The Daily Missoulian. [volume], December 12, 1917, Image 1

About The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
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VOL.XLIV. NO. 226.
MISSOULA, MONTANA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 12 J917.
PRICE FIVE CENTS
i 3 . m '■> !;«■ -i y*' **.i . • u 4 J
USHER M LAST DESPERATE ASSAULT
SEAMAN RESCUES
&HIP COMMANDER
Lieutenant Bagley of Torpe
doed Jacob Jones Has a
Narrow Escape.
SAVIOR DIES BEFORE
. HELP REACHES SCENE
Pulls Superior Officer to Raft
and Safety With Last
, of Strength.
c* -
Base of the American Flotilla in
British Waters, Dec. 11.—By The As
sociated Press.—Lieutenant Comman
der David Worth Bagley ot the Ameri
can torpedo boat destroyer Jacob
■Jones, which was recently torpedoed
by a German submarine was rescued
by one of his seamen, who afterward
died from injuries and exposure.
Tlie seaman with six other members
of the crew was swimming toward a
raft when he bumped into a floating
object which he thought was a bundle
of clothes, but which proved to be
Commander Bagley, with the fur col
lar of his great coat wrapped about
his head. Bagley appeared to be un
conscious.
Exposure Fatal.
Although suffering Intensely him
self from his injuries and the cold
water, the seaman caught hold of the
commander, and with the assistance of
his shipmates, pulled him to the raft,
where he soon revived. The seaman,
however, succumbed a few hours later
and was buried at sea.
Before consigning the dead seaman
to the ocean his shipmates cut up his
blue shirt and lashed the pieces to
oars as distress signals, but it soon
became dark and the cold and the
snfïering of the men increased without
signs of a rescuing craft. The sea
remained smooth throughout the night
and when day broke the greatly weak
ened survivors again hoisted their sig
nals of distress, which were quickly
sighted by a British sloop.
Torpedo Follows
Target Practice
Base of the American Flotilla in
British Water, Dec. 11.—By The Asso
ciated Press.—The American torpedo
boat destroyer Jacob Jones was tor
pedoed _just after she had completed
target practice. The torpedo struck
^he destroyer amidships, blowing the
after part of the vessel to pieces. Some
HO men engaged in that part of the
vessel were killed. The remaining
members of the crew got away on
rafts and In boats where they re
mained until the next morning, when
the rescue steamer arrived.
Several of the men died from ex
posure, while the others suffered se
verely during the 17 hours in the
boats.
The survivors of the disaster are
reported to too doing well.
SEVEN ARE ADDED
TO MISSING LIST
Washington, Dec. 11.—Seven men
uot previously known to have been
aboard the torpedoed destroyer Jacol
Jones, were added to the destroyer's
list of known missing in a dispatch
to the navy department tonight toy
Vico Admiral Sims. The message also
named four members of the crew who
were not aboard when the ship was
lost, and fi\\e others not listed ai
missing and possibly had been trans
ferred to another vessel before the
Jones started on her last cruise.
The number of missing enlisted men
was given as 65, or approximately the
number given in earlier dispatches.
The seven added to fhe known miss
ing are: George F. H. Rogers, Lowell
Mass.: James Cummings. Kansas City
Mo.; William T. Clifford, l>ayton
Ohio: Henry J. La Combe, Hinckley
N. Y.; Eugene J. Morgan, Washing
ton, D. C.: James S. Fitzgerald, Au
gusta, Maine; Leon J. Wetzel, Winona
Minn.
r The four who were not aboard when
tlie destroyer went down were Liliious
F. Devilbish. Jeremiah Downing. Cor
nelius A. Lane and James E. Mc
Manus.
Richards Is Secretary
Commercial Secretaries
Great Falla, Dec. 11.—J. H. Hara
der of Bozeman was made president, L.
E. Jones of Glasgow, vice president,
and D. D. Richards of Missoula, sec
retary-treasurer of the Montana Asso
ciation of Commercial Secretaries, at
the election today. Tmese with A. J.
