The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, April 7, 1917, Page 1

The Weather Fair and Warmer, THIRTY-SEVENTH YEAR, NO. 82 THE BIS CK TRIBUNE = BISMARCE, NORTH DAKOTA, ~ BATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1917. 2—~CO GERMAN SEA RAIDER NEAR U. S. COAST All Central Powers to Sever Relations MISSOURI RACES; FAMILIES FLEE; SITUATION GRAVE Big River Gaining at Rate of Foot an Hour, Inundating Miles of Botton Lands HORSEMEN RACE RISING TIDE TO GIVE WARNING Observer Roberts Remains at Post Throughout Night—Trains Stalled by Flood ee ee ee ee SATURDAY’S READINGS, 1:00 a. m. 18.6 2:00 a, m. 19.0 9:00 a. m. 19.0 10.00 a. m. 18.9 b FRIDAY’s READIN 5:00 p. m 7:00 p.m 9:00 p.m. eee NO. 7 DOUBLES BACK, Owing to the flood conditions which have undermined the road- hed east of Mandan, Northern Pacifie train N which arrived at 3 o'clock this afternoon, dou- bled back on its run as train No. 8, and train No, 8 held at Man- dan, doubled back as No. 7. No. 3 is stil! held here until repairs to the road-bed are made. The official reading made at 3:30 o'clock this afternoon was 21.0 feet. One hundred families living on the bottoms between Bismarck .and the South Dakota line -have been driven from their homes and about 20 fam- ilies living in Bismarck are ready to move on a, moment’s..notice should a further rise in the Missouri river be noted this afternoon. Meteorologist Orris W. Roberts remained at his post in the govern- ment office all last night, making hourly observations, sending out warnings and answering scores of calls from all points contiguous to the river. Messengers were des: patched by horseback as far south as Hartford, 35 miles from here, not- ifying residents to move at once, Large Gorge Forms. A large gorge formed late yester- day between Huff and Fort Rice, south of Bismarck, and choked the river to a point 20 miles above Bis! marck. This gorge resulted when the ice from the Yellowstone river struck the ice from the Missouri, which started to break between 4 and 5 o’clock yesterday morning. This morning the river was re- ported to be: falling at. Washburn, 35 miles north of Bismarck, with the channel free from ice; but re- ports from Mannhaven, 75 miles Kee, 25 miles west of Mannhaven, at 11 o'clock showed the river to be rising at the rate of a foot an hour and that the expansion was filled with ice. The stream is also chok- ed to the South Dakota line. Situation Looks Serious. Forecaster Roberts admitted at noon that the flood conditions look serious for late this afternoon or to, night. This rising of the waters at Mannhaven and Ree, above Wash- burn, should cause a still higher stage at Bismarck tonight. The flood stage is 14 feet. Af\11:30 the official reading at the guage was 19.1 feet and at 12:30 the government reading was 20.7 or a rise of 114 feet within an hour. The government re- port then stated that the ice had begun to move down stream. Trains Are Stalled. Coast train No. 3, due in Bismarck at 11:40 this morning, is stalled here because of the soft bed under the company’s tracks on the flats a half-mile east of Mondan. At 10:10 an eastbound evtra was sent out from Mandan but found the water six inches deep over the tracks and returned to the Mandan yards. Be. fore the arrival of No. 3 from the east, an emergency engine was sent out and was also forced to return. Train No. 7 is being held here and train No. 8 at Mandan. Crew of 80 Men at Work. A crew of 80 men was dispatched to the district east of Mandan this morning in an attempt to strength- en the road-bed which has become undermined in some places and in others is too soft for a train to pass. The most encouraging report for the railroad officials on the ground supervising the work: was from the government office to the effect that the ice had started to move at 11:20. The length of time that the trains will be held at Bismarck and Man- dan depends upon the amount of ballasting to be done and the posst- bility of further damage to the road bed by the flow of ice. ‘Warnings Given In Time. Warnings were given in time to the residents located in the bottoms so that they could save their chat- tels. No fatalities have been report- ed to the office from government gny_of the points up or down stream. (Continued on Page Taree.) [How Are We Going to Help Allies On Land Is Interesting Feature —$$—$$—$$— BY PROF. ROBERT M. JOHNSON. (Professor of Military History at Harvard University; Advisor of United States War College and ‘Editor of .. The Military Historian and Econ- omist. (Written ispecially for this Newspaper.) What will we do with our troops in the war with Germany? We should do with our troops whatever will tend to defeat Germany most rapidly, And further, in view of the fact that we have few troops now, we should frame our military action along such lines as to endow the country immediately with a scientifically constructed military frame- work with which to meet the contingencies of the future. These two ob- jects can, in practice, be attained by the same policy. SIXTY GERMANS ROUNDED UP BY FEDERAL AGENTS Second Day of War With Germany Finds Preparing for Action Every - Department TEUTONS’ SHIPS SEIZED TO BE USED BY GOVERNMENT Washington, ‘April 7.