VOLUME XIV. VALDEZ, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1918 .NUMBER 60
TIE HORRORS OF ~
warmed
Major George De Tarnowsky, With
American Expeditionary Forces
Writes of Experiences
The following is an excerpt from
• letter written to friends in Chicago
by Major George De Tarnowsky, and
published in the Medical Mobiliza
tion:
“I shall attempt to describe one
scene to give you an idea of how hell
ish war can be. In order to reach some
pill boxes, as the British call the
small cement forts constructed by the
Germans when they occupied the
country, and which are used as dress
ing stations by the allies, before the
«nepiy could see us, I was awakened
at half past five and given a cup of
tea and a piece of’toast and started
at 6 with Captain M. C. as guide. We
drove four miles in an auto and then
got out. I gazed on an endless sea of
mud and water. Roads were all des
troyed by shell fire and there was
not a square yard which was not rep
resented by a big shell hole full of
thick, yellowish green water. The on
ly means of advance was over “duck
boards" 3 feet wide and placed on
wooden posts 2 feet above the water.
This path was over five miles long,
changing direction every 20 yards in
order to avoid enfilading fire. There
was not a tree left standing anywhere.
Dead bodies of horses were every
where. I counted 24 in a distance of
less than 500 yards. Bodies of Ger
mans and British lie everywhere. Now
an arm, now a leg, now a head stick
ing out of the mud or bobbing around
in the slimy water. They cannot be,
huried because if one leaves the board
walk one sinks in the mud and is j
quickly smothered. The stench of the i
atmosphere is something awful. Wat-!
er has to be bailed or pumped out al-1
most continually. A large percentage'
of the men develop trench feet and l
am sorry to say my feet bother me
considerably already. The men’s feet
swell up so horribly they are com
pelled to cut their shoes off. It is most
fascinating to watch the shells fall
ing steadily along our lines for five
minutes and then jump forward ano
ther hundred yards, and after an in
terval again forward. At a junction
of one of these paths a bunch of
“Tommies” came running at tot)
speed. The" leader shouted to us “to
run like 'ell, they are going to strafe
this ’ere point something ’horful.”
Run like 'ell we did and soon got
out of range. At least 200 shells were
fired at us. One may he hit at any mo
ment, but the chances are so im
measurably in one’s favor that aside
from taking every possible precau
tion one pays no attention to the
noises around.
“One Of the most exciting scenes)
I witnessed near Ypres was a British
‘sausage’ or stationary observation
ballon, the cable of which suddenly
snapped. Up it shot into the air and
steadily drifted toward the Boches.
We saw the observer climb out on the
edge of his basket with the parachute
strapped to his shoulder and jump in
to space. The parachute unfolded and
he floated gracefully to the earth.
A shout of joy went up when the
telephone tinkled and we were in
formed that he had dropped safely
into the English lines. Another day
I counted 26 airplanes fighting over
Ypres.
"The army is splendid. I saw regi
ments from England, Scotland, Aus
tralia and Canada in different sectors.
All were splendid looking fighting
men, well trained and well seasoned.
American officers are to be found in
many of the British hospitals doing
noble work. I also met many artillery
and line officers, ali eagerly studying
this new method of warfare, and all
eager to learn.
“The officers are a splendid lot of
fellows. They were formal the first
day, melted in the evening, and the
next morning hailed me as ‘Tarnasky’
a sure sign with the British that you
have been accepted as a gentleman
and a good fellow.
(Continued on Page Two.)
ONE MAX
WHEATUESS
OHCMM. '
MEATLESS
I. W. W. CROWD IS
STILL BUSY IN CUBA
HAVANA: Revelations following
the arrest last Sunday ol Aqulllnlo
Lopes and Hllario Alonso Indicates
that members of t}ie I. W. W. altho
arrested In Chicago are still carrying
on their attempts to spread their pro
paganda throughout Cuba.
Among the papers seised by the Cu
ban chief of police when Lopez and
Alonzo were taken into custody was
a proclamation said to have been sign
ed by one of the large number of I.
W. W. members now in Jail in Chi
cago. urging sympathizers with the
movement to continue their agitation
In Cuba.
The proclamation said that altho
members of the I. W. W. were in jail
in Chicago their power had not de
creased.
