TODAY?
WEAifi
Oregon : '
and Wt;
probably .
west; pro
rain or sno
portion; mo
oath we
winds.
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"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man high command has withdrawn near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. -