—The second day of war with Germany found every government agency in action along predetermined lines, with congres- sionai committees at work on the new army bill and finance measures. The navy and its newly organized power boat coast patrol squadron was being mobilized, naval militia and na- val reserves were complying with or- degs to join the colors. Sixty Germans Arrested. From many cities came; word that United States marshals had carried out orders of the department of jus- tice .for, the. arrest .of 60 Germans, whom the government believes dan- gerous to allow at large. Officials have about determined to use the German merchant ships, nearly 100 of which have been seized for govern- ment service, though mo announce- ment was made whether they would be confiscated or held until the close of the war. Government se’ tions and the ¢ those needed for tion was authorized Wilson. Fe of all radio sta- ing of all except naval communica- ‘by’ President Under 90 Changes. Both houses of congress have ad- journed until Monday, so that their committees may be free tomorrow for preliminary work on war legislation. Foreign relationships of tbe United ‘States today underwent the greatest change in the country’s _ history, sweeping away practically all the in- ternational questions of the past two years and substituting entirely new problems. As a result the state de- partment is being entirely reorganiz- ed and the great mass of routine which has overwhelmed even the highest officials is to be redistributed along new lines. An enormous amount of work is ex- pected in the near future, with. vari- ous commissions, military, economic and diplomatic, going back and forth between this country and the Allies. There will be endless communications on: matters of common interest., Send Resolution Abroad. The first act of the department when war became a fact was to pre- pare copies of the war resolution and proclamation for all the foreign mis- sions here for immediate transmis- sion to their governments. Cables were sent to American missions abroad and full mail dispatches pre- pared to go forward at once. Patriotic. Rallies In Many Towns North Dakota Cities Adopt Reso- lutions of Loyalty—State Made Roosevelt Patriotic rallies in scores of North Dakota cities at which resolutions were adopted “that whatever may come we will faithfully endeavor to do our duty as patriotic Americans,” were held throughout the state this week. Patriotic fervor did not move this portion of the West to an extent that it grasped the seriousness of the in- ternational situation until congress passed the war resolution. While the bill was in the senate and then the house, North Dakota cities were awakening to the realization that the war Cloud was approaching the shores of the United States. It seems that in the period of one night, this state has blossomed ‘forth in a loyalty garb that will wear until the war against Germany has been brought “to a successful end.” North Dakota made Roosevelt and ped has a bunch more of such fel- we. In estimating how Germany may most rapidly ‘be defeated, we have once more to differentiate between military and non-military means. There is no question but that Ger- many is at her weakest on the non- military side—in her economic situa- tion, in her system of alliances, and so on, On the military side she still retains a very appreciable superiority over her opponents. There is no, measure within our power that ,can for some time alter that fundamental fact. And our action cannot be thought of, in terms of six, 12 or even 18 months, as anything b¢yond assist- ing the Allies. To assist the Allies means to. place forces on the western front» I am in- clined to believe that we may pos- sibly see the western front extended towards the north this summer. And in this case the Eritish war depart- ment might have to revise its plans and might have a legitimate claim to assistance from us. But