b y lJL s*! b
baker approves sentences
IMPOSED ON MEN M HO RE
FUSED TO FIGHT HUNS.
MOULD DEPORT THEM LATER.
Secretary Held With the Courts That
Since the Men Mere C itizens of the
United States They M ere in Duty
Round to Fight for the Country of
Their Adoption.
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 8 —
In approving sentences ranging from
eigl'.teen months to twenty years’ im
prisonment imposed by courts-martial
upon twelve privates who refused mil
itary service at Camps L pton and
Gordon, Secretary Baker made it
plain that the war department does
not consider these men as coming
within the class of conscientious ob
jectors.
The men refused service solely be
cause they were asked to light against
Germany and -Austria, in which coun
tries most of them claimed to have
relatives. Since they are not regard
ed as conscientious objectors, they will
not have the right of a review of their
cases by the special board appointed
to hear appeals of such objectors.
Secretary Baker held with the
courts that since the men were citi
zens of the United States, regularly
inducted into service under the select
ive service law, they were in duty
bound to fight for the country, and
that they could not select the country
against which they would bear arms.
In approving the findings of the
courts, the first of the kind to reach
the department, Mr. Baker went on
record as favoring the return of such
men “to the countries of their pref
erence” after the war. The twelve
men were sentenced as follows:
Hyman Polkes, fifteen years; Will
iam J. Seider, twenty years; Joseph
White, fifteen years; Anton Zsoldak,
ten years; Julius Leventhal, eighteen
months; Louis H. Blumenthal, fifteen
years; Samuel Spire, five years; Paul
Bauer, ten years; William Charles
Schwab, twenty years, and Michael
Clupa, ten years.
“In my judgment,” said the Secre
tary Baker’s approval, “the sentences
should be executed and if, after this
war is over, some process can be de
vised by which these entirely undesir
able citizens can be returned to the
countries of their preference, it would
be highly desirable from the point of
view of the United States.
'‘I have not the least doubt as to
the propriety of the procedure in these
cases, nor am I uncertain as to the
correctness of the results' reached.
“’fhe soldiers in all these cases were
either naturalized citizens of the
United States or native citizens of the
United States born of parents of coun
tries with which the United States is
now at war. They were properly
members of the army of the United
States pursuant to the selective draft
law.
“They were summoned before prop
er officers of the army and asked
whether they would in fact fulfill
their military obligations by fighting
against Germany and Austria in Eur
ope. They all answered that they
would not.
“There was the same shuffling on
the part of some of the soldiers as to
what they meant by their answers,
and some long-winded refinements
were undertaken to the efTect that
some of them were willing to fight
Germans and Austrians generally,
but would not fight their own rela
tives, although they offered no expla
nation of the process by which they
were going to discover whether par
ticular Germans and Austrians whom
they were required to shoot at from
long range happened to be related to
them.
“In one of the records the soldier
claims to have an uncle, evidently too
old to be in the military service of
Austria, whom he once saw, and he
had heard of ten or twelve other rela
tives in Austria of some of whom he
had seen photographs which must
have been of a persuasive character,
since they aroused in him emotions
of blood kinship strong enough to
overcome tire obligations of his oath
of allegiance as an American citizen.
“These men were full citizens of the
United States, most of them by the j
voluntary act of naturalization. They j
had equal rights and privileges with |
all other citizens. They have also j
equal responsibilities. Among these
duties and responsibilities is to pro-:
tect the United States against all its
enemies, domestic and foreign. "No
right is extended to a naturalized cit
izen to pick and choose.”
DISCUSS MATTER OF AMERICAN,
AND ALLIED INTERVENTION .
IN SIBERIA.
ALLIES URGING SUCH A Pi.AN.
It Is Believed by Those in High Au-;
thoritv and Who Are Close to the
Administration, That President Will
Declare in Favor of Participation in
Russian Adairs.
WASHINGTON, July 6.—President
Wilson, Secretary of State Lansing,
Secretary of War Baker and Secre- j
tary of the Navy Daniels had a leng
thy conference this afternoon, the sub
I
ject under discussion, so it is reliablyj
stated, being allied intervention in
Russian affairs.
