VOLUME XIV. VALDEZ, ALASKA, MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1916 NUMBER <?&
SEWARD HAS THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR FIRE
PRESIDENT CARRANZA IS
IN A DEFIANT ATTITUDE
K _
BAYS MEXICANS ARE PREPARED TO RESIST ANY INVASION FROM
THE UNITED STATES—BELIEVED TO BE GRANDSTAND PLAY
TO PLACATE MEXICANS—FUN8TON SAYS TWO EXPEDITIONS
WILL BE SENT ACROSS THE LINE—CARRANZA’S TROOPS HOS
TILE TO AMERICANS—SAN ANTONIO GROWING IMPATIENT AT
DELAY—MUNITION PLANTS ARE WORKING OVERTIME — EM
BARGO PLACED ON MUNITIONS FOR MEXICO.
WASHINGTON, March 18.—Gen
«nl Kunston. who has been placed In
command of the troops along the
ftowWn border, has wired the depart
ment asking for four additional regi
ments and a navy patrol along the
Mexican coast.
IINGTON, D. C.t March 13.—
t Carranza, in a defiant man
i med today, informs Mexicans
that it is his intention to deny per
mission to the United States to enter
Mexico, unless the United States per
mits Mexican troops to enter the Uni
ted States and pursue Villa when he
crosses the border.
The Mexican president declares
that Mexico is prepared to resist to
the utmost any invasion of Mexican
territory by troops from the United
States, even though such resistance
leads to a declaration of war between
the two countries.
President Wilson, when asked what
steps would be taken in view of Car
ranxa’s belligerent attitude, stated
that Carranza’s request for permis
sion of Mexican troops to enter the
United States in pursuit of Villa
would be granted If It became neces
sary for Mexican troops to do so in
pursuit of the outlaw.
It is generally believed here that
the stand taken by Carranza is mere
ly a grandstand play to placate the
Mmdcans, who, as a rule are bitterly
hostile to the United States. There
is little doubt that if the Mexican
President granted leave to the Uni
ted States troops to cross into Mexi
co he would meet with a violent
death at the hands of his followers,
notwithstanding the fact that the ad
ministration was a leading factor in
placing Carranza in his present posi
tion. His proclamation is not taken
seriously in official circles here.
Soops Ordered to Line.
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 13.—
The regular troops In California,
Georgia, and Nebraska have been or
dered to depart today for the border
between the United States and Mexi
co, and will probably . arrive at the
aeene within the next forty-eight
hours.
j Drive Coming Soon.
WASHINGTON, March 13.—It has
teen made public that General Per
shing will be in command of the
United States expedition into Mexico
for the purpose of capturing Villa and
hia followers, , AH further informa
tion regarding the expedition Is be
ing carefuly withheld from the public
for fear the news will be conveyed to
the Mexican outlaw. It is understood
that the expedition- will consist of
about four thousand men, but all the
plans of General Funston are being
hept secret. It is believed that the
drive will be made within a very short
time, and will be quick and decisive.
Villa Has OOO Followers.
EL PASO, March 13.—Villa, with
nine Hundred followers. Is reported to
lie nearing the Mormon settlement of
Casa Grande, where, It is said he has
.planned to loot, the place and slaugh
ter the Inhabitants. The Carranza
troops which were reported to be hur
.rjlng to the scene for the purpose of
parenting the raid, have not been
hej'd from, and their whereabouts
)8 unknown.
Many messages have been sent to
General Funston urging immediate
notion on the part of the United
States troops to prevent the massa
cre of the inhabitants.
Carranza Forces Liable to Desert.
COLUMBUS, N. M„ March 13.—
The unfriendly attitude of tho Car
ranza troops just across the border
from here, which were sent to cap
ture Villa, is causing President Car
ranza much worry. It is feared that
the troops may desert the govern
ment and join hands with Villa. It
was believed that the inactivity of the
Mexican troops was due to a desire to
await reinforcement from the United
States, and then to make an over
whelming attack on the bandits. For
the past two days the Mexicans have
been displaying a decided animosity
toward Americans, and it is believed
that Villa agents have been working
among them. It is certain that last
Thursday an adequate force could
easily have overtaken and defeated
Villa, but now it will be extremely
difficult to find him if he should re
tire to the mountain fastnesses.
San Antonio Getting Impatient.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, March IS—
The citizens of San Antonio are grow
ing .impatient over the administra
tion’s delay in invading Mexican, and
many prominent citizens are offering
to organize companies of hard-riding
cowboys and invade Mexico, and cap
ture Villa,'’dead'or alive. It is stated
here that several hundred Texans
well mounted could easily capture or
kill the rebel leader as his force is
small and it is not belioved that he
will make a decisive stand.
