A WEEK OF CONDENSED WIRE NEWS
MONDAY
Washington.—To meet “serious
disquietude” in America and partic
ularly in Russia, President Wilson
has written a letter to Governor
Stevens, of California, urging him to
y give a new trial for Thomas Mooney,
who is now under death sentence
in connection with the Preparedness
Day bomb case, in San Francisco.
On the recommendation of a special
committee, headed by Secretary of
Labor Wilson, the President has
asked that the sentence be post
poned until a new trial is had, as the
committee has reported that the con
viction savoured of a frame-up.
Washington.—In his proclamation
urging stricter food conservation,
President Wilson designates Mon
days and Wednesdays as wheatless
days, and Tuesday as meatless day
and Satuday as porkless day, with
_ one wheatless and one meatless meal
T every day. Regulations regarding
the sale of flour and the making of
bread are compulsory, but house
holds are depended up to obey the
mandate voluntarily. The president
points out that thirty per cent of
the American normal wheat con
sumption must be sent abroad, to
feed our Allies.
With the American Army in
France.—Four American aviators,
attached to the French squadron,
x participated in a daring daylight raid
' on German munition depots yester
day and all returned in safety. Ow
ing to the fog prevailing at the time
of the attack, it was impossible to
estimate the damage done. It is
believed, however, that satisfactory
results were obtained.
Washington.—The supreme court
of the United States has directed
that a mandate be issued forthwith
providing for the execution of the
sentence of Emma Goldman and
W Alexander Berkmannn. The deci
sion of the supreme court over-ruled
the petition of the defendents for
a rehearing on other than consti
tutional grounds.
Washington.—Secretary of War
Baker, in replying to the charges
made by Senator Chamberlain, at a
public hearing before the Senate
committee here today, said that more
than a million men were under arms
in the United States today. Secre
tary Baker stated that such criticism
came from the impatient American
who wants to “do great things
greatly,” and conceded that in so
great an enterprize it was impos
sible that there should not be delays
and shortcomings. The mistakes
cited in Senator Chamberlain’s speech
declared Mr. Baker, gave a dispro
portionate idea, with the intent he
said, to give the country the im
pression that deficiences were char
acteristic rather than occasional.
The secretary said further, that
every American soldier who can use
a rifle has been provided with one
and that more will be ready when
there is need for them. Regarding
the statement that France and Eng
land had provided the Americans
with arms and ammunition, Baker
declared that those countries had
taken that action at their own re
quest, having more rifles than they
needed, and desiring to save cargo
space for the more vital necessities.
In conclusion, Baker informed the
committeemen that great plans had
been made for the war, but he did
not make known any of the details.
Washington—Major-General Wood
in France, was slightly wounded
while on an observation tour, by an
explosion which killed five French
soldiers, and injured two American
officers. Major Wood was injured
in the arm and Leut. Col. Charles
E. Kilbourne sustained an injury to
the eye.
Amsterdam. — Foreign Minister
Kupfmann has predicted that a sep
erate peace will be entered into be
tween Germany and Rumania at an
early date.
Washington.—A report received
by the navy department states that
an American patrol boat is ashore
in European waters, having run a
ground during a dense fog. There
was no loss of life, but it is regarded
as possible that the vessel wil* have
to be abandoned.
The Hague.—Disturbances in the
Rhenish industrial district of Ger
many have become so serious that
soldiers with machine guns have
been dispatched to the scene of riot
ing to preserve order. The seat of
the great Krupp works is in this
section. One cause of the trouble
is Germany’s refusal to meet the
Bolsheviki government half way in
the peace negotiatons. The Social
ists are deeply aroused by the jun
ker control of the empire and they
point to the silence of the kaiser as
showing that he either is in complete
sympathy with the annexationists or
is afraid to oppose them.
Washington.—The American Re
] life commission in Italy has reported
! to the local Red Cross headquarters
that the Austrians have made sev
: eral raids recently on Italian hos- j
pitals, causing considerable damage.
