VOLUME XIV* VALDEZ, ALASKA, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1010 NUMBER OS
WAR DEPARTMENT
ADMITS INVASION
4 -
ANNOUNCEMENT MADE TODAY
Doubt as to Attitude of Carranza
Causes Government to Prepare for
Any Emergency Which May Arise.
^ Reported Brush with Mexicans.
SAN ANTONIO, March 1C.—It is
officially announced that General Per
ching at the head of a largo, body of
United States troops crossed the bor
der yesterday noon, and is now on
Mexican soil in pursuit of Villa and
his band, and news of a conflict is ex
pected hourly. There still remains
considerable doubt as to the attitude
„ Carranza will take, now that the act
* ual invasion of Mexico has occurred.
There is undoubtedly a strong senti
ment against all Americans even
among the troops that are supposedly
loyal toiriTarranza and it is possible
that tnis sentiment may prove so
overwhelming that Carranza will be
forced to offer resistance to the Uni
ted States troops. Many Carranza
soldiers have deserted to join the Vil
la standard, and the outlaw’s force is
being daily augmented by these de
serters and by civilians from the vari
* ous towns along the border. It is evi
dent from the preparations under way
that the government has discounted
the possibility of Carranza taking a
hostile attitude, and will be ready for
any emergency.
.. . . ..... .... i
Reported Brush with Carranza.
EL. PASO, March 16.—An uncon
firmed report has reached here that
the United States troops under Gen
eral Pershing, which crossed the bor
der into Mexico from Columbus, New
► Mexico, yesterday non, had a stiffs
brush with the outposts of the Car
ranza troops at Palomas, just south
of Columbus. While the news lacks
official confirmation, it is regarded as
very probable, as the troops at Palo
mas have indicated in numerous
ways that their sympathies were
with Villa, although their presence at
Palomas was ostensibly for the pur
pose of effecting the capture of the
outlaw. It is believed here that the
y. campaign in Mexico will be by no
means a pleasure jaunt, but will con
sume a considerable time, and result
in some heavy fighting.
WAS rch 16—
The official announcement was made
last evening of the starting yesterday
noon of the expedition into Mexico
under General Pershing. Further
than the official announcement of the
start the military officials refused to
f discuss the expedition or to give out
the slightest information regarding
the further movement of the troops.
It is evident, however, from the ac
tivity displayed in the department,
that preparations on a large scale are
under way and that any emergency
arising out of the invasion of Mexi
can territory will be promptly met.
\ Says Will Be Iiong Job.
NEW YORK, March 16.—In a sen
sational speech, delivered here last
night. Col. Edwin Glenn, commander
of the department of the East, said
the position of the United States, in
the eyes of the rest of the world, is
pathetic In the extreme. Our army,
ho declared to he the laughing stock
of the European rations, who consid
I ered it a joke. He declared the pres
' ent force of United States troops to
he incompetent to handle the Mexican
Situation, stating that it would take
years to capture Villa and stabilize
Mexico.
Recruiting Is Brisk.
CHICAGO, March 16.—Tho Mexi
can excitement is bringing in enlist
mentWto the city at a rapid rate, and
it ispredicted that within a short
time, unless there is a further call
for troops, that enlistments will be
Reclined. Within the past two days
the recruiting office in this city has
accepted more than 500 men, and the
number of applications are increas
f tag daily.
Parties returning from down the
► Sound state that tho gold property
’ recently bonded by Sam Pepper from
Hinds, Haioy and Bennett, is making
a wo"<lorful showing as development
progresses, and promises to become
one of tho largest producers on the
Sound.
REVOLT ON B’OOT
IN NICARAUGUA
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 16
General Charmora, the Nlcarauguan
minister to the United States, states
that he has received private advices
from New Orleans telling of a revo
lutionary plot on foot there against
the Nicarauguan government. The ob
ject of the revolt is to prevent tho
ratification of the treaty between the
United States and Nicaraugua, where
by the United States is to acquire the
Nicaraugua canal rights and a naval
base on the Bay of Fonesca.
HE ARRESTS III
S1GGIJG CASE
SECRET SERVICE OFFICERS BUSY
Twenty-Three Members of Lorti’s
Bund Captured in Fast Two Hays—
Million Dollars Worth of Opium
Brought Into the Country.
SEATTLE, March 16,—Twenty
three arrests have been made in the
Louis Lorti case. The secret service
men who have been investigating the
case state the ring has been operating
on the largest scale ever known in
this country. More than a million
dollars worth of contrabnd opium, it
is said, has been brought into the Uni
ted States by members of the band,
as well as thousands of Chinamen.
