--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 20 number: 8 published: 1917-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Passing Events," *Improvement Era* 20, no. 8 (June 1917): 751–755.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2008unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2008unse start_page: 751 end_page: 755 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1917-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2008unse publication_year: 1917 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1917, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Passing Events IlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllUii llllllllllllllllllllllllll PASSING EVENTS! Benjamin Hampton, pioneer business man, miner and smelter man, horn Feb. 11, 1837, in Philadelphia, died in Salt Lake City, April 5, 1917. The rice crops of India and Japan are exceptionally large this yeiir. Rice is one of the few articles of food that has not been soaring in price lately. Henry H. Blood, Kaysville, a prominent business man and resident of Davis County, and well known throughout the state and inter-mountain sec- tion of country, was appointed third member of the public utilities commis- sion, for the state of Utah, March 20. Cuba has fifty submarine chasers building, and twenty war vessels which are patrolling the coast of the island to make sure that the Germans do not establish a "U" boat station there. The president is earnest in his desire that at least a part of the army which now numbers about 35,000 men, shall carry the Cuban flag into the battles of Europe. Spain's new Premier is Marquis Prieto. Count Romanones, former premier, retired because he believed that continued neutrality weakened the prestige of the Spanish nation, and prevented it from properly defend- ing its legitimate interests at sea. The new ministry promptly despatched to Germany a message protesting against its submarine policy. China severed her diplomatic relations with Germany on March 16, the cause being the unsatisfactory reply of Germany to the government of China in regard to the submarine warfare. The proposal was passed by a vote of 433 to 81 in the House and 152 to 37 in the Senate. Following the break the Chinese government took possession of six Germen ships at Shanghai. Recently a conference for international affairs called by the government recommended that China declare w;ar on Germany, and it was thought that Parliament would probably do so. Robert Davis. — A few days after the United States declared a state of war with Germany, dispatches from the front told of the raising of Old Glory on the crest of Vimy ridge, by a Texas soldier fighting with the Canadian forces. The soldier, Robert Davis of Temple, Texas, later had his foot shot away and is now convalescing in a London hospital. Young Davis comes of a family of soldiers. His father fought with the French against the Germans in 1870-71, and took part in the fighting around the same ridge on which the son carried the Stars and Stripes in a victorious charge. Three years ago Davis was mustered out of the United States ma- rine corps, in which unit he served two enlistments. Fighting with the Allies are said to be 50,000 young Americans. Resides this contribution of the United States to the forces in the field, of the Allies, there is also the American mule who has endeared himself to the transport officers because of his military qualities. The Youth's Companion, calling attention to this, says that he goes to sleep behind a roaring nine-inch gun. If he chances to fall into a shell hole he lies there nonchalant, and self-con- tained, until someone pulls him out. Rut we suspect that more than appears in the words themselves can be read in the remark of the Rritish officer: "He has some ways with him that we didn't quite understand at first." Congress authorized an issue of bonds, early in April, to meet expendi- tures for the national security and defense — amounting to $5,000,000,000 — 752 IMPROVEMENT ERA out of which amount $3,000,000,000 may be used in extending credits to for- eign governments, and the remainder for national use. Congress also auth- orized the issue of $2,000,000,000 of certificates of indebtedness, payable one year from date of issue. This makes a total war appropriation to begin with of $7,000,000,000— the largest ever voted at one time by any other gov- ernment in the history of the world. The Irish question has come to the front again. In a speech at the Guild Hall, London, Mr. Lloyd-George declared that Britain could not fight a victorious war unless Ireland were won by the just and generous settle- ment of the home rule issue into cheerful, loyal co-operation. Both the Canadian Parliament and members of the Congress of the United States have sent a message to Mr. Lloyd-George, pointing out the added en- thusiasm that America could bring to the conflict if it could feel that Britain and Ireland had come to an amicable and honorable settlement of their long differences. General Petain, who