Amsterdam.—The action of For
! eign Minister Czernin, who has vir
! tually offered to open peace negotia
I tions with the United States, is high-'
ly displeasing to German officials
and the German press. In an in-;
terview published in the Cologne j
Gazatte, Count von Ueventolow de
clares that the action of the Aus
trian minister endangers GeViany’s
life interests.
London.—The war office an-1
nounces that sixteen tons of explos-1
ives havd/been dropped among Ger-1
man factories and munition depots
by Allied airplanes during the past
twenty-four hours. Sixteen German
planes have been shot down during
the same period, while only one
British plane is missing.
Portland—Charles W. Fulton, for
mer Oregon senator, died yesterday.
Zurich.—Three housand people
participated in riots which took place
yesterday at Prague, Austria, follow
ing the announcement that further
reductions in flour rations would
be required. Shop windows were
smashed and the rioters were in the
act of looting stocks when the police
arrived on the scene and restored
order.
Amsterdam.—According to recent
dispatches received from Budapest,
King Charles has accepted the re
signations from the Hungarian cabi
net.
TTES] >AY
New York.—Lord Dunmore, who
has just arrived from England as
head of the British mission, declares
that “any offensive, no matter what
the magnitude, that the Germans
may launch on the Western front,
will be halted by the French, Brit
ish and American forces.” “We can
beat the Germans,” he continued
reassuringly. “We can go through
their lines any time we make the
attempt We shall succeed.” The
American troops, he said, are in
wonderful shape and all the Allies
are watching with interest their ac
tion in the first battle. French of
ficers, he continued, declare that the
markmanship of the Americans is
most accurate and will be severely
I felt by the Germans in the spring
activities. The morals of the army,
as a whole, are excellent.
Petrograd. — Six hundred Red
' Guards have left this city for Viborg,
1 where they will reinforce the Fin
nish revolutionists and the Finnish
Red Guard in the fighting which is
now in progress in that country.
The Russians were armed with ma
chine guns.
Paris.—A French freighter and a
trawler were sunk late yesterday
afternoon within sight of Marseilles,
as the result of encountering mines.
Forty lives were lost.
Paris —In anticpation of renewed
air aids on this city, the police have
been supplied with gas masks and
other preparations made to safe
guard the city.
Washington. — General Crowder
appeared before the senate military
committee this morning for the pur
j Pose of urging quick action on the
war department’s measure, to im- j
i prove the operation of the draft, j
1 He said that the adoption of the
joint resolution for the registration'
of men attaining the age of 21 since '
June 5 will bring the total number
in Class One, available for immedi
ate draft, to two million men. This
number, he said, would make it un
; necessary to draft registrants in
! other classifications.
j -
Petrograd—Formal announcement
has been made that diplomatic re- j
lations between Russia and Ru- j
mania have been severed. Rumanian
representatives in Russia will be
; sent home immediately.
Washington.—The frank state— '
ment made by Secretary of War
j Baker, in which he disclosed the
marvelous achievements made thus
far in preparing the nation for war,
has probably killed agitation in con
gress for the reorganization of the ;
war department. Members of con
gress now appear to be satisfied
that Secretary Baker is equal to the j
emergency. j
Seattle.—Pilot Andrew Helness,
who was steering the steamer Mari
posa at the time that vessel was
wrecked, will lose his license for a
period of five months, as the result
of the inquiry conducted by federal
inspectors. He was found guilty of
negligence and unskillfulness.
Washington.—Official advices re
ceived in this city from several Eu
ropean sources state that food riots
at Cracow, Poland, have assumed
such serious proportions that the
Austrian prime minister has been
asked to assist the local authorities
in quieting the disturbances. Thous
ands of women and children parade
the streets daily demanding food.
Martial law has been proclaimed.
Washington.—The new- Victory
bread, which has been prescribed
by the food administration for gen
eral use throughout the country,
must sell to the public at the prices
now prevailing for white bread.