It is declared, on high authority,
that the allies are urging the presi
dent to approve allied and American
intervention in Siberia.
It is the view of those close to the
administration that Wilson will acqui-1
esce in the plan for intervention im-1
posing certain restrictions.
L W. W. GETS
TWENTY YEARS
CAMP LEWIS, Wash., July 0.—In
a trial by court-martial Private Will
iam Moody was sentenced to serve
twenty years at hard labor in the
state penitentiary, forfeits all pay and
at the end of his prison term, he will
get a dishonorable discharge from the
army, for conviction on the charge of
insubordination. Moody admitted that
he is an 1. W. W.
CREW COMPELLED TO TAKE TO
SMALL BOATS IN MID-OCEAN
—ONE BELIEVED LOST.
SURVIVORS REACH LAND
Drifted About for Eleven Days, Most
of Time in Rain and Stormy Wea
ther—Boat Capsized and Food and
Water Lost, But Men Right It and
Get in.
AN ATLANTIC PORT, July 9.—
The Norwegian steamer Augvald was
torpedoed and sunk in mid-ocean by a
German submarine June 23, according
to a statement made by survivors of
the vessel, who reached this port on a
rescuing ship last night. The crew
took to the boats as the ship began to
sink. Those in one of the boats, thir
teen in number, drifted about for elev
en days in mid-ocean. During most of
this time it rained and stormed and
once the little craft was upset, but the
men managed to right it again and
climb in. When the boat upset, all the
food and water wag lost.
When the men were about to give '
up, a passing steamer happened along
and rescued them. Another boat, con- ■
taining thirteen persons, is missing
and believed lost.
GENERAL HAIG REPORTS THAT AUSTRALIAN AND AMERI
CAN FORCES ADVANCE LINES ON TWO THOUSAND
YARD FRONT AND REPULSE THREE SEPARATE AT
TACKS ON PART OF GERMANS TO DISLODGE THEM—
CENTRAL POWERS GET RAW COTTON.
Romo, July 6.—A'fter five days of unremitting struggle, the Aus
tro-Hungarian armies have been completely driven from the right to
the left bank of the Piave river, says an Italian official report tonight.
ITALIANS EXTEND THEIR LINES.
Rome, July 6.—In extending their lines on the lower Piave river,
the Italians yesterday took over four hundred Austrian prisoners and
i battery of Howitzers and many machine guns. The Italians also
nade progress northeast of Monte Grappa, taking thirty prisoners and
live big guns. This is an official Italian report on yesterday’s activities
>n the Italian front.
HAIG REPORTS AN ADVANCE.
London. July G.—General Haig tonight reports that the Australi
ans and Americans advanced on a front 2,000 yards in width, beating
down all opposition, last night. The Huns made three separate at
:empts to dislodge the allied forces and recapture the lost ground, but
it last reports the Australians and Yankees are holding possession,
having repulsed the German attacks.
COTTON FOR CENTRAL POWERS.
Amsterdam, July G.—Seven thousand tons of raw cotton have
l>een shipped from Titles, in Trans-Caucasia, and will be divided among
the central powers. A German military expedition recently arrived at
Tifiis. The object of the expedition is now revealed.
TWENTY-ONE HUN MACHINES DOWNED.
London, July G.—Official: British airmen yesterday destroyedj
•leven German aeroplanes and downed ten others, in aerial attacks south
:>f the Somme river. Four British machines are missing and believed
lost.
GERMAN ATTACK IS REPULSED.
Paris, July G.—A German patrol made a raid on the American sector!
r>n the Lorraine front yesterday, but met with a severe repulse and
had to retire. The Huns also attacked the French front, in a local en
gagement, and met with a similar fate.
AMERICANS KEEP HUNS BUSY.
With the American Expeditionary Forces, July G.—American ar
tillery heavily shelled the enemy with gas in the Toul sector yester
day. A German aeroplane was downed and patrols and a raiding party
were routed by the Americans.
GERMAN ARTILLERYING ACTIVE.
London, July (I.—German artillery was active today between Yil
ers-Bretonneaux and Anere, where the Australian forces, aided by Am
erican troops, recently gained valuable ground, says an official report.