The ring was the best organized of
any of the similar aggregations that
has come to the attention of the offi
cials, Lorti, the leader, who was tak
en into custody a few days ago, is
recognized as exceptionally brilliant
criminal, and has gained a fortune by
means of his nefarious calling.
SWISS CAUL OUT
ADDITIONAL TROOPS
GENEVA, March 16.—Alarmed by
tales of German soldiers who have de
serted the army and made their way
into Switzerland, the government has
suddenly made a call for a number of
fresh troops to patrol the border. Ac
cording to the deserters the high of
ficials of the German army have de
clared that the fortresses at Verdun
would speedily fall if the Teutons
were allowed to cross Swiss territory,
and the expediency of such a move
has been seriously discussed.
GERMAN ADMIRAL
DISAGREES WITH THE KAISER
I
—
I
Von Tirpitz, the Foamier of the Ger
man Undersea Fighting Force, Ob
jected to Sending German Battle
ships to Sea Prematurely.
_ I
BERLIN, March 16.—It was an
nounced here today that Admiral von
Tirpitz has resigned from the com
mand of the German navy following a
disagreement with the Emperor over
the naval policy of the country. He
will be succeeded by Admiral vou Ca
pie.
Von Tirpitz was greatly opposed to
the German fleet leaving the Kiel ca
nal, where they wore safe from at
tack by the British fleet. He main-!
tained that against the overwhelming
advantage possessed by the British in1
ships and gups the German fleet
would be uselessly annihilated, and
to no good purpose. He pleaded with
the Emperor to continue the subma
rine warfare, which had yielded such
excellent results, and keep the battle
ships until a more propitious mo-j
intent.
The Emperor was obdurate, and
insisted that the long inaction was
disheartening the officers and crews |
of the navy, and that the ships must
go into action.
Under these circumstnnces von
Tirpitz could no longer direct the
fleet movements In an expedition con
trary to h's lodgment, and resigned.
s .-»— ■ —
Prospector Ads bring results.
PORTLAND PLANS
NEWALASKA LINE
WANTS SHAKE R. R. FREIGHT
Will Operate Barges Between Port
land and Alaskan Towns as far
North as Anchorage—Coal for Re
turn Cargoes.
SEATTLE, March 15.—A dispatch
from Portland to the Seattle Post-In
teligencer states that Portland is to
make an effort to share in the im
mense government orders for the con
struction of the Alaska Railroad. Ar
ticles of incorporation for the Colum
bia River-Alaska Barge Service, Inc.,
were forwarded to the secretary of
state today and the service is intend
ed to start early in the summer.
The incorporators are James W.
Crichton, formerly purser and gen
eral freight agent for the old Portland
Steamship Company; William C.
Sear.3 and Harrison Allen. The com
pany is incorporated for $25,000, all
of which stock is subscribed.
The plan of the company is to oper
ate a fleet of barges and tugs between
here and Alaskan ports as far north
as Anchorage, the terminus of the
Alaska railroad.
The northbound cargoes will be
made up of lumber, cement, steel
rails, machinery, steel goods and oth
er construction material. The south
bound cargoes will be coal to be pick
ed up on Vancouver iBland.
Arrangements have been perfected
to deliver 50,000 tons of coal at San
Francisco and 35,000 tons of coal
here.
CflUL TO OPEN
EAROMN APRIL
RAPIDLY REMOVING BLOCKADE
Debris Carried Into Waterway by
Huge Slide at Culebra Will Be Out
of the Way of Navigation About
the Fourteenth of April.
WASHINGTON, March 16.—Ad
vices received from Panama state
that the canal will be completely
opened by April 14, and ships of any
size may pass through after that
date. The work of removing the im
mense mass of rocks and earth which
blocked the canal after the slide at
Culebra is going on with rapidity,
and the clearing made in the debris
already permits the passage of small
er craft through the canal.
DUTCH LINER
: ISJRPEDOED
PASSENGERS TAKEN OF* SAFELY
Passenger Ship Bound for Bueno;
Aires with Large Number Aboard
Is Reported Sunk by German Sub
marine Off Dutch Coast.
LONDON, March 16.—It is report
ed here today that the Dutch liner,
Tubantia, was Lorpedoed and sunk by
a German submarine off the coast of
Holland.
The Tubantia was bound for Bue
nos AireB, Argentina, and carried sev
eral hundred passengers. 3at a short
time after leaving port a German
submarine attacked the steamer and
without warning fired a torpedo
which struck her amidships, and
she went uown in a few minutes. Ow
ing to __coolness of the officers and
crew, the llfoboats were quickly lo'w
eied, a-u the passer gers taken off
without loss of life. The boats were
picked lip shortly after the catastro
phe and the pns'-oagors larded.