Breitenstein of Great Falls, and H. M.
Robinson of Miles City, constitute tin
executive committee.
SIMMERS MI CUUS
TO REFUGEE CHILDREN
With the American Army in
France, Dec. 11.—By the Asso
ciated Press.—Contributions from
officers and enlisted men of the
first division toward a fund to
buy Christmas presents for 600
refugee French children in the di
visional area, already total nearly
20,000 francs. Local communi
ties have been notified to obtain
the names of all children under
12 years of age in their villages,
who will receive oranges, can
dles and toys from Christmas
trees in all the villages.
The refugee' children will 're
ceive presents that will be useful
to them, such as clothing and
shoes, In addition to goodies.
The Weather
Wednesday, Dec. 12.—Sun rises,
7.EG; sun sets, 5:04.
Forecast — Snow ahd colder on
Wednesday; cold wave in extrema
northwest; Thursday probably fair.
LOCAL OBSERVATIONS.
Maximum ....._...................................40
Minimum ..........................................18
6 a. m..................................................32
6 p. m................................................34
Only 11 more shopping days until
Christmas. Yesterday's moderation in
temperature made the snow in the
downtown streets into slush, but the
holiday spirit is seizing the whole fam
ily and shopping goes on apace, no
matter the condition of the weather.
The sun shone some during the day.
and at other time snow fell.
Gill's Move Will Not Stop
Impeachment Proceedings
Seattle, Dec. 11.—Joel K. Warren
was appointed chief of police today to
succeed Charles Beckinghani, who re
signed at the request of Mayor Hiram
C. Gill. Mr. Warren tonight said he
hoped to police the city so satisfactor
ily that tlie order closing Seattle to
Camp Lewis soldiers because of alleged
ire conditions here would soon be re
voked.
It is stated that the change in tlie po
lice department will not stop the move
ment for the impeachment for Mayor
Gill now before the city council.
Women to Plead Suffrage
Cause With Congressmen
Washington, Dec. 11.—Four Jiundred
women, gathered here for the 49th an
nual convention of tlie National Amer
ican Suffrage association, will mardi
the capitol tomorrow to present
Arguments to their state congressional
delegations in favor of the passage of
the federal suffrage amentment re
ported today by the house Judiciary
committee without recommendations.
Senators from each state will receive
women from their states In their of
fices.
Proclamation to Reduce
Beer Alcoholic Content
Washington. Dec. 11.—At the re
quest of Food Administrator Hoover.
President Wilson will issue within the
next few days a proclamation reduc
ing tlie alcoholic content of beer to 2%
per cent. The use of grain for brewing
will be cut by the order about 30 per
cent. It was decided to set a weight
instead of volume standard to protect
brewers of ales and stouts In whose
heavier product the alcoholic' content
runs higher by volume.
Relief Ordered for Coal
Shortage Menacing Ohio
Washington, Dee. 11.—Immediate
relief for the Ohio coal shortage was
promised tonight by the fuel admin
istration. The situation In the state
was brought to the attention of Fuel
Administrator Garfield in a sharp
telegram from Governor Cox, who
also appealed to the White House
over the long distance telephone.
Coal will be diverted for the stage's
needs.
L.
at
J.
M.
tin
Rome Celebrates War
Declaration by U. S.
Rome, Monday, Dec. 10,—All Home
is decorated with Italian and American
flags today to celebrate the declaration
of war by the United States against
Austria-Hungary. A parade several
miles in length, comprising senators,
deputies, clubs, associations and towns
people, marched through the city to
the square facing the American em
bassy, where a great demonstration
was held.
der
the
to
to
the
of
of
•
Death Penalty Is Paid
by 13 Negro Troopers
for Rioting in Texas
Great Secrecy Around Ex
ecution at Early Hour
Wednesday Morning.
HAD BEEN MEMBERS
24TH U. S. INFANTRY
Convicted by Coiirtipartial
Shooting Houston Resi
dents During Riot.