apart from such developments, there can be no possible question but that any troops we can send to support the western front should go to the French and not to the British. There are positive reasons against sending them one way and for sending them the other. In modern theories’ of the conduct of war, just as in the conduct or big business enterprises, the greatest stress is laid on, economy of effort. The ‘British conduct of operations has flagrantly disregarded this prin- ciple, and especially on the western front. The accumulation of British troops in France has not produced commensurate military profits, while, on the other hand, il has-yeen a great, drain on tonnage and on man power. For us to offer to send troops to this part of the western front would imply the least effective employment of owr man power, tonnage and resources. Turning to the French side, we have a different picture;; What the man power statistics are, 1 will not guess; the French government has screened them too jealously. ,.Rut no one can doubt, from the large use of African troops, and the efforts to get Japan and Portugal to send contingents, that the French government is press- ed harder than any other by the man power problem. And the symptoms are strong that this problem will be even more acute six months hence than it is now. Under those circum- stances, it is beyond doubt that we can render the greatest service to the allied governments by offering our troops to France, But there is another range of rea- sons leading to the same conclusion. Which course would most help us to create a good military organization, to offer our troops to. England or to France? ‘Now, in this sense, what are the facts? Roughly, these: Our little ar- my is evidently nothing more than an instructing staff, through which we could build up a real army. But the system of education in our army, that is the training of the officers of various grades, is hopelessly ‘behind that of even third magnitude South American republics. It is half a cen- tury out of date and full of gross ad- ministrative abuses. The result is that we have no trained staff, only a group of officers, 90 per cent un- trained, labeled, “staff.” And we have no higher command—that is, no officers having practical knowledge of how to employ brigades, divisions and corps tactically—and only about 10 per cent of general officers having much theoretical knowledge of the matter. And this is not the whole indictment, either. Under those circumstances a secre- tary of war knowing anything of his job would do well to put the national pride in his pocket, and suggést to the French government that the troops sent to France should be plac- ed under French divisional officers. And that the French war department should run an instruction course for as many field and general officers as we choose to send over. This seems an extreme policy. But it would put us five years forward in our military organization. the case of Japan. With a splendidly trained and large army, she refuses to send troops to Europe. But 8,060 of her officers, paid by the Allies, are learning at the front all that can be learned of the new art of war. Can we afford to be less provident and businesslike than Nippon? MES, J, W. BRINTON DIES IN LOS ANGELES Word was received here today of the death in Los Angeles Thursday of Mrs. Helena Brinton, wife of J. Wells Brinton, formerly of Fargo and Beach, N. D. Mrs. Brinton had lived in Fargo most of’ the last year. She left Far- go early in the year to visit her par- ents in Los Angeles and it was at their home that she died. Mr. Brin- ton received ontice three weeks ago of the dangerous turn of his wife's illness and went at once to Califor- }nia, where he bas been since. WINTER WHEAT TAKES. SLUMP PRICES SOAR Appearance of Sea: Raider and Pessimistic Report Are Elements MAY IN SPECTACULAR LEAP UP TO $2.12 Condition of All Cereals in April Many Points Below Norm. ; al Washington, April 7A prospect slump more than 50,000,000 bushels in the winter wheat crop as compar- ed with last year’s crop is the first war feeding problem to confront the country. Official estimates of the department of agriculture today—the {first for the 1917 harvest,—torecast that much of a decr although the acreage is much greater. Last year 481,744,000 bushels were harvested, and 673,947,000 bushels were produced in 1915. Condition Decreased, Condition on April 1 was 68.4 per eent of a normal, compared with 78.3 per cent last year; 88.8 per cent in 1915, and 8 per cent the ten year average. The condition de- points. from