This announcement was made today
in answer to reports that the bakers
intended to advance prices on the
ground that substitutes cost more
than white flour.
Rome.—The Italians have started
a big offensive on the Asiago basin
front and report the capture of
1500 Teutons as the result of the
first days operations. The prisoners
include 02 officers.
New York.—In a letter addressed
to President Howard, of the Union
Pacific, and made public on the eve
of that gentelman’s departure for
South America, President Wilson
declared that “the United States will
in no case be the aggressor against
the political independence or terri
torial integrity of any state or na
tion. At the same time we are
proposiing and insisting upon similar
pledges from all the nations of the
world, who have its peace at heart
and who are willing to associate
themselves for the maintenance of
that peace.”
Washington.—-Rumors are current
in this city today to the effect that
it is the intention of President Wil
son to make reply to the Austran
suggestion that an immediate and
frank discussion of war aims would
result in early peace. No informa
tion has been given out at the White
House however.
Seattle. — The government has
placed an order with Skinner &
Eddy for fourteen more steel cargo
carriers, each of 8,800 tons capacity.
The contracts involve the sum of
twenty million dollars.
San Francisco. — Prof. Edward
Ross, formerly of the Stanford uni
versity staff and now associated with
the University of Wisconsin, has just
returned from a five-months’ visit
in Russia. He says that the Bol
shevki is not fostered by German
agencies, but is a popular movement
for and by the Russian people. Ross
says that he talked with all classes
of the people in Russia and inter
viewed Trotsky, before arriving at
his conclusions. Tatiana and Olga
Romanoff, daughters of the former
czar, are espousing the Bolsheviki
cause and attending the radical
meetings at Tobolsk.
Marquette.—A large x plant en
gaged in making refined alcohol and
chemicals for the government was
wrecked this morning by a violent
explosion. The authorities are con
fident that the explosion was the
work of a German agent.
London.—A number of German
airplanes visited this city between
nine and ten o’clock last night and
dropped a score of bombs before
they were driven off. A second
raid was made shortly after mid
night and was still in progress at
an early hour this morning. One
of the enemy machines was shot
down in Essex.
Official figures given out by the
government this afternoon show that
47 persons were killed during the
raids, nearly all the deaths occurr
ing in the city. Nearly two hundred
were injured. Of the killed, there
were 14 men, 17 women and 16
children. Fifteen planes engaged in
the attacks, five of which reached
London and took part in the first of
the two raids. It is not known how
many reached the city during the
second raid and only one of the
machines was brought down. This
fell from a height of ten thousand
feet, burning as it rushed toward
the earth. The three men in the
machine were burned to death be
fore they reached the ground. An
1 indecisive engagement was fought
with another of the raiders by a
British plane, over the sea. All the
British pilots returned in safety
after driving off the raiders.
Virginia, Minn.—I. W. W. agi
tators are planning a ten-day strike
in the lumber camps throughout the
Northwest as a protest against the
arrest and prosecution of certain
members of their organization. Sev
eral of the agitator leaders were
taken into custody by soldiers and
police and efforts have been made
to run them out of the country. The
strike seems probable.
San Francisco.—Miss Theodora
Poliak, a resident of the fashionable
district of Oakland, was placed un
der arrest this morning on the charge
of espoinage. Federal officers de
clare that they will connect the
woman with German plots, including
the Preparedness Day bomb explo
sion. The arrest of the woman and
the disclosures of evidence found
has strengthened the belief that
Thomas Mooney was the victim of
a frame-up. Letters found at the
home of the suspect indicate that
the same hand penned the Prepared
ness Day warning and the more re
cent threats which were sent to
Governor Stephens. One of the let
ters found, was addressed to Indus
trial Workers leaders at Chicago.