U. S. Cavalry Muster for Dash.
EL PASO, March 13.—A persistent
rumor is current here that a large
body of United States cavalry is be
ing mustered in Arizona and will
make a dash^into Mexico today. Not
withstanding the denials of the mili
tary officials that no move will be
made for a day or two, the rumor will
not down, and it is generally believed
here that the interviews were given
out by army officers as to the delay
in the movement south is but to cov
er the actual plans, and that the
troops will cross into Mexico within
a few hours.
General Funston Advises Delay.
*( SAN ANTONIO, March 13.—Gen
eral Funston, commanding the United
States troops along the Mexican bor
der, stated today that he considered
it would be a suicidal policy to enter
Mexico with the present inadequate
force now at his disposal, and that
the commissary department is at pres
ent inacapable of taking care of the
number of men necessary for the ex
pedition. Funston stated that he
did not believe one expedition would
be enough to accomplish the purpose
sought, and that at least two will be
sent into the southern republic In
search of Villa. It is therefore ap
parent that the drive against the Mex
ican outlaw and his followers will not
commence for several days yet. In
the meantime all camps along the
border are hives of industry, and
trainload after 'trainload of supplies
and munitions are being rushed to
the line with all haste.
Munition Plants Work Overtime.
PHILADELPHIA, March 13.—
Four munition plants in this city are
working night and day to fill rush or
ders for a large amount of ammuni
tion given by the government. As
the government already has a large
amount of ammunition stored in its
arsenals and at the various military
posts, the hurried orders are believed
to Indicate that the government is
preparing to enter into a conflict of
considerable magnitude and will be
prepared to accomplish its ends at
whatever cost.
Embargo Placed on Munitions,
j WASHINGTON. D. C., March 13.—
Late Saturday night an ordor was is
sued by the administration placing an
embargo on - all shipments of arms
and munitions from tho United
States into Mexico. Orders were is
sued to the officials at all ports on
both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
to keep a sharp lookout for attempts
to smuggle shipments of these con
trabands out of the country, and the
troops patrolling the coast were re
quested to redouble their vigilance to
prevent shipments being run across
the line.
NORTHWESTERN SAILED
SATURDAY EVENING.
SEATTLE, March 13.—The steam
ship Northwestern of the Alaska
Steamship line, which was scheduled
to sail for Southern Alaska and way
points on the 10th, did not get away
until Saturday night She carried a
capacity freight cargo and a large
number of passengers, among whom
were the following for Valdez: W.
Dawson, J. Clock, Mrs. A. von Gun
ther, Mrs. N. Otis, Mrs. M. Hopkins,
Joe McDonald, J. Andross and three
steerage.
GERMAN LOSSES
ARE ENORMOUS
_i_
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND FA.UL
Imperial Army Pays Terrible Toll
During the Past Week's Fighting
In Vicinity of Verdun—Attacks are
Growing Uess Violent.
-■ I
PARIS, March 13.—The war office
reports that the losses sustained by
the Germans during the fighting of
the past week In the vicinity of Ver
dun have totalled fully two hundred
thousand men. It is also admitted |
that the French troops have suffered
heavily, but that the loss has been
small when compared with tho death
roll of the Germans. During the re
peated attacks upon the French
trenches whole brigades of the Ger
mans were mowed down by the heavy
fire from the rilles and machine guns
of the defenders while the field pieces
of the French artillery corps added
their quota to the slain and aided ma
terially in holding the French posi
tions. The terrific attacks, which
have been daily occurrences for the
past week, have been considerably
slackened during yesterday and to
day, both sides being completely
worn out by the terrific strain to
which they have been subjected.
HUGE EXPORTS
TO RUSSIXR PORT
' t • I t
WAR INCREASES AIX BUSINESS
1 ______
Poodstuffs and Monitions Bring the
Shipments op to Twelve and One
Half Millions—Alaska Copper Ex
ports Will Pass Twenty-five Million
SEATTLE, March 13.—The Euro
pean war has raised the exports of
the Pacific Coast to a remarkable fig
ure. During the month of February
the exports to the port of Vladivostok
alone amounted to twelve and one
half millions of dollars, largely food
stuffs and war munitions for the Rus
sian army.
In an article on the Alaska busi
ness yesterday, the Times estimated
that the export of copper from Alas
ka this year would reach the enor
mous aggregate value of more than
$25,000,000._
Notice of Democratic Meeting.