commanded the French army defending Verdun during the critical stages of the battle in February and March of last year, was appointed chief of staff of the Ministry of "War, by the French cabinet on April 29. General Petain has the reputation of being above all a fighter and man prepared, and he may well be called so; he was colonel in 1914, general in 1915, commander of the French forces at Verdun 1916, and now chief of staff of the French Ministry of War, in 1917. On May 15 at a Cabinet meeting General Petain was appointed commander in chief of the French army, operating on the French front. The selective draft or conscription bill, which provides for raising a new army by means of a selective draft passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 397 to 24. The amendment that provided for a preliminary trial of the volunteer system was voted down by 279 to 98. The Senate also passed the conscription bill by a vote of 81 to 8, and by the middle of May arrangements were provided for making a complete census on June 5 of all the men in the country between the ages of 21 and 30, the age limit finally fixed upon. The President has named June 5 as registration day, "to be re- membered as one of the most conspicuous moments in our history." On that day all males in the United States between the ages of 21 and 30 in- clusive will be registered and present themselves for assignments for their tasks — ten millions strong. A division of the regular army, under General Pershing, will speedily be sent to France, to be followed soon as possible by a larger army, including the national guards. A squadron of American destioyers arrived on May 4, in Queenstown, and went directly into active service. More destroyers and "submarine chasers" will follow. British and French representatives, Cabinet officers, and others who paid tribute to the memory of Washington grouped in front of the historic mansion. Front row, left to right: Vice-Admiral Chocheprat of the French Navy; Mrs. Eugene Van Rensselaer, vice regent for West Virginia of the Mt. Vernon Association; Secretary Daniels; Miss Harriet Clayton Comegys, regent of the Mt. Vernon Association; Field Marshal Joffre; M. Viviani, French Minister of Justice and head of the French Commissioners; Secre- tary Lansing; Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, head of the British Commissioners; George Foster, premier of Canada; Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, British Ambassa- dor, and Major Gen. G. T. M. Bridges of the British Commission. Standing back of Secretary Daniels is Sergeant Dreyfus of the French Army; at his left Col. Fabri and next to him Colonel Ramond. Next to him behind M. Viviani, is M. Hovelacque, inspector general of public instruction in France ; next to him is the Marquis de Chambrun, a descendant of LaFayette. Next is Major Requin and Secretary Franklin K. Lane. (See illustration on next page and item on page 755.) 754 IMPROVEMENT ERA Clinton Larson is now the Olympic champion high jumper, having made % of an inch better than Alma Richards, the former Olympic cham- pion. Mr. Larson is of the Brigham Young University, Utah, and at the re- cent annual Penn relay carnival held at Franklin Field, Philadelphia, made 6 feet 5% inches, which is just % of an inch better than the record which was heretofore held by another Utah boy, Alma Richards, of Provo. A. Larcker, of Arden, Nevada, who is laboring in the Potosi mine writes to the Era: "This place is located about thirty miles west of Las Vegas, twelve miles from the boundary line of California, on the old 'Mormon' trail. Evidences of the 'Mormon' camp are still to be seen here. A lead mine was discovered here and worked for years. It is still often called the old 'Mormon' mine, but is now known generally as the Potosi mine. Six automobile trucks daily freight ore from it to Arden, about eighteen miles away, on the Salt Lake and Los Angeles railway. It is said that the 'Mor- mons' started this mine between 1857 and 1860, so that it is practically sixty years old. One of the boys here found an old, home-made hammer weighing eight pounds. There was not much wood on it, and both faces were battered up. In the old camp I found in the ground a piece of zinc ore mixed with lead, and also a small bottle half full of olive oil. I have these three specimens and will bring them when I come to Salt Lake City. About a year ago, a number of residents of Heber, Wasatch county, entered some claims about a mile east of the Potosi mine. These claims give piomise of making a prosperous district when the development work is done." A National Road. — There is a section of the Federal aid road law of 1916 which authorizes the Department of Agriculture to take charge of roadbuilding in the National Forests, and under this authority the pre- liminary work has begun on a road in the Apache National Forest, in Greenlee county, Arizona. As this is the first road of this nature to be undertaken it has general interest, particularly as respects the reasons for spending Federal funds