WEDNESDAY
London.—The Petrograd corres
pondent of the Times is authority
for the statement that the Finns
have appealed to the Swedish gov
ernment for assistance in putting
down the disorders in Finland. A
report from another source states
that Swedish troops have arrived
at Tornea and have already clashed
with the Finnish Red Guard. Epi
demics are decimating the popula
tion of Finland. The reports state
that typhus, smallpox and other dis
eases are rampant, due to the ex
treme shortage of food and to in
jurious adulterations. A workers
Socialist government for Finland
has been proclaimed, according to
word received from Helsinfors iate
this afternoon. Quiet has been re
stored at Helsinfors.
Washington.—Congressman Meyer
: London, Socialist member from New
I York, declares that it will not be
necessary for his party to include a
war plank in the Socialist platform
next fall. He predicts that the war
will be over before the fall elections
and in consequence of the restora
tion of peace, the dominant parties
! will find it necessary to amend their
programs. London also predicts that
the Socialist representation in the
next congress will show a marked
increase. At present, Lodon is the
only Socialist in congress.
Washington—In the twelve months
of unrestricted submarine warfare,
ending last Friday, sixty-nine Ameri
can boats have been sunk by divers,
representing a tonnage loss of 171,
000 gross tonnage. During the same
period the United States has seized
107 German and Austrian vessels,
with a gross tonnage of nearly 700,
000. England has suffered a loss
of 1,033 ships in the same period.
'
London.—Another air raid over
England started last night shortly
after nine o’clock and continued un
til after midnight. A score of towns
in Eastern England were bombarded
but none of the machines penetrated
the city of London. A few bombs
were dropped in the outskirts of the
city, but very little damage resulted.
Thirteen airplanes participated in
the raid, which was fatal to nine
persons. Ten were injured. A num
ber of spectacular duels took place
in the air, before the attacking ma
chines were finally routed.
Marquette, Mich.—Employees of
the Pioneer Iron company declare
that the explosion which wrecked
the company’s plant yesterday was
caused by a time bomb. No arrests
have been made as yet.
London.—The British torpedo boat
Hazard was sunk in the English
channel on Monday as the result of
a collision. Three lives were lost.
Zurich.—The German brewing in
dustry is to be brought to a com
plete standstill as the result of
j orders about to be issued, prohibit
j ing the further use of barley by
breweries. Failure of the oat crop
necessitates the use of all available
barley for army horses. It is under
stood that beer will not even be
made for the soldiers.
London.—The Cunarder Ardani is
reported to have been torpedoed by
a submarine on Sunday off the Irish
coast. All the passengers, number
ing 240, and the members of the
crew were landed safely
Portland.—John McCourt, special
representative of the war depart
ment, has informed the police of
this city that they must start a clean
up campaign immediately.
Petrograd.—As a reprisal against
Rumania for taking up arms against
the Bolsheviki government, Trotsky
has ordered the seizure of the Ru
manian gold resrve at Moscow,
amounting to one billion, two hun
dred million.
THURSDAY
Washington.—In an open letter
addressed to the conference of
American Farmers, in annual session
at Urbana, 111., President Wilson
struck another blow for the triumph
of the democracy of the world. The
president called for the united sup
port of the agriculturists to aid in
winning victory. He said that the
achievements of this year, on the
side or the other, must determine
the issue. He recited, in concrete
form, the enormous resources of the
country for war and showed how the
agencies and instrumentalities of
the nation will make futile the
schemes of Germany to compel her
enemies to starve with her. Contin
uing, he said. "It will be our glory
when the war is over, that we have
■ supplied these materials, and sup
| plied them abundantly, and it will
| be all the more glory because, in
! supplying them, we have made our
supreme effort and sacrifice. We
are fighting as truly for the liberty
and self government of the United
States as if our own revolutionary
war had to be fought over again;
and every man in every business in
the United States must know now
| that his whole future ami fortune
I lies in the balance. Our national
j life, our whole economic develop
ment will come under the sinsister
I influence of foreign control if we
i do not win.”
j The toil, energy, devotion, self
sacrifice, intelligence and foresight
of American farmers will bring the
war to a triumphant conclusion, de
| dared the president. He was to
i have addressed the farmers in per
f son, but was enable to make the
! trip.