There will be a meeting of the
Democrats in U. S. Commissioner
Love’s court room on Tuesday even
ing, March 14, at 8 o'clock. All
Democrats are urged to bo present as
the meeting is of great importance.
2t W. M. FINICAL, Secy.
Ham( without the eggs) at the
Pollywog’s Picnic. A scream comedy
it the Empress tonight.
GERMANY URGED
JAPAN YO WAR
WANTED AMERICA EMBROILED.
Japanese Foreign Minister Makes
Public Startling News that German
Diplomats Urged Japan to Declare
War Upon United States.
TOKIO, March 13.—Baron Iahil,
the Japanese Minister of Foreign
Affairs exploded a bomb today when
he made public the statement that the
German government had been at
tempting for several years, through
| its diplomatic representatives in Jap
an, to incite war between Japan and
| the United States.
The minister said that the Ger
man diplomats had laid great stress
upon the insult to the Japanese na
tional honor done by the anti-Japa
nese legislation in several of the
WeBtern States, and urged that Japan
use this as a pretext for a declaration
of “war.
Inasmuch as it was apparent to the
Japanese government that the desire
of Germany to embroil Japan and the
United States was urged for the reas
on that Germany had designs on
South American countries and desir
ed the United States to be so engaged
as to be unable to interfere, Japan
declined to be used for the purpose.
CLEAN SWEEP FOR DELEGATE
Practically Every Town in Southeast
ern Alaska Chosen Delegates to
Convention that Favor Nomination
of Wickersham for Delegate.
JUNEAU, March 13.—The primary
election held here Saturday resulted
in a clean sweep for the Shackleford
Wickersham combination.
Practically every primary held in
the First Division elected as delegates
to the Seward convention men pledg
ed to secure the nomination of the
present delegate, to congress if pos
sible.
In this city the vote was over
whelmingly in favor of the Shackle
ford ticket, the vote standing 613 for
Shackleford to 76 for Rustgard.
' In Douglas the O’Connor anti
Wickersham ticket was also badly de
feated, notwithstanding the personal
popularity of O’Connor, the vote
there being 101 to 71 in favor of the
Shackelford ticket.
Haines, Wrangell, Treadwell, Skag
way, Sitka and Ketchikan also elected
delegates who will vote for Wicker
sham at the convention, giving the
Shackelford delegation fifty-four out
of the seventy-five delegates allotted
to the division.
Friends of Shackelford state that
he has received advices from the oth
er divisions of the Territory which in
dicate! that he will have sufficient of
the delegates with him to control the
convention, and that the nomination
of Wickersham on the regular Re
publican ticket Is assured.
There is great rejoicing among the
followers of the delegate throughout
this section, and they are confidently
predicting that Wickersham is assur
ed of retaining his seat in Congress.
Prior to the primary Rustgard
stated that if the Wickersham forces
won he would run for Delegate on an
independent ticket, but It is doubtful
if he parries out his threat.
In the ranks of the Democrats here
it is believed that the nomination of
Wickersham at the Republican con
vention will not add to his strength.
After looking over the returns of
Saturday’s Republican primary we
strongly suspect that our Democratic
competitor took part In the election.
He got onp vote!
LOW WATER HAMPERS FIRE FIGHTERS
DAGGETT BliOCK AND ALSO RESI-DENCE AND COLtVELL STORK
AND RESIDENCE GO DP INSMOKE—FIRE STARTED FROM
AN OVERHEATED PIPE FROM FURNACE IN DAGGETT BLOCK—
LOSS PARTLY COVERED BYINSUKANCE.
SEWARD, March 13.—This city
was visited by a fire this morning
which destroyed the Daggett Block,
Daggett residence, S. L. Colwell's
store and his residence, and (or a
time threatened the destruction of
adjoining buildings.
The fire broke out about 7 o’clock
this morning in vicinity of the fur
nace in the Daggett Block, and is be
lieved to have been caused by an
overheated pipe. The flames rapidly
spread, and within a short time the
entire building was enveloped in
flames, which spread to the Daggett
residence then to the Colwell store
and residence.
The fire department responded
promptly to the alarm, but their ef
forts to subdue the fire were hamper
ed by a strong wind and a serious
shortage of water, due to the pre
vailing cold weather, and not until
after several hours of strenuous en
deavor was the fire brought under
control.
Charles Daggett, the dentist, is the
largest loser, the Daggett block be
ing one of the largest buildings In
Seward and housed a nurabor of of
fices aside from those of the doctor.
Coi.. .. s store and residence were
also totally destroyed, the entire
stock of the store going up in smoke.
Among the other losers is the Sew
ward Post, which occupied offices in
the Daggett block, the entire plant!
including the Linotype machine,
presses and other machinery having
been destroyed. The Hainer Cafe,
which was also in the Daggett block,
was a total loss.