Sun Antonio, Texas, Dec. lb—Thir
teen negroes, soldiers of tlie Twenty
fourth United Slates Infantry, were
hanged to death simultaneously at
dawn (odH.v in expiation of their mur
der of Houston citizens last August,
when members of that regiment en
gaged in mutinous rioting in the city's
streets. In the dark of the night army
motor trucks conveyed the lumber for
the sea .'old to the little clearing in a
lonely mesquite thicket on tlie big
government reservation, where the ne
groes, convicted by court martial, were
to die.
Matter Kept Under Cover.
And there by the light of bonfires,
army engineers erected the death traps
to which at r, o'clock in the morning
other motor trucks hurried the con
demned negroes and the officers and
men of the military guards, it was
the army motor truck, the only inci
dent which made this military execu
tion different front previous ones that
enabled the officers in charge to keep
secret the time and the place of the
hanging.
The following men paid the ultimate
penalty;
Gems Were Officeri.
Sergeant William C. Nesbitt.
Corporal i-arnon J. Brown.
Corporal James Wheatley.
Corporal Jesse Moore.
Corporal Charles W. Baltimore.
Privates William Breckenridge,
Thomas C. Hawkins, Carlos Snod-*
grass, Ira B. Davis, James Divins,
Frank Johnson, Uisley W. Young, Pat
MacWhorter.
The condemned negroes hud known
of their fate since Sunday. Twelve of
them sought spiritual consolation of
army Y. M. C. A. workers. The thir
teenth gave no inkling that lie knew.
Outwardly all of tlie negroes were
stoical.
Ores« as for Parade.
Aside from less than a dozen officers
of the southern department and the
sheriff of Bexar county, no one in the
city or the army camps knew of the
execution, date or place. The other
negro defendants were ignorant of the
fate of their companions until after tlie
formal announcement had bedn made.
The condemned men were aroused this
morning a fqw minutes before regular
army reveille, 5:30 o'clock. They
dressed in their regular uniforms a.s
carefully as for Inspection.
• Bing Hymn on Way.
Tlie negroes executed displayed
neither bravado nor fear. They rode
to the execution singing a hymn, but
the singing was as that of soldiers on
the march. Arrived at the clearing,
the singing stopped, the men shackled
were helped from the trucks to the
scaffolds and seated on chairs. A low
"goodbye, hoys." addressed to members
of their military guards, who had been
in charge of the negroes since they
were brought here from Fort Bliss, was
the only expression from any of them.
The men's feet were shackled. An
army chaplain offered prayer. An offi
cer called "attention," and as on pa
rade, the negroes stood erect. They
stood quietly while caps and nooses
were util us ted, and then stepped on the
traps. The major in charge of the exe
cution gave a signal and soldiers
sprung the traits.
The negroes plunged nine feet to an
instant death.
Churches in Mourning.
Even after tlie execution and the re
turn of the guard to camp, news of
what had occurred did not spread
through the camp or through the city
until announced by newspapers,
created some demonstration among
negroes who had followed the progress
of the trial in the naturing of "mourn
mgs" at a few negro churches. Crowds
at these, however, were small.
No announcement has been made
whep the 41 negro defendants, given
life sentences by the courtmarttal, will
be taken to Fort Leavenworth.
In spite of the executions and an
nouncement of the other sentences this
morning, the riot at Houston is not
closed Incident. Investigation is still
in progross and it is expected addition
al courtmartialu will follow.
EMBARGO ON DOUGLAS FIR.
Beattie, Dec. 11.—That an embargo
has been placed on the exportation
of ail Douglas fir lumber which can
be utilized in government war work
for airplanes and wooden ships, was
revealed here tonight with the offi
cial announcement of an organiza
tion to administer it.