I Zurich. — The “Varwaerts.” the
i mouthpiece of the Socialists in Ger
many, announces that the Berlin
strikers have issued an ultimatum
to the imperial government, con
; taining the following principal de
imands: accelerated conclusion of
!a general peace, without indemnities
jor annexations; participation by
; workmen’s delegates of all countries,
in the peace assembly; amelioration
of the food situation; abolition of
the state of seige; restoration of the
right to hold public meetings, which
was suspended by the German mili
tary authorities; abolition of the
militarization of war industries; re
lease of all political prisoners; de
mocratization of state institutions;
equal electoral suffrage.
Paperi Suppressed.
Amsterdam.—-The great industrial
1 revolt menaces all Germany today.
! The reports received here indicate
jthat nearly a million men and
j women, mostly engaged in war work,
| are now on strike. Newspapers
j which have dared to tell the truth,
,are being suspended in all parts of
j the empire and strike leaders are
being arrested by wholesale. Among
the papers suspended are the Vor
waerts, the Berlin Tagedblatt, and
Berliner Post. Von Hindenburg is
reported to have warned the strik
ers to cease immediately. He told
them that they are being misled,
j that their action is weakening the
! defenses of the nation, and that
they are committing a crime against
the army and an act of cowardice
against their brothers in the trenches
Public meetings have been for
bidden and the imperial government
is now threatening to put the nation
under martial law, with von Hinden
burg as dictator.
Many Women on Strike
London—Dispatches received from
Copenhagen state that there are now
seven hundred thousand German
workers on strike, including fifty
thousand women. The Hamburg
Echo, a Socialist paper, says that
a state of siege has been declared at
Hamburg and other cities in that
part of Germany.
Paris. — This city was raided by
German airplanes during the night,
the bombs dropped by the raiders
causing the death of a score of per
sons and injuring fifty others. The
property damage was very great.
One of the attacking planes was
brought down and the three occu
pants of the machine made prisoners.
London.—An official statement
issued today by the British admir
alty announces the loss of the trans
port Aragon, the auxiliary Osmanish
and a destroyer in the Mediter
ranean during the latter part of
December. The transport was tor
jpedoed on December 30 and while
j the destroyer was engaged in res
S cuing survivors, it also was atacked
| by a U boat. The auxiliary was
| sunk the following day. The loss
| of life is reported to have been 809,
i mostly soldiers. The list also in
cluded eight women nurses.
Rio de Janeiro.—Announcement
j has been made by the Brazilian gov
ernment that a fleet of Brazilian
! warships will be sent to Europe to
| assist the Allies in their operations
| against the Central powers.
Washington.—Secretary Daniels
j has announced that the former Ger
j man liner Vaterland recently car
| ried eight thousand American troops
i across the Atlantic on a single
I voyage, and reports indicate that
the voyage was made in comfort to
all.
Denver.—Articles of agreement
| have been signed by Fulton and
i Champion .less Willard for a cham
pionship match to be fought some
[time next summer, uames M. 11am
1 mil, the promoter, announces that
i all money in excess of actual ex
I penses, will be turned over to the
] Red Cross society.
New York.—William B. Thomp
son, who has been in Petrograd since
last July as head of the American
Red Cross in Russia, contributed a
million dollars to the Russians to
j assist in spreading thei Bolsheviki
doctrines through Germany and Aus
Jtria. Thompson believes that the
Bolshevikis represent the greatest
! power against Germany and her
| allies. The Bolsheviki propoganda,
j he says, is undermining the mili
j tarist regimes of the Central powers.
! Russian aviators are constantly em
ployed in distributing the literature
among German, Austrian, Turkish
and Bulgarian troops and civilians.
London.—The British ship losses
during the past week show an in
crease over the previous period. A
total of 15 vessels were divered, of
which number nine were of more
than 1G00 tons capacity. Tomorrow
j marks the commencement of the
i second year of the ruthless sub
i marine campaign, and the Germans
are still a long way from ending the
war on the sea.