British, French and Americans Fight
Shoulder to Shoulder to Stem
the German Advance
WASHINGTON, D. G\, Mar. 27.—
French confidence in ability to check
the German advance is voiced in a
cablegram received here from Paris
this morning. The French officials be
lieve that the Teutons are wasting
their strength by attempting to break
through the allied lines. A dispatcli
from London that the Americans are
fighting side by side with the British
and French brings the battle closer
home to the war department. No
word has as yet been received from
General Pershing to the extent of the
American participation.
FKDKKAL AGKNTS
WILL WATCH CARGOKS
SAN FRANCISCO: Placing of fed-,
eral agents as super cargoes on ves
sels sailing for Mexico and South Am
erica to prevent diversion of ship
ments to enemy hands is planned by
the United States war trade board, it
was announced here today. This plan
was initiated with the steamer Alli
ance, which was recently under sur
veillance at San Pedro, Cal. The sup
er cargoes, it is planned, will be un
der the authority of the war trade
board, but are to be fed and paid by
the steamship companies.
W. C. T. C. M FISTS
OR IS AT FALLS: The executive
committee of the Montana W. C. T.
U. met here today and passed resolu
tions opposing the entrance of the or
ganization intp politics in any way
and warning the national order
against being taken in by political
“tricks.” Helena was chosen as the
place for the next state meeting Sep
tember 24, 25 and 26.
TEXAS WILL GO DRY
AUSTIN: Texas will practically be
come a dry state April 15 as a re
sult of the bill passed by the legisla
ture in special session yesterday creat
ing dry zones of all territory within
ten miles of army camps.
A state-wide prohibition act is
practically Bure of passage and will
become effective about June 27.
E. A. WHEAT FOR THE SCHOOL
BOARD tf
MISS HILDA MUHLHAUSER
r- - 1
Mlee Hilda Muhlhauaar la aealetget
manager ef the newly organized Unit*
ed 8tatea employment eervlce of the
department of labor.
FRENCH RESERVES
AWAIT EVENTS
Enemy Enfeebled by Prodigious Loss
has Relaxed Efforts—Check
ed All Along Front
PARIS, Wednesday, March 27.—
Only a few of the French divisions
are actually engaged In the present
fighting, Secretary of War Abrlml de
clared today. The bulk of the French
army Is awaiting events while the
most powerful British reserves are
just arriving on the field.
Enfeebled by considerable losses
and forced to slacken his efforts the
enemy was checked everywhere yes
terday evening and last night, the war
office reported today.
The allies hold the lines from Ech
eli and St. Aurin to Bevraignes and
Dorth of Lessigny, and southward to
Noyon, also the left bank of the Oise.
Strong enemy pafrols attempting to
reach our positions northwest of Noy
on during the night were repulsed.
An intermittant bombardment is
continuing along the whole front.
ALLIES WILL NOT
COUNTTHE COST
Will Kiglit on I'ntil War is Won is
Message Received from Gen
eral Haig Today
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 27.—
A determination to fight on regard
less of the cost until the freedom of
mankind is safe was the message cab
led the President today by General
Haig in answer to the President’s
message of confidence.
DAILY KISH BULLETIN
KETCHIKAN, March 27.—Ketchi
can prices at noon, March twenty
sixth. Halibut firsts, twelve and three
quarters cents; halibut seconds, eight
and three-quarters cents; sable fish,
four cents; red rock cod. two cents.
I
t
I
British Deliver Counter Attack and
Capture Morlancourt and Chi
pi lly—Capture Albert
LONDON, March 27.—Director of
Military Operations announced today
that information had been received
at 1 p. m. that the enemy in a night
attack had driven the British back
as far as Mericourt and Sailly on the
South Somme. He said they had also
captured Morancourt. The British lat
er delivered a counter attack between
Ancre and the Somme and recaptured
Morlancourt and Chipilly, the war of
fice announced later. The Germans
have taken Albert and are holding it.
ENTIRE RUSSIAN FLEET
WITHOUT SAILORS
LONDON: The whole Russian Bal
tic fleet is lying at Helsingfors, Fin
land, the Petrograd correspondent of
the Times cables, but the crews have
melted away, only a watch being left
for each ship. Three dreadnaughts
will soon sail for Kronstadt, but the
remainder of the fleet will remain in
Finland.
The correspondent also says that
all movable articles from the cruis
ers Aurora and Diana, lying in the
Neva river, on which Petrograd is sit
uated, have been carried away by
sailors.
For every man at the front four
persons must serve at home in order
to have him adequately supplied with
the things he requires. In other words,
for every company of soldiers there
should be four companies of savers.
