose of terrifying the popula tion." Trotsky charged that General Dutoff of the triumverate of Cossack generals, including Korniloff and Kaledinea, was "committing acts of violence and op pression in the Ural section." At Moscow it was reported there wore grave fears of an outbreak presumably open revolt against the uoisheviai. jvios cow is the stronghold of Cossack strength and an attempt to throw oft the Trotsky-Leniue yoke there is to ba expected as a logical result of the Cos sack revolt in the southeast. The city has already been put into the posture of defense according to today 's dispatches. Tho Bolsheviki have mounted quick fir ing guns on houses. Troops in tho gar riuon, however, were reported to have mutinied and refused obedience to tha Bolsheviki commuuder Private Murau off. There was evidence today that - the Bolsheviki government is beginning to net panic stricken over the gradual I grip which the Cossacks are acquiring PROHIBITION COMING UP Washington, Dec. 11. The national prohibition amend ment to the constitution will come up for consideration in tho house next Monday, under unanimous agreement reached by the house today. A record vote also is plan ned by bouse leaders. I'assago of the amendment by. a two thirds house majority wilt place the question up to the states, the senate having passed the resolution last ses sion. shortly ' after the house agreed to consider the amend ment today the house judiciary committee by a veto of 15 to five reported in favorably. An amendment making the law effective one year after ratification by the states, was adopted. This was designed to allow liquor interests and the country time for readjustment. The national woman suffrage amendment also was reported out by a vote of 19 to 2 with. . out recommendation. (" 1 -fc , BANKER IN CITY JAIL. Portland, Or., Dec. 11. Jerome Mann promineut Linnton, Oregon, banker, is free todav after spending eight hours in the city jail for breaking traffic regu lations while driving his automobile. '.Mann had often been arr?sieu mi eauie offense. -