BRITISH CASUALTIES FOR WEEK.
London, July (>.—Official: The British casualties for the week
ending Friday night, and which includes killed, wounded and missing,
aggregate seventeen thousand, three hundred and thirty-six.
REICHSTAG ADOPTS RUMANIAN PEACE TREATY.
London, July (i.—The German reiehstag has adopted the peace
treaty entered into between Rumania and the central powers. Foreign
Minister von Kuehlmann told the reiehstag that an Indian campaign j
was not in contemplation by the Germans.
AMBASSADOR MAKES REPORT.
Washington, July 9.—United States Ambassador to Russia, Frau
ds. now stationed at Vologda, Russia, confirms the report of the assas
sination of the German ambassador, Count von Mirbach, and street
fighting in Moscow as a result. Several prominent Bolsheviki officials
have been captured in the territory occupied by the revolutionists, andj
revolutionary leaders have been taken by the the Bolsheviki.
FRENCH MAKE ADVANCE.
Paris, July 9.—Official: The French forces northwest of Longpont
last night advanced two-thirds of a mile into enemy territory, on a two
mile front, and occupied important positions. Three hundred and sev
enty-four prisoners were taken in the operations.
CZECH-SLOVAKS SUFFER DEFEAT.
Amsterdam, July 9.—A Vienna dispatch says that the Czech-Slo
lak forces operating in Siberia suffered a severe defeat in the fighting
vesterday. It is claimed that Austro-Hungarian prisoners of war in
Siberia aided the Bolsheviki forces in fighting the Czech-Slovak troops.
HAIG HAS LITTLE TO REPORT.
London, July 9.—General Haig today reports that beyond a few
local encounters, which resulted in the capture of a few German prison
ers, there is nothing of interest to report.
* SEVERE FLOODS IN GERMANY.
Amsterdam, July 9.—It is reported that severe floods have occurred
recently in many parts of Germany, causing a serious loss of crops and
teavy property damage.
************************ *j
* ALL NEW REGISTRANTS IN CLASS *
* ONE ORDERED TO BE READY FOR *
* CALL TO BE ISSUED IN AUGUST *
* _ *
* Washington, July 6.—General Crowder, provost marshal, di- *
* roots all registrants who may be in class one to have their physi- *
* cal examination immediately so as to be ready to depart for mob- *
* ilization camps when the call comes early in August. *
*************************
GOVERNMENT HALTS MAN
ON WAY TO ANCHORAGE
JUNEAU, July 9.—James Woods,
formerly of Juneau, who has been em
ployed by the Westinghouse Electri
:al company at Pittsburgh, Pa., for
some time, is in Juneau. Mr. Woods
was on his way to Anchorage, where
lie is going to investigate a private
proposition, when he was intercepted
by a telegram from his company say
ing that they had received word that
he was needed by the government.
Mr. Woods does not know just what
capacity he is wished to serve the
country, but expects to receive further
particulars soon.
CITY OF VIENNA, CARRYING CA
NADIAN TROOPS, PILES UP
ON THE BEACH.
NO LOSS OF LIFE RESULTS.
American Patrol Boat, Hearing Wire
less Call for Aid Sent Out When
Vessels Ran Ashore, Hastened to
the Scene and Took Off Seven Hun
dred Soldiers.
OTTAWA, Canada, July 6.—The
Canadian troop ship City of Vienna
grounded late last night at a point on
the Canadian Atlantic coast. The
troops and crew reached the shore in
safety. It is believed that the vessel
will be a total loss.
U. S. BOAT TO RESCUE.
BOSTON, July 6.—An American
patrol boat rescued 700 troops from
the Canadian troop ship City of Vien
na at an early hour this morning.
When the vessel struck a reef, a
wireless call for help was sent out.
The patrol boat heard the call and
nrnmntlv rpsnnnrlpH
TYPHOON HITS
GUAM ISLAND
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 9.—
Official advices state that Guam island
was devastated by a typhoon of ter
rific violence which struck the island
July 6. Half of the inhabitants are
destitute, crops were destroyed and
much material was damaged.