Save and Serve your country by buy
ing War Savings Stamps.
FIGHUr LON
General Haig ^tates tlmt the Enemy
has launched New Offensive—
Germans Fear Hank Attack
LONDON, March 27—General Haig
In last night’s report says the battle
continues along the whole front south
of the Somme river. The Germans al
so launched new attacks at Chaulney.
AMSTERDAM, March 27.—The
enemy holds strong reserves to the
south of the lines penetrated by us,
with which to attack our troops from
the flank, declares the Berlin Vor
waerts.
Nothing to Report
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 27.—
General Pershing cabled the war de
partment today that he had nothing
of consequence to report.
Wounded Coming In
LONDON, March 27.—Four train
loads of wounded officers and men
from the battlefront in France reach
ed London today.
British Lines Steadfast
LONDON, March 27.—The British
lines from the Scarpe river thru to
Albert has held steadfast for the past
twenty-four hours. The front line is
now west of the old Somme battlefield
west of the Ancre river, and just north
of Albert, which is 18 miles northeast
of Amiens south of the Somme. The
German have advanced west of La
Kero before the beginning of the Brit
ish offensive in 1916 but have not yet
gained it west of Roye.
Claim Victory Won
AMSTERDAM. March 27.—A great
battle has been fought and victory has
been won. but nobody can forsee what
will result from it said Ludendorff,
chief aide to General Hindenburg, in
an interview with a correspondent of
the Tages Zeitung in Berlin. The part
played by the American troops in an
attempted relief of the British flank
near La Kere was referred to briefly
by the German war correspondents,
but no mention is made of the pres
ence of any Americans Among the
prisoners taken.
Hard I'iuhtiiig at Albert
BRITISH ARMY. France, March
17.—Throughout the right Hie Ger
mans eontinued their onslaught south
westward from Horn against the de
fenses^ tho region of N'oyon. Hard
fighting occurred aliout the town of
Albert, large enemy forces pushing
forward toward the place. The Brit
ish were holding them doggedly at
this possible gateway to Amiens, a
British supply base.
Indication are that the Germans
are attempting to split the allied front
there and start the rolling up process
either way.
Report Germans Checked
LONDON, March 27.—The war of
fice announced last night that the Ger
mans had been checked west of Royes
and Noyon in the Roye district. Brit
ish, French and American troops are
fighting Bhoulder tQ shoulder. The an
nouncement says that French rein
forcements are rapidly coming up to
help hold the invaders.
Enemy Loses Many Men
LONDON. March 27.—The losses
Inflicted on the enemy were greater
yesterday than the day before, whole
divisions being wiped out by the dead
ly fire of our machine guns and artil
lery.. One of the enemy divisions
charged trenches containing a large
number of allied troops and not a man
reached the entanglements, the whole
division being practically exterminat
ed. Regiments melted doyra as at the
touch of a magician's wand, and the
world will never again witness the
baptism of fire and steel hurled
against the Teutonic offensive yester
day.
Burgeons Overworked
LONDON. March 27.—The hospital
corps are literally sleeping standing
up. thousands and thousands of mut
ilated bodies being carried Into the
operating tablee and out to the wards.
The hospitals resemble gory shambles
with arms pad legs plied high, and
the surgeons working with lightning
speed to alleviate the suffering of the
wounded. The allied forces have the
best organized hospital corps ever as
sembled, and their work is a splendid
example of abnegation and patriotism.
EVAPORATED MILK
BEEN CONDEMNED
SAN FRANCI8CO: Evaporated
milk valued at $6,000, purchased by
the government from the Holly Milk
ft Cereal Company, of Oregon, and
condemned by federal food inspectors
as unfit for use. was seized today by
the United States marshal here in the
quartermaster’s warehouse at Fort
Mason. According to the inspectors
the milk is below the required stand
ard of solids and butter fats. A sep
arate Investigation is being made by
army officers. The company’s plant Is
In Amity. Oregon.
Ll^l’OR DEALERS PROTEST
WASHINGTON: In announcing to
day that the order creating five-mile
dry zones around the naval academy
and seven naval training posts would
become effective next Monday, March
11, unless otherwise ordered, Secre
tary Daniels said he had requests
from liquor interests at several of the
places effected that they be given fur
ther time to move out of the zones.