The Post will order a new plant nk
once by telegraph, and expects to re
sume business within a week or two.
The loss is estimated to be about,
thirty-five thousand dollars, the most
of which falls on Daggett and ColweU
with the Post next on the list. Th»
other sufferers were occupants of the
Daggett building and the'r losses are
not heavy. Both Daggett and ColweK
Carried some insurance.
J R. McPhaill. of the firm of Mc
Donald, McPhaill (k McKinzle, one of
the heavy losers in the Seward firo
this morning, is in Valdez on bold
ness in connection with securing a
transfer of his license. The firm was
the owners oft he Rainer Buffet, in
the Daggett Block, and suffered a
total loss of their stock and fixture*.
Messrs McPhaill and McKinzie were
recent arrivals from the states, an#
had refitted their place of business
and added a large stock of goods, at
an expense of about $12,000, and Mr.
McPhaill received a telegram from
his partner this morning that every
thing had been destroyed. They have
secured another location and will
continue in business. They carried no
insurance.
VALDEZ ATHLETIC CLUB
HOLD OPEN HOUSE
A good crowd of people took ad
vantage of the opportunity to in
spect the new quarters and club
rooms of the Valdez Athletic Club
yesterday afternoon. The club had
been decorated for the occasion by
the club members and presented
a very pleasing appearance. During
the course of the afternoon several
exhibition boxing matches were given
SEWARD DELEGATES
ANTI-WIGKERSHAM
i _
WAS NO CONTEST AT PRIMARY
Slate Made ap at Meeting of the Re
publican Club Goes Without a
Hitch. Will Fight Shackelford
Combination.
1 _ .■
SEWARD, March 13.—There was
no contest at the Republican primary
held here Saturday, and the slate
prepared at the meeting of the Re
publican club last Monday went thru
without a hitch.
The delegates electee were J. J.
Finnegan, the Seward committeeman,
Dr. J. L. Sloan, the president of the
club, L. Li. James,Jr., the club sec
retary, Alison Bruner, Matt Button,
E. E. Chamberlain, W. P. Henry, and
Ed. Whittemore.
It is believed that all these dele
gates are strongly anti-Wickersham
and will work hard to defeat the alms
of the Shackelford-Wlchersham com
bination to hand the Republican nom
ination to Wickeraham.
Wickersham, Republican
In, the 1916 Congressional Direc
tory at hand appears the following
official notice among the biographies
of the congressmen and delegates:
Territorial delegatos — Alaska;
(population, 1910, 64,356); James
Wickersham, a REPUBLICAN, of
Fairbanks, born Aug- 24, 1857; ap
pointed U. S. District judge, Third
Division, Alaska, June 6, 1900; serv-l
ed two terms; elected Dologate Sixty
third and Sixty-fourth congresses.
Prospector Ads bring results.
CHARGES GEMS
WERE DRUGGED
MARC MANIACS BRFOBK CHARGK
Lord Northclifie Hays Prisoners Tak
en by French Show Unmistakable
Signs of Having Taken Powerful
Nerve Intoxicant to Aid Courage.
LONDON, March 13.—Lord North'
cliffe, now with the allied forces in
France, writing from the firing Un»
near Verdun, charges that the Ger
man soldiers who have been mak
ing such terriffic attacks against tha
French line during the past few dare
have been drugged before being sent
to the attack, to prevent oowardie*.
Lord Northcliffe states that prison
ers taken by the French showed un
mistakable signs of having takes
some drug which rendered them for
a time almost maniacal, and that tha.
drag has had the effect of driving alt
fear from them. Under no condition,
he states, could men have been driven,
to face the terrific rain of shot andt
shell which has been poured upon the
Germans, without faltering.
FORT LI8CU8 TROOPS
WILL NOT QO SOUTH:
A rumor was current about towa
last night that the troops at Fort
Liscum had been ordered in readi
ness to depart for the Mexican bor
der and that transports were en routs
north to take the Alaska soldiers to
Seattle.
In Inquiry was made of Lieut.
Koehler, tbo commanding officer at
Fort Liscum as to the truth of the ru
mor, and elicits the Information that
no snch orders have been received.
Lieut. Kohler states that he does not
believe the troops in Alaska will ha
called, as they are so far from the
scene of the trouble that troops from
any other portion of the United
States would probably be called upon
before any call would be made for
the soldiers here.
J. D. McDougall, superintendent
for the Valdes Gold Company, left
yesterday on Stuart’s launch, with
two men to begin preparations for
the season's work.