on a highway so remote from settled districts. These reasons have been outlined as follows by the United States Forest Serivce: "The construction of the road will make possible a north-and- south trunk line through a region now inaccessible and will connect with existing east-and-west state highways. It will make possible the sale of large bodies of timber for the use of copper mines in southern Arizona, and will afford means of travel for settlers, besides cheapening the cost of protecting and administering the National Forest. The development of water power in the region will be assisted and a beautiful recreation area will be opened up for tourist travel and for the residents of the desert cities during the summer months." The surveys which have been authorized will cover about 71 miles of road, which it will cost about $342,500 to build, and 29 miles of road costing $77,500 more must be built to complete the highway. Half of the money will be furnished by the counties traversed by the route and half by the Federal government, but the road will be built under the direction of the U. S. Office of Public Roads, instead of by the State authorities in the usual manner on Federal aid road work. War Notes. — Brazil has ceased diplomatic relations with Germany, but still remains neutral, though it seized all the German merchant vessels in Brazilian harbors. — Word came from Mexico that President Carranza was convinced of the necessity of supporting the other American republics in their protests against German methods of warfare, and it is stated that meas- ures have been taken to quiet the German propaganda that has made con- siderable headway in Mexico. It was even stated that it might be possible the Carranza would break with Germany.— Arrangements were made for this country to loan $200,000,000 to Italy and France out of the money to PASSING EVENTS 755 be raised by the great bond issue. Further advances will be made to the allied nations as necessity demands. The French and British commis- sioners made it plain that they desire to have an American army force in France at the earliest possible moment. They believe not only that the moral effect of such a force would be good, but that its power would be even greater than the material assistance it could give. The Italian Com- mission which visited the United States, did not ask for men, but they were anxious that the shipping should be made free upon the ocean. — Congress authorized the President to take over any ships owned in whole or in part by Germans and lying in the American harbors. It is said that German ships valued at $51,000,000 were so taken. — During the week from April 26 to May 2 the Russian Duma government removed a number of officers for incompetence or disloyalty. Twenty-three generals were among them. Dis- orders in Petrograd were reported as a result of the activity of the socialist loader Lenine who is agitating for a separate peace with Germany. The government permits him complete freedom of speech, although he is be- lieved to be in the pay of the German government. Citizens who have business in Holland, may find assistance from Evart Neuteboom, 815 Eccles Building, Og- den, Utah, last year appointed vice- consul for the Netherlands by Queen Wilhelmina. He received his com- mission from the Hague, Holland, on March 23, 1916. The new vice-consul has been a resident of Ogden since Memorial day, twenty-six years ago, coming to Utah from his native land. He is thoroughly familiar with the af- fairs of the people of Holland, and fav- orably known among many of the resi- dents of that nation in this section of country, and is therefore qualified for the position to which he has been ap- pointed. A number of inquiries have come to hand on various government affairs in that country, and we men- tion this appointment so that people may apply to Mr. Neuteboom relating to business affairs in connection with the government of Holland. Mr. Neuteboom is an active Church work- er, is the clerk of the Weber stake of Zion, and besides is interested in various business organizations. The British and French war Commission, the former headed by Foreign Secretary Balfour, and the latter by Rene Viviani and Marshal Joffre, ar- rived in Washington on April 22 and April 25 respectively. At Washington General Joffre was the center of attraction and was greeted with cheers and applause everywhere. It is stated in the telegrams that he received the greatest ovation that the capital has ever seen accorded to a foreign guest. In a public speech the British high commissioner, Arthur J. Balfour con- gratulated the United States on entering the war, and so "turning the first page in a new chapter in the history of mankind." The commissions suc- ceeded in making great loans in the United States to carry on the war. During their stay they visited many prominent places in this country, in- cluding Mt. Vernon (see picture, page 753), Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City and other western and middle western cities. While these distin-