Dece » compared with age decline of four points in the last ten years between those dates. Condition of rye on April 1 was 86.0 per cent of the normal compared with 87.8 per cent last year, cent in 1915, and 89.6, the ten year average. Condition of winter wheat in the important growing states on April 1 was: Ohio 80, Indiana 67, Ilinois 60, Missouri 62, Nebrask: Kansas 45, Oklahoma | 74. WILD FLUCTUATIONS, Chicago, April 7—The appearance of a supposed sea raider followed by a pessimistic government crop report caused wild fluctuations in the wheat market here today. At one point, May wheat sold at $2.12, 6 to 6% higher than the previous close. ing sales were made at $2.07% to $2.06%. The appearance of the raider caused a drop to $2.04%, Then on the crop report, quotations made a perpendicular leap to $2.12. Accepting wheat crop conditions shown by government crop report as a calamity, the wheat market later advanced sensational from 5% cents per bushel for May option to 13% cents for September. July advanced 2% cents. May corn sold up to 5% cents and May oats 1% cents, CUBA PREPARES TO ENTER WAR TO HELP U. 8. Resolution Indorses Seizure of German Shins in Havana Harbor MAY DECLARE WAR. New York, April 7—The Cu- ban congress tonight is expected to declare that a state of war ex- ists between Cuba and the impe- rial German ‘government, accord- ing to a cablegram from E. S. Azpiezu, private secretary to President Menocal, to the Repub- lic of Cuba news bureau here. BRAZIL MAY ACT. London, April 7—The Central News says it is semi-officially in- formed that a declaration of war by Brazil against Germany may be expected by Monday. Havana, April 7.—President ‘Meno- cal yesterday afternoon sent a mes- age to congress asking that body to declare that a state of war exists be- at| tween Cuba and Germany, With the formal de¢laration of Cu- ba of a state of war with Germany, the Cuban government, following the course of the United States, intends to seize three German ships in Ha- vana harbor. This was announced today-by the Republic of Cuba news bureau here, a Cuban government h: agency. President Menocal’s ‘Message. A cable received by the bureau jfrom President Menocal’s secretary, commenting on the war measure, says “President Menocal lays the great- est emphasis on the moral obligations of Cuba to back up the United States in its disinterested stand “because of the close ‘ties, political and economic, existing between the two countries, ‘but above all to our gratitude to the unselfish and never-failing interest shown by the great requblic of the United “States “in aiding Cuba*to achieve and maintain her independ- ence.” WARNINGS ARE FLASHED OVER ENTIRE COAST Nantucket Lightship Saw Strange Craft Passing West and Sent Out General Alarm OFFICIALS LOOK FOR WILD RUMORS AT THIS TIME Believe Many Reports May Refer to Offensive Tramp Steam. ers When Investigated Washington, April 7.-—Reports of German commerce raiders off Atlan- tie ports were flashed along the sea- board today and all shipping practi- cally was tied up while a naval pat- rol went out to establish the identity of the mysterious ships reported near the shipping lanes. It was the first breath of war at the doors of Amer- ica and if sent a thrill through the country. Note Strange Ship. The first report came from Nan- tucket lightship which saw a strange ship passing west this morning ana promptly reported it to the Boston navy yard and the navy department. Destroyer floatillas are at sea in the vicinity, and presumably they heard the wireless warnings which swept the coast line and set out {0 locate the mysterious craft. Meanwhile shipping was warned not to venture i out. Meld in Port. Soon after, came a report of a raider off Virginia capes from Hamp- ton Roads, where shipping, algo was held in port while armed craft went to sea to investigate. Navy oflicials expect many reports of raiders while the seacoast is at high tension and many such probably will tun out to be tramps. No precautions are being overlooked, however, and the naval patrol is on the alert to examine all strange ships. Consider it Strange. Officials considered it would be strange for a raider to venture so close to guarded ports. They would expect a raider to lie off at sea on the edges of the shipping lane, in- stead of venturing close enough to shore to be obesrved and reported. It was considered not improbable that the wireless warnings caused by the mysterious ships passing Nan- tucket were heard all along the coast and might be responisble for other reports of another commerce raider lying in wait. The first alarm of the German- American war was sjread on the New England coast today. ‘The Nantucket shoals lightship flashed to the navy radio station here that a German commerce raid- er had passed the lightship bound west. Instantly plans for the navy for just such a situation became op- erative. There was assurance that if the audacious warship held her course, she would be given a warm reception. 