Severe Blizzard
Strikes Montana
Helena. Dee. 12.—Thirteen inches
of snow had fallen here at midnight,
when the thermometer registered
12 degrees below zero, a fall of 44
degrees In nine hours. The storm
was general over the western por
tion of the state. Severe cold is
predicted for tomorrow, with con
tinued snow.
Also at Great Falls.
Great Fulls, Dec. 11,—This city
was enveloped In a blizzard tonight
about 7 o'clock and the snow blown
by a heavy wind fell in large quan
tity. It was the worst storm the
city has experienced in t\vo # years,
but it lasted only about two hours.
Tlie mercury is about li degrees be
low zero tonight.
RISK THEIR LIVES
ON BURNING SHIP
Halifax Firemen Board Mu
nitions Vessel Afire and
Extinguish Blaze.
Halifax, Dec. 11.—With complete
disregard for their own lives in an
effort to save tills desolated city from
another catastrophe, a group of Dart
mouth citizens eaily today boarded a
steamship said to have been laden
with munitions, wnleh was afire and
was being abandoned hastily by lier
crew.
The vessel carried a oi4ck load of
oil and as she came in dose to shore
Ith smoke pouring from her super
structure, tlie sight of her fleeing
crew stirred the watchers ashore to
prompt action. A volunteer fire fight
ing force was quickly organized and
the burning ship was boarded. After
hard work tho flames were extin
guished.
Carried No Red Flag.
According to statements obtained
today from survivors of the Norwegian
steamer lino, which collided with the
Mont Blanc, tlie latter ship flew no
red flag to indicate that she carried
a cargo of explosives. They also de
clared they were not. aware that tho
Mont. Blanc was munitions laden and
that when they saw her crew running
away they thought it was due to the
fire and not fear of an explosion. They
asserted the Mont Blanc was coming
into the harbor on the wrong side
when the collision occurred.
A man who survived the explosion
was found among tlie ruins today, lie
had been caught between two beams
at the North street railway station,
and beyond a few bruises was unhurt.
The city's workers today began the
task of clearing the streels of thou
sands of tons of broken glass. Inter
ments took place all day at the ceme
teries.
The American hospital and relief
units were working full blast today.
Enough supplies have been received to
relieve distress.
American surgeons are still picking
tlie broken fragments from the faces,
eyes and heads of hundreds, many ol
whom may be marked for life or blind.
Surgeons took stock today and found
that glass wounds predominated.
WILL CUT DEADWOOD
FROM REGULAR ARMY
Only Best of Officers Will
Be Retained.
Washington, Dec. 11.—All general of
ficers of the regular army and national
guard are being examined by medical
and efficiency boards, with a view to
determining the advisability of sending
them for service abroad. Secretary
Baker said the step was necessary on
account of the unusually severe condi
tions of service in this war.
Commanders for American troops ul
the fighting front are to be selected
only after .rigid Investigation of their
physical and professional fitness for
their task. Early announcement or
the retirement or discharge of some of
the general officers is to be expected as
medical boards already have reported
against men in both the regular and
national guard services.
The new order undoubtedly Will elim
inate a very considerable number of
general officers, even of the grude of
major general. It is understood that
|to steps will be taken toward the ap
pointment of lieutenant generals as
corps commanders until the war de
partment is satisfied with the result of
its weeding out process among the
major and brigadier generals,
Get This Fighting Jaw—Ifs Byng's
V
M
I lows* this for a lighting Jaw .' The u
head is Hyng Sir Julian lie who era eke
is by Francis Dodd, the famous artist v
the British generals and admirals. Y on
eminent that this *ts a real likeness It's
ol I In |.aw and Hie high l'ore
llimli nlmrg line. The portrait
as made portraits ol most ol
tlie word ot the. British gov
dflcial picturi
After Hogs
Secret Agents on Food
Speculators' Trail.
Washington, Dec. 1 1.-—Invastlga -
tors of the federal trade commis
sion left here tonight for various
sections of the country to begin
an inquiry into reported speculation
in foodstuffs.