VISITING U. S.
LEADING STATESMEN FROM
SOUTH AMERICAN REPUBLIC
COME TO CONFER.
MET BY U. S. OFFICIALS.
Argentine Dreadnaught Steams Into
Harbor at Norfolk, Escorted by Flo
tilla of Aeroplanes and Dirigibles
from the United States Aviation
Corps.
NORFOLK, Va., July 9.—A diplo
matic mission from the Argentine re
public in South America reached Nor
folk yesterday afternoon, and was met
by a high official of the American
state department, officials of the war
and navy departments and disting
uished citizens in civil life. The mis
sion was brought here on an Argen
tine dreadnaught bearing an Ameri
can name. It was escorted into port
by a flotilla of American aeroplanes
and dirigibles.
The mission comes, it is understood,
to discuss the war situation, and the
result is awaited with interest.
The mission, accompanied by the re
ceiving officials, departed for Wash
ing last evening and will be present
ed to President Wilson today. It is
composed of the leading statesmen of
the South American republic.
MUST CUT CONSUMPTION TO
THIS AMOUNT OK FACE DIS
ASTER, SAYS GARFIELD.
MAY SLOW AUTO INDUSTRY.
Reduction of Production of Pleasure
Cars at Least a Fourth Is Advocat
ed by Head of the Fuel Administra
tion—Definite Program of Conser
vation Planned.
WASHINGTON, July 5.—The na
tion faces the danger of another pe
riod of industrial idleness unless dras
tic measures of economy in the use of
coal are adopted immediately by do
mestic consumers and the supplies to
many of the less essential industries
curtailed. Fuel Administrator H. A.
Garfield announced today.
The time has come, Dr. Garfield
says, when the situation must be look
ed squarely in the face. He is unwil
ling to accept the responsibility of
permitting the nation to take the
summer conditions as a matter of
course and face the consequences
when industries are forced to shut
down again during the winter months
because of transportation congestion
and inadequate coal supply.
A definite program of conservation
which will involve the curtailment of
some less essential industries, Dr.
Garfield feels, is imperative to the na
tional welfare, with the wartime ac
tivities making extraordinary de
mands upon the coal production of
the nation.
No definite order was issued today
; by Dr. Garfield calling for further
conservation by individual industries,
and he made it plain that his inten
tion was to carry out a program
which would cause as little industrial
unrest as possible.
One of the industries which has
been fighting against a drastic cur
tailment order, it is said, is that en
gaged in the manufacture of pleasure
automobiles.
The fuel administration has advo
! cated a curtailment of 5 per cent in
this direction, and today it was inti
| mated that drastic regulation would
be forced, not only by the inadequate
coal supply, but by a shortage of
steel and other materials.
The hope was expressed, however,
: that some agreement could be reached
I with the war industries board and
| other government agencies which
I would bring about an understanding
in connection with this and other in
: dustries that would make it possible
! to effect a general curtailment on a
| basis which would not disrupt the fi
! nancial and labor situation in anv
| community Dr. Garfield, however, be
lieves that further delay in the adop
! tion of a comprehensive program
would be reprehensible. In an official
statement he said:
Must Save 60,000,000 Tons.
“A savings of 60,000,000 tons is the
one possible avenue of escape from
national disaster. Necessities of war
must be supplied. The coal deficit
must inevitably come out of the neces
sary fuel for non-war industries.
“These industries employ millions
of our population and furnish the
backbone of our national wealth. Fac
tories will shut down and men be out
of work in proportion to the coal
deficit. Every ton of coal saved will
keep fifty workmen from idleness and
permit additional creation of several
hundred dollars of national wealth.
“The fuel administration has frank
ly given to the public statistics of the
alarming fuel situation. It desires to
state just as frankly and with all the
emphasis possible that it is in the
power of the American people through
fuel economy to save the country from
the effects of the fuel famine.”
■- o
FRENCH ORPHAN BENEFIT.
A baseball game has been arranged
between the Masons and Elks for Sat
urday; exact hour announced later.
All proceeds go to the French Orphan
fund, and Anchorage is expected to
i do its duty.