CENSOR RELIEVED
SAN FRANCISCO: Captain L. S.
j Hobbs, of the sixty-third infantry, to
jday relieved Captain John B. Thomp
json, cavalry, as aide to Major Gen
jeral Arthur Murray and press censor
I of the western department of the ar
| my.. Captain Thompson will rejoin
his command, the First Cavalry, at
i Douglas, Ariz.
PREPARE PEOPLE
FOR THE WORST
'German Newspapers "are Preparing
the People of Germany for Tid
ings of Allied Offensive
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Mar. 27.—
Official French dispatches received to
day state lhat the newspapers in Ger
many are preparing the people for the
Franco-Iiritish offensive, forcasting
the entry of a powerful army of re
serves. The Germans evidently fear
that the offensive recently launched
will bo a failure, and that the count
er offensive launched by the allies
will be disastrous to their armies.
M W APPOiNTMKNT
WASHINGTON: Fred T. Dubois, of
Idaho, was nominated today by Pres
ident Wilson to be civilian member
j of the tioard of ordnance and fortiti
! cation.
■ — ■ --
t’AXIHDATK HAS SLOGAN
SALEM: Dr. J. E. Anderson, of
The Dalles, filed today with Secretary
of State Olcott his declaration of In
tention to be a candidate for the
republican nomination for governor
at the May primary election. Dr. An
derson is the first of five candidates
to file his declaration. His slogan is
Bone Dry, Win the War and Develop
Oregon.”
VOTE FOR WHEAT FOR MEM
BER OF THE SCHOOLBOARD. tf
ADMIRAL H. B. WILSON
I'll. ,!I!T I »4!,.|„,l
Hoar Admiral Hanry B. Wilaan baa
to«B mad* cMaf o< tha Unltad Stataa
convoy aqvadron to auocaad Roar Ad
miral william B. Flatehsr.
Latest Dispatches from
the Front
LONDON, March 27.—Late dis
patches from the front state that the
British still hold the fortifications on
one side of the town of Albert
near which place the Germans are
massing large bodies of troops for a
drive on Amiens, the British base of
supplies.
Claim British Retreating
BERLIN, March 27.—The British
are in full retreat on both sides of
the Homme River the war office an
nounced this afternoon. Heavy rear
guard actions are being fought with
the enemy.
Russians Recapture Kherzcn
Pctrograd, Marcli 27.—Russian So
viet forces have recaptured Kherzen
and Nicolaieff it was announced to
day. Russian forces also threaten Teu
ton control of the Black Hea.
BATTLE OTTERS
RUSSIA CHANCE
Trotzky Proclaims I'niversul Military
Training—Old Oil leers Ke
porting for Duty
PKTROGRAD, March 27. Bolshe
viki officials declare that the German
oeevsive offers Russia it chance to re
e;-Kaher armies and again de
clare war against Germany, when the
offensive fails. War Minister Trotzky
today proclaimed universal military
training, and the highest grades were
ordered to report for duty immediate
ly. Old officers are reporting for duty
en masse.
Russian military officials who were
delegates to tile Brest-Litovsk confer
ence, declare that the Genian officers
attending openly discussed the forth
coming west front offensive.
K’K GOING OPT
OMAHA: The ice in the Platte riv
er in Nebraska is going out and tho
river is out of its hanks in some
places. Prom Grand Island it is re
ported ti nt i v r> wagon bridge over
I hi* Platte i:i Hail county lias been
carried away. So far no railroad
bridge lias been damaged, but tho
railroad companies have forces of men
dynamiting ice to prevent gorges.
TWO SPSpV.NIMiD
WASHINGTON: Assistant Pnited
States Attorney John K. Dougherty
and Deputy Pnited Stale's Marshal
Williams, of Rock Island, III., have
been suspended for thirty days for
lack of sympathy with the policy of
the department of justice regarding
the sale of liquor and enforcement of
the law in vice zones adjacent to ar
my camps.
IE OF BATTLE
WILL BE HMD
Premier Cleuianceau Returns from
Visit to Front and Says Allies
be lltimate Victors
PARIS, March 27.—Within 4S
hours the allies will be masters of the
situation on the western battleline,
Premier Clemanceau declared today
on his return from the front. The
French premier made a statement to
the ministerial council saying that
while he did not attempt to conceal
the seriousness of the situation he be
lieved Amiens is well defended and
that it is improbable that the enemy
can break thru.
Private Emel Lains arrived at Don*
nelly yesterday, where he will be sta*
tloned the coming summer.
ION'WHEAHESS DfflS |
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