200 Miles From New York. Meantime shipping in the vicinity was warned to make port or hold its anchorage. The raider was directly in the lane for westbound shipping and not more than 200 miles by the usual course from New York. The supposed raider showed two masts and a huge smokestack. She appeared to be about 10,000 tons ana some shipping men who heard this description expressed the “ opinion! that she was an armed cruiser dis- guised as a merchantman. * TUG CARRIES WARNING, Newport News, Va., April 7.—The presence of a German raider off the| Virginia capes was officially reported here today. A tug was dispatched to sea to warn all outgoing and incom- ing vessels and to order all outgoing vessels to turn back. The tug is| equipped with wireless and is ex- pected to reach all ships in the dan- ger zone. SAW SUBMARINE. Tampa, Fla., April 7.—Captain Lind- quist of a fishing smack, from Sara- sota, today reported that he saw a large submarine in the Gulf yester- day. The craft. rose within a mile and there were men on its deck, Cap- tain Lindquist reports. He hailed but had no response, and saw no marks of. identification. The boat was head- ed south three miles from shore off Saratosa bay. AMERICAN CONSUL AT BELGIUM ARRESTED ; SENT TO GERMANY London, April 7.—Julius Van Hee, American vice consul at Ghent, and recently connected with the Belgian relief commission, has been arrestee ‘by the Germans and sent to Germany, according to an Amsterdam dispatch to the Exchange Telegraph Co. The sender quotes a frontier correspont ent as his authority. : unoffending | Mail Service To Germany Discontinued Matter Addressed to All Central Powers Will Not Be For- warded Either ALL MONEY ORDERS ARE HELD UP TOO Washington, April 7.—Postmaster ‘Burleson today suspended mail serv- ice to Germany during the war and instructed all postoffices to refuse mail destined for ‘Austria, Hungary, Luxembourg, Bulgaria and Turkey, as it cannot be dispatched at present without passing through Germany. Mail from the last named: countries, which may ‘be received in the United ‘States will be forwarded to destina- tions, i Postmaster General Burleson also has suspended postal money orders OLOIERS CHEER AMERICA'S. ENTRY INTO STRUCCLE Tommies Hoist Banners Over Trenches Urging Germans to Get ‘‘Rid of Kaiser” NEWSPAPERS EAGERLY PURCHASED BY FRENCH Action of United States Sends Thrill of Confidence Down Lines London, April 7.—Passports have been placed at the disposal between the United States and Ger-} many. International money offices | will decline to pay orders drawn up-! on them by German vifficers on and | after Ans ALLIED ATTACKS AT ST. QUENTIN NET BIC CAINS | of the American embassy at Vienna, says a Hague dispateh and adds that Bulgaria and Tur- key have decided to break rela- tions with the United States, (From a staff correspondent of the Associated Press, with the British Armies in France, April 6, via Lon- don, April 7.) The news of the action of the United States senate in voting for war with Germany reached the far line of the western battle line today and was hailed with cheers. Nowhere was the gratification greater than along the section of the front held by the Canadians with whom many thousand of Americans ‘are serving. Many Canadian and British compat jies were busy today preparing signs \to hold up over the trenches, telling Field Marshall Haig’s Men Have | Captured Lempire Five | Miles East of Base TURKS HARD PRESSED BY BRITISH AND SLAVS (Associated Press.) British efforts to reach the Cam- it, Quentin highroad and to drive salient into the German lines ‘be- tween the two important points out- Rees pole continues successfully. ten miles north of St. Quentin, ield hal Haig’s men have captured Lempire, five miles east of the CambraiiSt. Quentin road and 13 mi southwest of Cambrai. Prisoners were taken by the British nd large numbers of German dead are reported by London to have been found in the captued positions. Germans ‘Lose at Arras. The Germans lost severely between Arras and St. Quentin during the last | week, London reports. ‘Many ‘Ger- man dead were found by the advanc- ing British troops. ‘Southeast of Ar- ras