Designations of the various
agents were kept secret. Alleged
offenders will he lulled summarily
before the commission, an unprece
dented step, and ordered to stop
any improper practices. Violation
of tlie order would result in curry
Ing the case to n federal court.
Evidence of law areaklng, es
pecially' of provisions, of the food
law will be turned over to the n
partnient of Justice. Full publioil>
will be given in any ease where
the commission believes that spec
ulators are taking advantage of
their country during war time.
FIRST GUN SLAV
CIVIL WAR FIRED
Maximalist Forces, Troops
Under Komiloff Collide
at Tamanovka.
London, Dee. 11.- A lleuter d
patch from Petrograd dated Monday,
says the Pruvila announces t^g* first
collision between tlie Maximalist troops
and from 3,00b to 4,000 troops tinder
General Kornlloff, armed with machine
guns at Tamanovka station. 2s versts
from Ollegorod.
of
of
as
of
Make Short Work
of Boteheviki
I-ondon. Dec. It.—Itusslun official
In London, who are establishing direr
communication with General Kaledine
and other leaders of democratic organ
izations in Russiu, declared to tlie As
aoeiated Press today that the move
ment to overthrow tlie Bolshevik! w
supported by not only the Cossacks
but by almost «II of the leaders of Hi
other parties. These leaders. It wa
said, are confident they will be able
to make short shrift of the Bolshevik!
Want Amsriean Support.
Officials In London assert that tin
plans embrace the solidification of tlie
loyal fighting forces, the complet
ellniinatlo/i of the Bolsheviki organi
zations in the cities and towns of
southern Russia, the reestablish nient
of order, the reorganization of sui
plies and the establishment of a new
allied fighting front to protect tin
rich Rusaian granaries and coal and
mineral fields from the Germans.
The question of allied support which
the officials declare is necessary if
(Continued on Page Four.Ji
90 NEW RECRUITS
FOR ARMY IN DRY
Missoula Enlistments Rise
Rapidly as Time Limit
Approaches.
Ninety
V
»liint
.'fis W< IV
e II 1 ist e
1 ill
: He t nil
«1
St;»
»■s nri
i) Hie
Mis
soula i
r
tilth
ir oft
ire
yosti
ni IV
While III
in
Hi,.
n loo
Otl
CIS tv
lit*.)
vainly
or
;i
'IlillUT
tu
like tin
e\ -
n minât l<
n.
The d
■> '
s im
i «»in.n
1
rouglit
the
total of
illsti
Kills
hen
since
Ii« -
comber
o .IT
1, «111(1
.the
11 II til lx
1 of
waiting
in
•n h
(llcMtV
1 tl
ml at
.'rust
50|) min
nt«
rrs
will In
V«;
been si
Kuril
up with
ii
t wo
weeks
wl
on tlie
Inn
go (low
ul- 1
•nislet
•ii
mu to
11*01
n j w nig
it.
s
nee .1
1 lie
1 Hie
.Mis
Simla sti
lit
m h;
s . nils
tc 1
' -".la li
n.
boon Today 1
s L
mit.
Men
•'H
1st. f
■d for
the
draft
may
1 oluillei
HIM
until
not
n tnila
y. A
telegran
rum
( 'apt.
in
Kelso
last
night a
It 1
oi izc
d the
lot
al offi(
o to
accept
ul
inter
IS Ol
!y
until
noon.
Enlist iin
to ball
nt
s of
régis
ere«
< |, v
men
but a
were
1 Wll
day exl
union
was a
HUH
meed.
<\ip
tain lie
so
en n
•filed
this
Fl f ty
•Ig
lit n
f the
HO
•eel Hits
who
pa kswiI
111
■Ir *
xa min
1 1 io
is yest
•nia y
joined t
he
a vit
t Ion c
>rps
I
I
!
j
I
Forestry Men Feted.