Subscribe for tbo Prospector.
ADOPTS PORTION
OF ELECTION LAW
FAIRBANKS WILL ELECT MAYOR
Sections of W Providing for Elec
tion of Clerk, Treasurer and At
torney are Rejected—Little Inter
est Displayed.
FAIRBANKS, March 16.—At a
special election held here yesterday
the voters of Fairbanks ratified Sec
tions 3 and 4, Chapter 50 of the Ses
sions Law of 1915, which provide for
the direct election of a Mayor and
six councilmen instead of seven, as
under the old law.
Sections six and seven of the same
chapter, which provide for the elec
tion of the city clerk, city treasurer
and city attorney, wa3 defeated, and
these officials will be appointed by
the council, as heretofore.
The first two sections of the law
were adopted by a large majority,
while sections six and seven were re
jected by a vote of 160 to 152.
Little interest was manifested in
the election, the people being indif
ferent as to which of the election
laws should be in operation. Most of
the citizens can see but little improv
ment in the new law over the old,
and were apparently little interested
as to whether the new law was re
jected or adopted. The vote was very
light, not more than one-quarter of
the qualified voters having visited
the polls.
BLIZZARD RAGES
ATLANTIC COAST
VESSELS ARE DRIVEN ASHORE
Railroads are Blockaded by Snow at
Various Points and Traffic is Seri
ously Crippled—Unable to Cope
with Tremendous Drifts.
NEW YORK, March 16.—One of
the most severe blizzards for many
years is raging along the north At
lantic coast. The cold is intense and
the accompanying gale has driven
several coastwise craft ashore at vari
ous points along the coast, but so
far as has been learned the life-sav
ers have been able to rescue the
crews without loss of life. The rail
roads running out of this city are
blockaded at several points and the
[traffic is seriously crippled. The
snowfall is so heavy that ordinary
equipment is insufficient to cope with
the drifts.
Fonupnonr
TALKS TO HOUSE COMMITTEE
l _
Fells legislators that With Properly
Equipped Research Facilities Sub
marines Can Be Turned Out in
Quantities in Fifteen Days.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mnrch 16—
Thomas A. Edison, the great electri
cal inventor, testifying before the
House Nava) Committee yesterday,,
stated that with a well-equipped re
search laboratory costing a million
and one-half dollars, submarines for
the navy could be built within fifteen
days. Mr. Edison has been an ar
dent advocate of the naval laboratory
and is supported by a large majority
of the navy officials.
Theda Bara, as the Vampire, in the
greatest masterpiece of moving pic
tures, “A Fool There Wes,” lu sly
!t< ts. Tito Empress tonight at 8:10.
(V'o show. You will come to see it
twice.
VICTOR MURDOCK GIVES
SOME READ WAR NEWS
ST. LOUIS, Mar. 16.—Victor Mur
dock, of Kansas, who has Just re
turned from a long visit to the bel
ligerent countries, states that the war
will be decided on the western front,
the side which assumes the general
offensive losing; that before the sum
mer i3 over Zeppelins will wipe out
half of London; and that whoever
wins, "our turn will be next.” Eu
ropean nations envy and hate us, be
lieving that we are waxing fat on the
misfortune of the warring nations.
WORLD CONQUEST
A GERMAN DREAM
OFFICER WOULD WAR ON U. S.
Says Declaration of War Against the
United States Would Bring Ger
many Victory and Make Us I’ay the
Costs of European Struggle.
AMSTERDAM, March 1C.—The
Frankfurter Zeitung publishes an in
teresting view on submarine warfare,
credited to a high official of the Ger
man navy, whose views, in substance
are as follows:
“A majority of German naval offi
cers believe that a complete breach
between Germany and America would
be conducive to a far earlier victori
ous termination of the war, if Ger
many derived all the results logically
arising out of such a breach, As
soon as Germany was in such a posi
tion that she need have no further
consideration for America, she could
declare all of Great Britain .block
aded, and announce that every ship,
of whatever flag, which attempted to
enter a British port, would be regard
ed as a blockade runner and destroy
them without warning.
This policy would lead to the star
vation of Britain, and thu3 to her
submission, and then, automatically
to the submission of Russia and
Prance. America would then be iso
lated and would have to Fiihmit be
cause Germany, having obtained all
the entente warships and submarines,
would be far stronger on the sea than
America, which, when defeated, would
have to surrender all German mer
chant ships which she has seized and
also have to pay all the war costs of
the Central Powers and their al
lies.”