the British have made progre: northeast of Noreuil, after hard fight- ing. East of Arras and near Wy schaete, the British have made raids. French troops continue to recover ground captured by the Germans northwest of Rheims, where ‘Berlin reports 827 French prisoners were taken in the capture of French posi- tions, Paris reports that grenade at- tacks have brought French successes | in ‘reconquering lost ground east of Sapigneul. Elsewhere south of the Somme there has been no infantry action of moment. | bad the Germans the tidings from Wash- ington. This is the favorite plan of the Tommies to convey all sorts of news to their enemies across No Man's Land. Prisoners Informed, German prisoners taken today had \not heard of President» Wilson’s ad- dress, and knew only in a Vagie way of the breaking of diplomatic réla- tions in February. Some of the trench signs were prepared includ: ed a brief translation into German {of the president’s statement that the Americans were entering the lists against the German government and not against the German people. Others include the latest slogan: “No peace with the Hozenhollerns,” while still others read: “Get rjd or your kaiser.” Buy Newspapers. On their way back from the front trenches today the troops who hea been relieved eagerly bought two days’ old daily newspapers from the newsboys in order to read the news and the text of the president’s speech. In the little French “estam- inets cafes” and villages along the line there was great excitement among the old civilians and the poi- lus_on leave. One old gray-hair- ed Frenchman, waving a bit of writ- ing paper, said he was sending the good news to his son in the trench- es so as to be sure that he would not miss it. The weight of America thrown in- to the scales just at this juncture In what is regarded as the critical year of the struggle, has sent a re- newed thrill of confidence all along the front. Germans Take 10,000 ‘Prisoners. The German successes at, the Tobo- | ly bridgehead on the Stokhod in Vol-| hynia is reported by ‘Berlin to have resulted in the ca 130 Rus: | sian officers and 4 mans also took 15 gums and 150 ma- > chine guns and mine throwers. South of Riga, Petrograd reports. the Ger- mans entered Russian trenches, but! were driven out by a counter attack. Turkish troops are reported in re-) treat in Mesopotamia before the Rus- sian and British forces that joined | Monday on the left bank of the Diala. | \Allies Lose 44 Air Planes (Associated: Press) { Berlin, April. 7.—The Entente Al-| lies yesterday lost 44 aeroplanes on/ the western front, says the official | statement issued today by the Ger-} man army headquarters _ staff. Thirty-three of the British or French machines were destroyed in aerial engagements. Five aeroplanes | did not return, the statement says. STEELE LIGHT PLANT MAY RESUME OPERATION Steele, N. D., April 7—There is a prospect that the electric lights will resume within a day or two if pres- ent arrangements mature. E. A. An-| derson laid the situation regarding the plant before Mr. Blakeslee, the mortgagee, of the large engine and dynamo, and by letter and plans are now forming for the operation of the plant for 30 days, while a stock com- pany is formed to take over the whole thing. Local parties also have some claims on parts of the outfit. Mr. “VULGAR PATRITSN” SAYS SOCILIST IN CONVENTION ‘Morris Hill Quit Protests Against War Before Gathering of “‘Reds’’ at St. Louis St. Louis, April 7. sion of the national convention of alist. party met here today to present the attitude of the con- , vention of war with Germany, Two ‘hundred delegates were resent. Morris Hillquist of New York, tem- porary chairman, in calling the con- vention to order said: This convention will make the Socialist party in America. We must’ present a strong militant front now that the nation is in war with Ger- many. It remains for us to see to it that the predatory classes do not make a cent off it. Let those who can afford to pay finance the war— not the working class. “It was the social revolution that overthrew the Russian autocracy and.soon there will be a revolution in Germany and Austro-Hungary. A rebellious working class will end the war by social revolution. It. will not be ended by diplomats.” Hilquit said that at the outbreak of the European war international- ~ ism had collapsed before “vulgar. patriotism.” “Our country has been siokeatig needlessly drawn’ into the War,” he said. “We are the only force ia. America now with clear. ond A special ses- to run the plant. \d-| Goodwin will probably be employed |