A lining
tile 1
»hinten
were Hin
e well
known
be Cnltei
Stu tes
'oifMt se
Cool and
( leorge
1 »mean
who lias
been a
the (k
Iraught in
if oflici
Ht se
punters
lore, en
listed it
iployc
Frank
• "ool,
I mi ii
Mis
soula
nan. win
lead Ii
lilillng p
for a
year, job
■nginei
is. A
given
in honor
iimn y
•steriiay
fellow
employes
The
M issoula
lmd charge
is of tlie servi
the Twenty-third j
farewell luncheon was
of the two men at
I tlie Palace litdcl by
of Hie forest service,
men who enlisted
tenia y are Carlos Matbeiiy, Charles
Baldwin, .hdin Freeman, aviation sec
tion; Harry Crane, Tom Watson, John
Shelly, medical department; George
Duncan. John Shaughiiessy, Twenty
third engineers; Frank Cool, Twenty
(C'ontinueil on Page Four)
if
11
ONLY
More
Shopping
Days Until
CHRISTMAS
HUNS TO STRIKE v
REFOREYANKEES,
SET INTO ACTION
Troops Rushed From Rus
sian Front Strengthen
Line in West.
ARTILLERY BLAZES
ALL ALONG FRONT
From France to Adriatic Hot
Fire Is Maintained by
the Enemy.
I I Oil l
I
I
raiding
By Associated Press.
Along the entire western fro
the North to the Adriatic Sea. ar
tillery duels of great magnitude ur«
being fought which doubtless are : ho
forerunners of the expected great of
fensive the Teutonic allies have tu
view before the American troops call
reach the battle fronts In great num
bers. (in the Vines and Arras fronts
held by the British <m various sectors
eastward from St. Quentin to Alsace,
m the hill country bordering tho
Italian plains, and at potuis along :lm
I'lave river, the big guns everywhere
me in operation.
Airplanes Aid Enemy.
On tho British front huge numbers
of airplanes are continually winging
ibelr way over the lines. In battles in
the air or searching out points where
troops are being concentrated. The
only Infantry activity taking place on
any of tho fronts is in the nature of
'pel Otic
New Divisions Arriving.
Tile Teutons d illy * oulliilie to rein
force Io large numbers their already
superior forces on nil Hie fronts. In
tho rush of troops and munitions to
I the theater In which the British are
I operating, one German train is n —
! ported to have collided with another,
j resulting in a great explosion in which 1
several hundred soldiers were killed.
Between Hie lirenta and the Plain
rivers on the northern fronts In Italy
the artillery fighting Ik described by
tlie Rome war offiec as Intense and
I here is similar activlly In Ihe coastal
region near the mouth of Hie Plnvo,
when* the Austrians Monday cap
tured a. position ill Hie Capo Silo re
gion. lull later were driven out with
heavy losses In killed and men iriado
prisoner.
AUSTRIAN BATTLESHIP \
TORPEDOED 1ND SUNK
London, Dec. 12,—The Austrian "
battleship Wien was torpedoed and
sunk Sunday night, according to
a Vienna official statement re
ceived in Amsterdam and forward
ed by the Central News. Most of
the crew of 441 were saved. *
IMPARTIAL JUSTICE
FOR ALL RELIGIONS
London.
II.
pro pa
q.li
int Ii
j
British million •
proclamation lu
of Joru salent which was
lierai Allcnby to Is* issued
on bis formal entrance in tho city
today. It is a shorter message than
the famous one "to the people of
Bagdad" when that city was taken,
but il is in the same vein unci was
prepared by the same hand.
The arrangements made at Jeru
salem provide Huit the Sheiks of tlie
mosque of Omar, the patriarch of tho
Latin church and tin' patriarch of tho
eastern church arc to form local com
mittees lo welcome the British com
mander and receive the proclamation.
The English as wardens of tlie holy*
city will do impartial justice to
Christian. Moslem and Jeiv, confirm
ing the Moslems in tiieir office as
doorkeepers of the church of tlie holy
sepulchre, which office they held un
interrupted since tin- days of Caliph
tiniur, except fur the time of the cru
saders.