WILIi JOIN GEN. VIEIiA’S FORCES
Douglas Fears that Rebels Will Make
a Raid Upon the Town and Sends
Request to Army Headquarters for
Troops to Prevent Invasion.
DOUGLAS. Arlz., March 16.—
Word was received here today that a
body of Carranza troops at Cabullo
na, twenty miles south of here, had
revolted and killed their officers. The
rebels, ft is said, will join forces with
Villa to oppose United States troops
sent across the border. The news of
the revolt among the soldiers has cre
ated much uneasiness hero, as it Is
believed probable that this town may
be raided at any moment by the Mex
icans. Messages conveying the infor
mation of dissension among the Mexi
cans have been sent to army bead
quarters with a request that troops
be sent here to protect the town.
WATSON SAILS FOR
NORTHERN PORTS.
SEATTLE, March 16.—The steam
er Admiral WatBon, of the Alaska Pa
cific line, sailed last night for south
ern Alaska points. She carried a
large cargo of freight and many pas
sengers. Among the latter were Wm.
Igo, Elwood Petorson and six steer
age for Valdez.
Frank Mulvey, of tho power plait
•'f tho Alnska Water Light & Power
Co. arrows tho hay, was a visitor in
town today. |
MEXICANS FIRE
ONJERICANS
MANY SHOTS ARE EXCHANGED
Soldiers Guarding Bridge Across the
River at Brownsville are Targets
for Sliots of Mexicans—No Cas>,
ualties Among Soldiers.
...KINGSVILLE, Texas, March Hi.—.
Mexican bandits opened fire on the
American . soldiers guarding the
bridge across the Ilio Grande at
Brownsville, last night. The soldiers
returned the fire and for a time the
fusillade was lively. Several hun
dred shots were exchanged, but the
Mexicans were poor, shots and there
were no casualties on the American
side. What injuries were inflicted up
on the bandits, if any, is not known.
Fearing a dash across the bridge on
!bo part of the soldiers, the bandits
withdrew hurriedly. The Mexicans it
is believed were not a part of the
band following Villa, but a straggling
band of guerrillas or soldiers from
Carranza's troops, who had deserted
and were on their way to join the out
law commander. There is an intense
feeling growing upon both sides of
the border, ana it is believed that
there will be a number of armed
bands of citizens to cross the border
and exact reparation from the Mexi
cans unless a stop is immediately put
to the firing across the line by thet
Mexicans.
sub aSsa
FRENCH STEAMER
OFFICERS SAY WERE UNWARNEI*
Undersea Craft Fires Torpedo, Bah
Ship's Course is Changed in Tim*
to Escape Destruction—Vessel
cupes by Narrow Margin.
|.
NEW YORK, March 16.—It is
stated by the officers of the French
steamer Patria, which arrived her*
from Mediterranean ports, that when
off the coast of Tunis the ship was at
tacked by a submarine, probably an
Austrian, which, without warning,
fired a torpedo at his vessel. The
trail of the torpedo was discovered
by the lookout, and a quick chang*
of courBe caused the torpedo to go
astern, barely missing the vessel. By
[steaming ahead at full speed the Pfc
tria was able to escape further at
tacks.
French Launch Offensive.
LONDON, March 16.—A dispatch
received here this morning state*
that the French commander in th*
vicinity of Verdun has launched »
[strong offensive against the Germans
and has made considerable gain, driv
ing the Teutons back and occupying
the captured trenches. Following tka
ferocious onslaughts of yesterday tha
German attacks diminished and tho
French took advantage of the lull to
make a counter attack.
Advices from Amsterdam state tha
Gorman war office has issued a bul
'etin denying that the French have
made gains in the Verdun district.
Official Taster for a Banquet.
CHICAGO, March 15.—An official
taster to test all dishes served to Wii
'iam Howard Taft, Archbishop Hun
deiein ard other guests who will at
tend tho St. Patrick’s Day banquet of
the Irish Fellowship Club.^aas ap
pointed today. Thai club officers,
mindful of tho recent .poisoning of
soup served at a banquet given la
honor of Archbishop Hundelein, have
named W. J. Healy, a club member,
official taster.
1 V. A. C. Members Notice.
All members of the V. A. C. are re
quested to be present at the club
house tonight as the first gymnasium
class will be started.
Theda Bara, the Bernhardt of mov
ing pictures its tho Vampire, in tho
s’x-aet masterpiece, “A Fool Tho-e
Was,” at the Fmnross fo-'l"ht at 8:1®.
You wijl como to sco it twice.